cover of episode We The People: Canary in the Coal Mine

We The People: Canary in the Coal Mine

2024/8/22
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Throughline

Chapters

The Third Amendment, often ridiculed, prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers in private homes during peacetime and requires legal authorization during wartime. While seemingly irrelevant today, history reveals instances of its violation, raising concerns about its importance in modern society.
  • The Third Amendment prevents forced quartering of soldiers.
  • It's often joked about but has historical significance.
  • The amendment's relevance in modern times is questioned.

Shownotes Transcript

The Third Amendment. Maybe you've heard it as part of a punchline. It's the one about quartering troops — two words you probably haven't heard side by side since about the late 1700s.At first glance, it might not seem super relevant to modern life. But in fact, the U.S. government has gotten away with violating the Third Amendment several times since its ratification — and every time it's gone largely unnoticed.Today on Throughline's We the People: In a time of escalating political violence, police forces armed with military equipment, and more frequent and devastating natural disasters, why the Third Amendment deserves a closer look.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)