Powers, Rights, Privileges

In a constitutionally limited representative democratic republic,

• A power belongs to a government, to compel a non-governmental entity to perform some action or to prevent a non-governmental entity from performing some action.  The sole powers that any such government has are always defined and limited by a constitution, either federal or state.
• A right belongs to an individual or a natural person, to do or not to do as he sees fit.  A right is absolute protection against governmental power. 

The U.S. Bill of Rights

Dear Reader:

It's been 10 years, maybe 30 years or more, since you read, and thought about, our Bill of Rights.  It's time for a refresher.  At less than 1000 words, it should take you five minutes to read this post.  Take ten minutes, at least, to understand what you are reading.