Breach of Peace Sketch

The fourth sketch in a side project series I'm working on right now called #ConstitutionalCartouches, where I'm creating lettering cartouches like this of key parts of the U.S. Constitution, to study it a bit closer and practice my favorite style of lettering.

“[Congress] shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective House, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.”

Article I, Section 6 lays out some fun things about Congress, including that they fully control their own pay and the increase of which (later amended), and that the above things—any treason, felony or breach of the peace (the Constitution says “and”, but I just realized that now that I’m typing this)—are the only things that a member of Congress can be arrested for while either serving in their house or traveling to and from. That’s a pretty broad scope of immunity.

Sadly, we have some members of Congress—and some hoping to be in 2018—that may actually be cause for concern with these offenses. Democrats need to really show up in 2018, not only to take back control of a major check on executive power, but to keep out even crazier far-right primary challengers, too. We don’t need any extra Roy Moore’s running around.