NC Constitution

[Asheran Mojomaster]

Not really a current event in that it was written some time ago, but its still in effect. I was thinking of moving to North Carolina once I graduate, if I could find a job there, but this changed my mind.

http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/NC/ ... cle_vi.htm

"The following persons shall be disqualified for office:

First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God. "

Not that I planned on running for state office, but if somewhere down the line I wanted to I don't think being agnostic or atheist should be able to stop me. Sorry, I just had a link to that from someone that pointed it out and while its obvious that we don't have separation of church and state here in the U.S., I don't think it should be that obvious.

[Siji]

Freedom of choice, religion, etc.. as long as it matches our choice and religion.

Not to mention, isn't NC an expensive place to live?

[Aslanna]

I don't think that's really a good reason not to live somewhere. However if you have a problem with it you should cross off Texas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee from your list as well. Anyway, as you said it's not ike you'd be running for office anytiem soon. And if you did the Supreme Court has your back:

While these laws are often regarded as relics, if it became known that a non-believer was elected to office, there is the possibility of a court challenge over eligibility. In 1961, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that such language in state constitutions was in violation of Article VI of the U.S. Constitution in Torcaso v. Watkins.

As per the Federal Supremacy Clause, all Federal law and the Constitution of the United States overrule the North Carolina Constitution. There are several provisions in the current North Carolina Constitution that may conflict with federal law and/or the US Constitution.

At least two provisions, carried over from previous versions of the document, are not enforced either because they are known to be void or would almost certainly be struck down in court.

Article 6, section 8 disqualifies from office any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God. However, Article Six of the United States Constitution stipulates that no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. Under current precedent, this provision is binding on the states under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment. As a result, this article has never been enforced despite being carried over from the 1868 Constitution.

I think North Carolina would be a great place to live. I hadn't heard anything about it being an expensive place to live either but then again haven't done a lot of reasearch.

[Asheran Mojomaster]

Yeah, but seriously that shit should be rewritten. I may just go south and look in South Carolina.

[Aslanna]

I don't disagree that it should be removed. But why worry about an antique law that has been made null by the US Constitution and which is never enforced anyway? I mean seriously there are lots of other things you could spend your time worrying about when it comes to debating about moving to a new area. You know such as crime, infrastructure, schools, living standards, etc.

[Asheran Mojomaster]

Yeah true. It probably wont effect me in long term thinking, but just seeing it pisses me off. I am just sick of seeing how many fucked up things are in constitution and law around the U.S. in general I guess. And sick of seeing the way we are headed, but then I still feel that everything will be ok still in a few years. But in the back of my mind I am afraid that I am wrong and we are fucked. I guess we will start to see next year when Bush is gone.

[Aabidano]

Yeah, but seriously that shit should be rewritten. I may just go south and look in South Carolina.

You'll more see if you look, stuff like that exists all over the country. The city of Charleston, SC still had a law on the books requiring a "n*gger to run in from of the carriage with a lit lamp when operating after dark" in the mid 1980s when I lived there.

Changing laws is a lot of work and expensive, people have better things to burn their political capital on.

Awesome area by the way, assuming you can get a decent job.

[Boogahz]

yeah, because Bush is responsible for the North Carolina State Constitution

[Deward]

Problem is that if you let the politicians rewrite the constitution then it will end up even more fucked up than it is now.

[Canelek]

I was considering moving to Raleigh/Durham area in NC when I left CA. That is supposed to be a very nice area! I chose Oregon since I have family here. I wouldn't worry too much about their antique clauses, etc...like others have said,a that shit is everywhere.

Also, NC isn't as far entrenched into the bible belt(compared to AL, MS, AR, LA, etc, which is a +.

[Boogahz]

Not all "Old" laws are bad. In Austin, women have the same rights to be topless that men have.

[Asheran Mojomaster]

Yeah the Bush thing is the part that really gets me haha. If I stay I'm sure I'll still be looking around NC. Raleigh is where I was thinking of actually. I'm getting my degree in Chemical Eng so a decent job wouldn't be hard to find...the hard part is finding a job that I want to do that pays well (I want to work on the medical side of it but I'm finding that I will be taking a much bigger pay cut than I originally thought by doing that, unless I find an awesome place to work).

[Spang]

Not all "Old" laws are bad. In Austin, women have the same rights to be topless that men have.

That could be a bad law depending on the woman!

[Chidoro]

Freedom of choice, religion, etc.. as long as it matches our choice and religion.

Not to mention, isn't NC an expensive place to live?

I would imagine it depends on what you're comparing it to. NC is a pretty large state so there's always going to differentials based on that. Obviously, the waterfront will command a premium while lesser developed areas won't. I can get a much more impressive home in Raleigh than where I live for the same money while San Fran would laugh at me.

[Winnow]

Virginia is worse:

A controversial Virginia lawmaker is trying to introduce new legislation to ban rubber testicles from being fitted to the back of trucks.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2684454.html