Everyone knows that Serial Killer Sam is guilty of a lot of stuff. If Bruce Banner goes home for the holidays and finds Serial Killer Sam camping out in his backyard in Illinois, how come he has to call the copsand why can't the cops just shoot Sam on the spot?

• Steve McQueen gets a speeding ticket. When he goes to pay it, he's told that the fine is $1 million. Steve is outraged, and claims that such a fine is unconstitutional. Why?
• In most states, you're not allowed to marry your cousin. In a couple of states, though, marrying your own cousin is A-OK. Why doesn't the Constitution keep states from having such inconsistent rules?
• John Smith is arrested for disturbing the peace in Los Angeles. Peter, the prosecutor, wants to have the trial moved to Alabama, where he's sure he can get a conviction on Johns looks alone. The judge rolls his eyes and tells Peter the constitution won't allow such a move.
• The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that it was unconstitutional to give a man a life sentence for the petty theft of about $100 in video tapes from a local K-Mart. Why?
• When Billy The Kid is arrested, he demands to know what the charges against him are. What Amendment does he use to back up his demand?
• When the Judge tried to make Rob Banks take the stand and testify at his own larceny trial, he refused, and there was nothing the Judge could do to force him to testify. Why not?
• Although minors are not allowed to have guns, and felons are not allowed to have guns, no state can make a law saying that guns are illegal. Why?
• There isn't actually a national law about drinking agethe rule that people can't drink until age 21 is actually just a law that exists in every state. Why do we all agree on this? Well, the Federal Government withholds money for highway maintenance from states that don't set their drinking age to 21. Why can't the Federal Government just make its own law?
• Dirty Harry goes to Judge Dredd and demands a warrant to search the home of Bob Law. He says he's got a hunch Bob's up to no good. Judge Dredd tells Dirty Harry he'll need a lot more than that to get a warrant - why?
• This Amendment protects people from being tried again for the same crime after a jury finds them not guilty.
• John is the world's slowest trial lawyer. He takes so long to get through a case, that his clients wait years on average to go to trial. Client Chris doesn't think this is constitutional? Why?
• Insatiable Industries sues Tidbit Technologies for stealing their delicious recipes for canned catfish stew. They don't want any money damages, though, just an apology, and a court order saying that Tidbit will keep their nose out of Insatiable's stew from this point forward. The judge rules in favor of Insatiable, and Tidbit complains that this violates their right to a jury trial. The judge tells Tidbit to get stuffed. Why?
• What Amendment do people most frequently use to argue that the death penalty should not be allowed in America?
• When Terri Bull-Luck was charged with arson, her lawyer actually slept through her trial. The whole thing. He even snored. And drooled. After being sentenced to thirty years, Terri appeals her conviction, and argues that she should have a new trial. What amendment would help her win?
• A group of people built a statute of Elvis look like it's weeping blood, and this statue has developed quite a following. A lot of people even think the statue is holy, and the group has been collecting donations from people who want to visit the statue and pray. The cops want to bring down this whole weeping-Elvis scheme, but the group claims protectionunder which Amendment?
• It really annoys me when cyclists - part of this "critical mass" movement - group up and block the road, causing a huge traffic jam. Why is this allowed?
• It costs the government a whole lot of money to build barracks and army bases for our troopswhy can't we just say that every family with an extra bedroom in their house (or a spare couch) has to let a soldier stay?
• In June 2002, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional. What Amendment do you think they relied on?
• The U.S. Government can't torture people to death, no matter how heinous their crime. Why not?
• Old Lady Jones doesn't want to sell her little house, but the government official tells her she has no choicethe government will pay her a fair price, but her home stands in the way of a new highway, and she has no choice but to sell out and move on. What Amendment makes this possible?
• Which Amendment allows special interest groups to hassle Congresspeople into agreeing with their cause?
• In 2033, the U.S. Government decides that the people have become too dangerous. They decide to make all weapons illegal. Larry Lawyer, head of the Department of Justice, gently reminds Congress they can't do this. Why not?
• President Coffee hates the National Enquirer. He thinks they're evil, and demands his friends in Congress put a stop to their mischief. His friends just shrug and say there's nothing they can do. Why not?
• Lazy Judge Bass is tired of hearing all these whining witnesses, complaining in court about what the defendant did. He decides it would be a lot easier if everyone just wrote sworn letters to the court, and then he could do a whole trial without ever leaving his La- Z-Boy! The defendant tells the judge that this is unconstitutional. Why?
• Reginald Rose gets called to jury duty. He hates jury duty. He tries to get out of it, but gets assigned to a complicated civil suit about a the patent of a medical deviceone company says another company copied their invention, and is suing for millions and millions of dollars. Reginald is so confused by the scientific evidence, and so bored he can barely stay awake. He wonders to himself, why the hell do I have to be here, anyway? Couldn't a judge just decide this by himself? Or an expert or something? Why does Reginald have to be there?
• The President of Country X, visiting Washington, can't believe how insulting political cartoonists are to the president! He asks the president why he allows such insubordination, and the president shrugs, and points to which Amendment?
• Dirty Harry comes back with an anonymous tip, delivered via the police department's anonymous-tip-telephone-line. The tip says, "Bob Law is up to no good." The Judge shrugs, and writes out a warrant. It says "Warrant - Search Bob Law's House - for illegal stuff." Why isn't this good enough?
• Nothing in the bill of rights mentions a woman's right to choose, but the Supreme Court decided that women nonetheless have a Constitutionally-protected right to abortion. Why does this right get protection even though abortion wasn't mentioned by our Founding Fathers?
• States get to make the rules about drivers licenses - some states give learner's permits to 14-year-olds, some say you have to be 16 to get behind the wheel. How come the Federal Government can't swipe this power away and make a standard for the whole country
• Which Amendment allows me to wear a T-Shirt that says "F&^* You" when I go to the DMV?
• We learned not so long ago that if the police don't have a warrant, probable cause or your consent, and you are not on probation, in a school or at the airport, the police can't just randomly go through your house. Why not?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

ANSWER Even though Serial Killer Sam may be widely believed to be guilty Bruce Banner still has to call the cops and cannot shoot Sam on the spot because of the presumption of innocence and due proces... View the full answer