Rights of CitizensRights of Citizens

The Bill of The Bill of RightsRights

Amendments I - XAmendments I - X

The original Constitution, as The original Constitution, as proposed in 1787 in Philadelphia proposed in 1787 in Philadelphia and as ratified by the states, and as ratified by the states, contained very few individual contained very few individual rights guarantees, as the rights guarantees, as the framers were primarily focused framers were primarily focused on establishing the machinery on establishing the machinery for an effective federal for an effective federal government.government.

Thomas Jefferson, who did not Thomas Jefferson, who did not attend the Constitutional attend the Constitutional Convention, in a December 1787 Convention, in a December 1787 letter to James Madison called the letter to James Madison called the omission of a Bill of Rights a major omission of a Bill of Rights a major mistake: "A bill of rights is what mistake: "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against the people are entitled to against every government on earth."every government on earth."

On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed to the state legislatures United States proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution. The first two 12 amendments to the Constitution. The first two proposed amendments, which concerned the proposed amendments, which concerned the number of constituents for each Representative number of constituents for each Representative and the compensation of Congressmen, were not and the compensation of Congressmen, were not ratified. Articles 3 to 12, however, ratified by ratified. Articles 3 to 12, however, ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, constitute three-fourths of the state legislatures, constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.known as the Bill of Rights.

Amendment IAmendment I

Congress shall make no law Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of Government for a redress of grievances.grievances.

Amendment IIAmendment II

A well regulated Militia being A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

Amendment IIIAmendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.prescribed by law.

Amendment IVAmendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.persons or things to be seized.

Amendment VAmendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, No person shall be held to answer for a capital,

or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.without just compensation.

Amendment VIAmendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall

enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

Amendment VIIAmendment VII In suits at common law, where the In suits at common law, where the

value in controversy shall exceed value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.rules of the common law.

Amendment VIIIAmendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.inflicted.

Amendment IXAmendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage construed to deny or disparage others retained by the peopleothers retained by the people

Amendment XAmendment X

The powers not delegated to the The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.or to the people.

Some members of Congress argued that a Some members of Congress argued that a listing of rights of the people was a silly listing of rights of the people was a silly exercise, in that all the listed rights exercise, in that all the listed rights inherently belonged to citizens, and nothing inherently belonged to citizens, and nothing in the Constitution gave the Congress the in the Constitution gave the Congress the power to take them away.  It was even power to take them away.  It was even suggested that the Bill of Rights might suggested that the Bill of Rights might reduce  liberty by giving force to the reduce  liberty by giving force to the argument that all rights not specifically argument that all rights not specifically listed could be infringed upon. In part to listed could be infringed upon. In part to counter this concern, the Ninth Amendment counter this concern, the Ninth Amendment was included.was included.

Content StandardsContent Standards

Humanities and Social SciencesHumanities and Social Sciences G1.S1.a1-6G1.S1.a1-6 G1.S2.a1-6G1.S2.a1-6 Workplace and Life SkillsWorkplace and Life Skills G1.S1.b2,5-6 and d1-6G1.S1.b2,5-6 and d1-6 G1.S5.a1-6 and c1-6G1.S5.a1-6 and c1-6