THE BILL OF RIGHTS

in language that a fifth grader can understand.

Amendment I

• There will be no established "state religion," and there will be no law preventing freedom of religion. The citizens will have the freedom to speak their minds, to meet together, and to bring their complaints before the government. The press will also have the freedom to say what they want without government interference.

Amendment II

• Because the security of the nation depends on a well-armed population, the people will have the right to own and use guns

Amendment III

• The army cannot force citizens to keep soldiers in their houses against their will, not even in time of war.

Amendment IV

• The government will not be able to search or take away anyone's documents or property without a very good reason or a search warrant describing the place to be searched and the items to be taken away.

Amendment V

• Nobody can be held for committing a capital offense or felony unless they have been indicted, except in cases relating to the military in wartime or when the public is in danger. Nobody can be tried twice for the same crime, or be forced to testify against themselves, or have their life, liberty, or property taken away without due process of law, or have their private property be taken away for public use without receiving adequate compensation.

Amendment VI

• Whenever someone is being tried for a crime, they will have a speedy trial by an impartial jury made of people from the state and district where the crime was committed. They will be informed of the charges against them and will be confronted with the people who are testifying against them. They will also have the right to be defended by a lawyer.

Amendment VII

• Whenever a civil case is heard in a federal court where the amount in question is over $20, the case will be heard by a jury, and can only be heard one time.

Amendment VIII

• There will not be any extraordinarily large fines or any cruel and unusual punishments for the guilty, or any excessive amount posted for bail.

Amendment IX

• Just because certain rights are identified in these Amendments doesn't mean there aren't others that are still just as important.

Amendment X

• Any power that has not been given to the federal government by the Constitution will be given to the state governments, or the people.