The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constittion, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declratory and rstrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution;
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congres assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the consistution of the United States; all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said consistution, namely:
amendment I
Congres 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 paceably to assemble, and to petition the government
for a redress of grievances.
amendment II
A well regulated miltia, 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 scure 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 dscribing 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 prsentment 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 offense
to be twice put in jepardy 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 acused 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 comitted, 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 comon 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 excesive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.
amendment IX
The enumeration in the Consistution, 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 Consistution, nor prohibited
by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.