begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution. RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution 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 Constitution; viz. ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Speaker of the House of Representatives John Adams, Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate.
Attest, John Beckley, Clerk of the House of Representatives. Sam. A. Otis Secretary of the Senate. *On September 25, 1789, Congress transmitted to the state legislatures twelve proposed amendments, two of which, having to do with Congressional representation and Congressional pay, were not adopted. The remaining ten amendments became the Bill of Rights.
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Speech, and the Press
Congress shall make no law Concerning; pertaining to. an A government-supported church; the act of making a particular religious sect or denomination the official church of a state or nation. or Forbidding; preventing; hindering. the free Use, practice, or application; the act or process of taking part in. thereof, or Reducing, diminishing, or making less. the freedom of The expression of ideas by spoken words. or of the The process or business of printing and publishing., or the right of the people Without disturbance; peacefully. to assemble and to To make a formal request to (usually in writing). the government for a Relief or compensation for some wrong or injury. of Conditions that cause harm or distress; formal complaints..
Amendment 2 - The Right to Bear Arms
A Put in good order. MA nation's able-bodied men who are not enlisted in the regular armed forces but may be called into military service in an emergency. being necessary to the Protection; safety. of a free A nation or government., the right of the people to keep and To carry; to be equipped or furnished with. AWeapons; firearms. shall not be Broken; violated; trespassed..
Amendment 3 - The Housing of Soldiers
No soldier shall, in time of peace, be Provided with housing or shelter. in any house without the Approval or agreement. of the owner, nor in time of war Except; unless. in a manner to be Ordered, directed, or laid down as a rule. by law.
Amendment 4 - Protection from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
The right of the people to be Free from danger; safe. in their Living bodies; physical existence., houses, papers, and Goods; movable property (as opposed to land). against Going beyond reason or moderation. (In this case, going beyond what is needed to determine whether a person accused of a crime is guilty.)Instances of police officers looking for evidence of crimes. and Instances of police officers arresting suspected criminals or taking evidence of criminal activity. shall not be Broken; infringed; trespassed., and no Orders or documents issued by a judge authorizing police officers to make arrests, search or seize property, or otherwise administer justice. shall To be issued, sent out, or delivered.Except; unless. upon Sufficient reasons for believing that a criminal charge is based on good evidence., supported by A solemn declaration by an individual (such as in a court of law) that involves calling upon God to witness the truth of what one says. or A solemn declaration that may be made in place of an oath and often results in legal penalties if the statement is found to be false., and Individually; distinctly; in detail. describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment 5 - Protection of Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property
No person shall be Required to give an explanation or accounting of; charged with. a A crime that is punishable by death. or otherwise (Pronounced IN-fuh-mus.) A crime that is punishable by death or imprisonment. unless on a (Pronounced in-DITE-munt.) A formal, written charge of criminal misconduct presented to a court of law by a grand jury. of a A body of twelve to twenty-three citizens appointed to examine criminal accusations to decide whether there is enough evidence to require a public trial., except in Lawsuits, accusations, or legal questions brought before a judge or court of law for decision.Originating; appearing; coming into being. in the land or naval forces, or in the A nation's able-bodied men who are not enlisted in the regular armed forces but may be called into military service in an emergency., when in actual service in time of war or Pertaining to the government or the people at large. danger; nor shall any person be Liable; obligated; responsible. for the same A crime; a violation of the law. to be twice put In danger of losing. (That is, as a result of a court trial.) life or limb; nor shall be Forced; required. in any criminal case to be a A person who has definite knowledge of a fact or event and may give testimony in a court of law. against himself, nor To have (something) withheld or taken away. life, liberty, or property without Legal procedures (such as a trial by jury) carried out according to the established law of the land.; nor shall private property be taken for public use without Fair payment..
Amendment 6 - Rights of Accused Persons in Criminal Cases
In all Instances of taking legal action in court against someone accused of committing a crime., the A person who has been accused of breaking the law. (Often called the defendant in a court case.) shall enjoy the right to a speedy and Open to the people; not secret. trial by an Fair; not favoring one party or side more than the other.A body of citizens appointed to examine a case brought before a court of law and to give a verdict (decision) according to the evidence presented. (See III.2.3.) of the state and A particular area or region.In which; where. the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been Before; at an earlier time.Defined; fixed; established. by law, and to be informed of the Kind, type, or class. and A reason or motive. of the A charge of crime or wrongdoing.; to be Set face to face with; brought into the presence of. the Persons who have definite knowledge of a fact or event and may give testimony in a court of law. against him; to have The use of government authority or officers to compel or require certain actions. for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have the assistance of One or more lawyers qualified to give legal advice and represent a person or organization in a court case. for his defense.
Amendment 7 - Rights in Civil Cases
In Lawsuits; formal applications to a court of law for justice; acts of suing in court for the recovery of a right or claim.Occurring in; involving. common law, where the value In dispute; in question; contended for. (That is, in the lawsuit being argued in court.) shall To surpass or go beyond; to be greater than. twenty dollars, the right of trial by A body of citizens appointed to examine a case brought before a court of law and to give a verdict (decision) according to the evidence presented. shall be Kept safe from harm or destruction; upheld or sustained; kept free from change, decay, or corruption., and no (See III.2.2, which has been modified by this provision.) tried by a jury shall be In a different way than; by other means than.Inquired into again; tried again. in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment 8 - Excessive Bail, Fines, and Punishments Forbidden
Going beyond what is fair, proper, or normal. bail shall not be required, nor excessive Amounts of money charged by the government as punishment for breaking the law.Laid on or charged as a burden or penalty., nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment 9 - Other Rights Kept by the People
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be Understood, interpreted, or explained. to To withhold; to refuse to grant. or To injure or dishonor; to degrade or make of less value. others Held; kept in possession. by the people.
Amendment 10 - Undelegated Powers Kept by the States and the People
The powers not Entrusted or assigned, as to an authorized representative. to the United States by the Constitution, nor Forbidden; made unlawful; ruled out. by (That is, the Constitution.) to the states, are Retained; kept back; set aside. to the states Individually; separately., or to the people.
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