All About the U.S. Government - Section 1 - The Republic |
When the Constitution was ratified in 1789, people were concerned
that it did not protect some basic rights. They thought that the
Constitution should be changed to protect these rights. On December
15, 1791, 10 amendments were officially added to the Constitution.
These first 10 amendments assure certain freedoms and
rights; together they are known as the Bill of Rights.
Fifth Amendment: protects against self-testimony, being tried twice for the same crime, and the seizure of property under eminent domain "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." Sixth Amendment: the rights to a speedy trial, trial by jury, and to the services of a lawyer "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." Seventh Amendment: guarantees trial by jury in cases involving a certain dollar amount "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." Eighth Amendment: prohibits excessive bail or fines and cruel and unusual punishment for crimes "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." Ninth Amendment: the listing of rights (in the Bill of Rights) does not mean that other rights are not in effect "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." Tenth Amendment: power not granted to the Federal Government is reserved for states or individual 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." What We Learned in This Lesson: * The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to protect certain rights. * The Bill of Rights contains 10 amendments. * These amendments are our basic rights as citizens of the United States. * A right is different than a privilege.
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