THE BILL OF RIGHTS
The
objective or goal of the U.S. government is to protect
the rights and freedom of the people. No one can take
away the rights of those who obey the law. No person
has the right to interfere with the rights of other
people.
The
Constitution and the Bill of Rights establish the basic
civil rights and liberties of all people living
in the U.S.
The
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments
to the Constitution
1st Amendment
• Freedom of religion
— Any person has the right
to join (or not join) any religious group.
— Any religious group is
free to practice its beliefs, as long as it obeys or
follows the law. The government cannot “establish”
a religion, e.g., it cannot give tax money to religious
schools, pay for religious monuments, etc.
— This amendment results
in the separation of church (any religion) and
state (the government).
• Freedom of speech and
of the press
— Any person can say, write,
print or publish the truth about any subject.
— Any person can express
his or her opinion and discuss any issue freely and
openly.
— This freedom protects our
system of government. The people's representatives
and government officials know what the people are thinking.
—
Freedom of speech and freedom of the press keep the
people informed about national issues and problems.
• Freedom of peaceable
assembly
— A group of people has the
right to meet for any peaceful purpose.
— Any group can discuss issues
and make plans.
— The government cannot interfere
with the group if the law is being followed.
— A group has the right to
criticize and disagree with the government.
• Right to petition the
government
— Any person (or group) has
the right to petition the government—that
is, to ask the government to change its policies or
plans. Usually the request is written.
— The request can be to stop
existing policies or future plans that are believed
to be harmful or services that should be extended
or improved.
— A person or group has the
right to send letters to representatives in the federal,
state or local government.
2nd Amendment
• Right to keep and bear
arms
— Every person has the right
to have a weapon (to bear arms).
— Each state has licensing
regulations or rules about owning and using weapons.
3rd Amendment
•
Quartering of soldiers
—
When there is peace in the country, soldiers cannot
be placed in a house unless the owner of the house agrees.
—
When there is war, soldiers can be placed in people's
homes only according to the laws passed by the legislative
branch of the government.
4th Amendment
• Security from unwarrantable
search and seizure
— All people have the right
to be safe from having their homes and property searched
or seized for no reason. The government needs
to write on a warrant the place to be searched
and the person(s) or objects to be seized.
— This amendment limits the
power of the government and protects the freedom and
safety of individuals.
5th Amendment
• Rights of accused in
criminal proceedings
— A person cannot be forced
to stand trial for a serious crime (in peaceful times)
unless a grand jury has formally charged (indicted)
the person with a crime.
— A person cannot be tried
twice for the same crime.
— A person cannot be forced
to testify or give evidence against him/herself.
A person cannot be forced to provide evidence that may
prove he/she is guilty of a crime.
— A person cannot have his/her
life, freedom or property taken without having a fair
trial.
— A person's property cannot
be taken and used by the public unless a fair price
is paid for the property.
— This amendment ensures
that all people receive fair and honest hearings and
trials. This protects our system of justice and people's
rights.
• Right to witnesses
— A person has the right
to hear and question the witnesses testifying against
him/her.
— A person has the right
to witnesses at a trial to testify for him/her.
— A person has the right
to have a lawyer to defend him/her and to question
the witnesses.
— This amendment ensures
that a person has a fair trial and protects his/her
rights.
6th Amendment
• Right to speedy trial
— Any person accused
of or charged with committing a crime has the right
to have a quick and public trial by a fair jury.
— Anyone accused of a crime
has the right to be told why and of what crime he/she
is being accused.
7th Amendment
• Trial by jury in civil
cases
— In most lawsuits that do
not involve crimes, the parties have the right
to a trial by jury.
8th Amendment
•
Bails
—
A person cannot be denied his/her freedom (put
in jail) during a trial because the judge set a high
unfair amount for bail.
•
Fines
— A person should not have to pay
an unfair amount of money (excessive fine) for
breaking the law. The fine should be based on the type
of crime.
·
Punishments
— No one can receive cruel
and unusual punishments for breaking the law.
9th Amendment
Rights of the people
— The rights described in
the Constitution and the first eight amendments are
not the only rights the people have.
— The rights of the people
that are not listed in the Constitution cannot be taken
away from the people.
— This amendment
makes it clear that the people have the final authority.
10th Amendment
• Powers reserved to states
or the people
— Any powers that are not
delegated or given to the federal government or
are not taken away from the states, are powers that
belong to the states and the people.
— This amendment limits the
power of the federal government and protects the system
of government. It also shows that the people have the
final authority.
In
addition to the basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution
and the Bill of Rights, the other amendments (11-26)
protect individual liberties and the U.S. system of
government. Some of these amendments also provide citizens
with certain rights that are not given to non-citizens.
For the exact wording of the Bill
of Rights, see below.
THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AS RATIFIED BY THE
STATES
Note: The following text is a transcription
of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution in their
original form. These amendments were ratified December
15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of
Rights."
Amendment
I
Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right
of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment
II
A
well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security
of a free State, the right of the people to keep and
bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment
III
No
Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any
house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time
of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment
IV
The
right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall
issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to
be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment
V
No
person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment
of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land
or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service
in time of War or public danger; 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, without just compensation.
Amendment
VI
In
all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial
jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district shall have been
previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of
the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted
with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process
for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Amendment
VII
In
suits at common law, where the value in controversy
shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury
shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall
be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States,
than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment
VIII
Excessive
bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment
IX
The
enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights,
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained
by the people.
Amendment
X
The
powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to
the States respectively, or to the people.
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