It does appear that the SCOTUS has interpreted the constitution to apply to anyone on US soil. But what does this mean to US citizens traveling to other countries? If I visit Canada, do I in effect forfeit my constitutional rights?
You forfeit your guarantee that those rights will not be infringed (at least to the extent that they're not infringed in the U.S.).
ALL humans have these rights, it's just that nearly all the governments of the world refuse to recognize and guarantee them to their citizens.
If I visit Canada, do I in effect forfeit my constitutional rights?
You CAN'T forfeit your inalienable rights. (I'm not going to get into the differences between constitutional and civil rights, that's another thread)
The government of whatever your situs happens to be at a given moment has no obligation to recognize any of them, and non-recognition of rights is far more common that recognition of them.
The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that any of your rights are null and void if they don't like it.
This is one of the virtualy uncountable reasons why the UN sucks. (sorry JimRob)
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
To: alpowolf
"...It does appear that the SCOTUS has interpreted
the constitution to apply to anyone on US soil.
But what does this mean to US citizens traveling to other countries?
If I visit Canada, do I in effect forfeit my constitutional rights?"
# 13 by rogers21774
===============
That's a common mis-understanding, rogers21774.
Nobody has Constitutional rights,
every man has God-given rights.
Our Constitution's Bill of Rights only enumerates the rights, possessed by all men,
that will not be interfered with by our government.
Amendment # 1 - "Congress shall make no law...prohibiting...(free speech, religion"
#2 - "...of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
# 3 - "No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner...
# 4 - "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated..."
# 5 - "...nor shall any person be subject for the same offence 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..."
# 6 - "...the accused (not "the State") shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury..."
# 7 - "...right of trial by jury shall be preserved..."
# 8 - "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
# 9 - "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny..."
# 10 - "...powers not delegated...are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
If you travel to a foreign country you haven't forfeited any rights you have.
However, you might have those rights "infringed with" while outside America.