bill of rights for dummies
Bill of Rights for Dummies
The Bill of Rights is a collective term used to signify the first ten amendments of the constitution of the United States.
The first article (unratified) dealt with the number of seats that were to be allotted for each of the representatives; whereas, the second article (ratified in 1992 as the 27th Amendment) dealt with increasing the salaries and compensations of Congressmen. The ratified rights constitute the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution. And since they are concerned with the freedom and rights of citizens, they are collectively referred to as the Bill of Rights. By 2006, total 27 amendments were added to the US constitution.
First Amendment:
- Freedom to exercise any religion (Congress should not enact any law in favor of establishing a religion)
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of press
- Right to assemble peacefully
- Right to petition for redress of grievances
- Right to keep and bear arms
- Prohibition of quartering of troops (without the consent of the owner)
- Prohibition of search (papers, persons, houses) and seizure without reason
- Prohibition of arrest for answering any capital or infamous crime
- Protection from double jeopardy
- Prohibition of taking private property for public use
- Protection of rights of the accused
- Permission for trial by jury
- Right to counsel
- Compulsory civil trial by jury (according to common law)
- Protection from excessive bail
- Prohibition of imposing excessive fines
- Prohibition of cruel and unusual punishments
- Preservation of certain rights that are not enumerated in the Bill of Rights, but are retained by the people
- Reservation of certain powers to the states and/or people who are not delegated to the national government by the US constitution