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American Bill of Rights
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The First Amendment
The First amendment guarantees basic freedoms to american citizens, such as: the freedom of speech, the of press, the freedom to petition, the freedom of religion, and the freedom of assembly. There are limitations to some of these freedoms though. The freedom speech may be infringed when you speak of plots to overthrow the government. -
The Second Amendment
The second amendment gives citizens the right to keep and bear arms. It also says that the government can control, but not prevent, who owns weapons. -
The Third Amendment
The Third Amendment says that Americans will never be forced to quarter troops in their homes. It syas that in times of peace a soldier cannot move into someones home without the homeowner's consent. Its inspiration came from the resentment of the British law that required colonists to house British soldiers. -
The Fourth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable search and seizure or personnel property. However, if law enforcement believes that you may have comitted a crime they can obtain a search warrant, which grants them the ability to search someones home or buisness and take property as evidence. -
The Fifth Amendment
The fifth amendment protects the rights of people who are accused of crimes. It says that no one can be put on trial without an indictment. It also says that a person cannot be put on trial twice for the same crime, this is known as the double jeopardy clause. It also protects private property by eliminating the governments power of eminenet domain. -
The Sixth Amendment
This amendment requires that accused people be told the exact nature of charges against them. It also guarantees the right of a speedy trial by jury. If an accused person does rewuest a jury they must be impartial, and if possible the trial sould be held in the same district that the crime was committed. -
The Seventh Amendment
The seventh amendment guarantees the right to a trial in civil cases, if the amount of money involved is more than twenty dollars. However, the amendment does not require a jury trial, so if both side decide to settle their dispute with a judge instead it can be arranged. -
The Eighth Amendment
The eigth amendment guarantees those accused a speedy trial. It also gives those who are convicted a choice to go to jail, or to remain free by paying bail. The eigth amendment also forbids that a convicted person be given an excessive bail. It also protects people from being administered cruel and unusual punishment. -
The Ninth Amendment
The ninth amendment recognizes that the people still retain right that are not included in the Constitution. One example of this is the right to privacy, which is not included in the Constitution. This gives people the right to have confidential medical records and enjoy privacy within their homes. -
The Thenth Amendment
The tenth amendment states that any powers not given specifically to the national governement are reserved for the states to decide. These are examples of reserved powers, and were added to the Constitution to keep Congress from getting too strong.
