U.S. Bill of Rights
On September 25, 1789, Congress transmitted to the state Legislatures
twelve proposed amendments to the Constitution. Numbers three through
twelve were adopted by the states to become the United States (U.S.) Bill of Rights, effective December 15, 1791.
James Madison proposed the U.S. Bill of Rights. It largely responded to the
Constitution's influential opponents, including prominent Founding Fathers,
who argued that the Constitution should not be ratified because it failed to
protect the basic principles of human liberty. The U.S. Bill of Rights was
influenced by George Mason's 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights, the 1689
English Bill of Rights, works of the Age of Enlightenment pertaining to natural
rights, and earlier English political documents such as the Magna Carta (1215).
Two additional articles were proposed to the States; only the final ten articles
were ratified quickly and correspond to the First through Tenth Amendments
to the Constitution. The first Article, dealing with the number and apportionment
of U.S. Representatives, never became part of the Constitution. The second
Article, limiting the ability of Congress to increase the salaries of its members,
was ratified two centuries later as the 27th Amendment. Though they are incorporated
into the document known as the "Bill of Rights", neither article establishes
a right as that term is used today. For that reason, and also because the term
had been applied to the first ten amendments long before the 27th Amendment
was ratified, the term "Bill of Rights" in modern U.S. usage means only the
ten amendments ratified in 1791.
The United States Bill of Rights plays a central role in American law and government,
and remains a fundamental symbol of the freedoms and culture of the nation.
One of the original fourteen copies of the U.S. Bill of Rights is on public
display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Read the Bill of Rights:
Amendment I (1): Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; rights of
assembly and petition
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 I (1): Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; rights of
assembly and petition
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 (3): Housing of soldiers
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 (4): Search and arrest warrants
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 (5): 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.
Amendment VI (6): Rights 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 defence.
Amendment VII (7): 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.
Amendment VIII (8): Bails, fines, and punishments
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX (9): 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.
Amendment X (10): Powers retained by the states and the people
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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