[theodric]

Even if the law included the literal phrase "Congress shall make no law" or "shall not be infringed", there would still be carve-outs and exceptions deemed acceptable and non-infringing because at the end of the day it's the government, and they'll do what they want, because who exactly is going to stop them?

[Nifty3929]

The supreme court, often though not always.

Think about all the laws that aren't even attempted because they would be struck down. Or all the laws floated, but which don't pass because they'd be struck down. Or the laws modified so they won't be struck down.

I'm with you though - I think a lot of the constitution protections in the US have been watered down over the decades.