Bill of Rights / Halloween Costume mashup contest
Halloween is just around the corner and now is the time (if you haven’t already) to figure out what costume you’ll be wearing.
A good Halloween costume requires more than just a paper bag and crazy wavings of your arms and hands. Per Wikipedia,
Costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vampires, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. There are also costumes of pop culture figures like presidents, or film, television, and cartoon characters. Another popular trend is for women (and in some cases, men) to use Halloween as an excuse to wear particularly revealing costumes, showing off more skin than would be socially acceptable otherwise.
Inspired by this t-shirt, I would like to propose a little contest… How many costume ideas can you come up that pay homage to that little document I like to call The Bill of Rights? Leave your ideas in the comments.
Bonus points will be given to anyone who can creatively interpret the 9th and 10th amendments.
Grand Prize: One slightly used Donkey piñata who needs only a little tlc (and lots of tape) before he can be used once more to deliver the joy of candy and game to millions.
Haven’t been exercising your Bill of Rights lately? Need a quick reminder? I’ve got ‘em listed after the jump…
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
1st Amendment:
Red Dress. Complaints written on it.
Redress of Grievances.
For Amendment V… It requires a friend, but if you could talk them into it, you could both go as Alex Trebek.
A good “Couples Costume” would be two blue TV monitors that say: “The fifth amendment bars this procedure, in which a person is tried for the same crime twice.” Of course, having the two people together would make the answer obvious, “What is Double Jeopardy.”
I wanted to be a stand up comedian but found that I am too verbose, which is to say, I lack pith.
I like your take on my idea. Though it could be fun to walk around saying, “Oh, no… I’m surry, that was not in the form of a question” all night. That and “dollars.” Trebek says dollars funny too.
It was my idea too. I didn’t see your post untili I had already posted mine. So there.
Alex Trebek is Canadian. Maybe that’s why he says “dollars” funny.
I still like you take on my idea! ;) Look at our right thinking brains go!
I’ve got the Amendment II down. I’ll tape toy guns to my bare arms. :O) Okay, that’s dumb but my brain is on slow mode–haven’t been hanging out with you guys so I have not had the chance to exercise my brain cells. :O)
Can we also use the Napoleonic Code??? si vous plait! : )
I wanna play…… but I got NOTHIN’! But I do like Tes’ idea, being more in line with, “an excuse to wear particularly revealing costumes, showing off more skin.” Although I suppose that might also depend on the style of the Red Dress.
On a t-shirt…
Waiver to the 4th Amendment:
I hereby affirm it would not be unreasonable to violate me and seize this.
I’ve got another one.
Amendment 10.
Get foam or cardboard and cut out stencils of the 50 states. Slice each in half, and hang the right side from parts of your body, Mobile style. Or glue them to yourself, I don’t care. What are you?
States’ Rights.
Frances I think you win the dead donkey piñata! You can pick him up any time you like. ;)
WOOHOO!!!!!!
YOUR ASS IS MINE!!!!
It’s going to take a lot more than simply designing a Halloween costume based upon the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution to have my ass Frances.
But, you are welcome to the piñata (candy not included).
Congratulations!
Well, you see, “ass” is another term for “donkey,” which is the beast of burden that constitutes the “pinata” that I won, which, formerly belonging to you, could be considered “your ass” (formerly), and I say formerly because now, having won the aforementioned pinata/donkey/ass, it is part of my (i.e. the claimant’s) rightful property and is therefore, legally, “mine.”