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Bill of Rights (U.S. Constitution) and Later Amendments

The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans‘ rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion.

1. Amendment I

Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly: 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.

2. Amendment II

Right to bear arms: 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.

3. Amendment III

Quartering of soldiers: The Third Amendment of the United States Constitution restricts the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner‘s consent. The amendment states that:

· Peacetime: No soldier may be quartered in a house without the owner‘s consent.

· Wartime: Soldiers may be quartered in a house, but only in a manner prescribed by law

The Third Amendment is considered a preference for civilians over the military.It has never been litigated before the Supreme Court

4. Amendment IV

Search and arrest: The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. It also states that no warrants shall issue without probable cause. A search occurs when a government employee violates an individual‘s reasonable expectation of privacy. A seizure of a person occurs when the police make it clear that the person cannot leave. A warrantless search or seizure is generally considered unreasonable, but there are some exceptions. The ultimate goal of this provision is to protect people‘s right to privacy and freedom from unreasonable intrusions by the government.

5. Amendment V

Rights in criminal cases: 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.

6. Amendment VI

Right to a fair trial: 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.

7. Amendment VII

Rights in civil cases: 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 re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

8. Amendment VIII

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

9. Amendment IX

Rights retained by the People: The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10.Amendment X

States‘ rights: 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.

Later Amendments

Amendment 11 Lawsuits against states

Amendment 12 Presidential elections

Amendment 13 Abolition of slavery

Amendment 14 Civil rights

Amendment 15 Black suffrage

Amendment 16 Income taxes

Amendment 17 Senatorial elections

Amendment 18 Prohibition of liquor

Amendment 19 Women‘s suffrage

Amendment 20 Terms of office

Amendment 21 Repeal of Prohibition

Amendment 22 Term Limits for the Presidency

Amendment 23 Washington, D.C., suffrage

Amendment 24 Abolition of poll taxes

Amendment 25 Presidential succession

Amendment 26 18-year-old suffrage

Amendment 27 Congressional pay raises