U.S. Constitution How relevant is the U.S. Constitution today? Are our basic rights as citizens firmly protected or are we seeing some erosion of those rights? Consider laws regulating the right to bear arms, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, etc. Pledge of Allegiance A few years ago, the Supreme Court of California ruled that schools could no longer ask children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance because the phrase, "One nation, under God..." was in violation of the first amendment of the US Constitution (regarding freedom of religion.) Comments? Our currency also states, "In God We Trust." Is that a violation of the first amendment?