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The Bill of Rights
THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AS
RATIFIED BY THE STATES ("The Bill of Rights")**
Amendment I
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 II
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
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
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
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
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
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 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 excessive fines
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the
Constitution, 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 Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively,
or to the people.
**Because
the Ninth and Tenth Amendments are not specific guarantees of
individual liberties, in some usages "The Bill of Rights" refers only
to the first eight amendments.
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