Jonah Patel
The US Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights. On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution, 10 of which were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments form the Bill of Rights and include the right to bear arms, freedom of speech, and the right to a fair trial. The remaining two amendments were ratified later, with the 27th Amendment being ratified in 1992, 203 years after it was first proposed.
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What You'll Learn
The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights became law on this date, 150 years before it was broadcast to an estimated 63 million listeners—almost half of the US population at the time.
The fourth amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and arrests, while the fifth amendment outlines rights in criminal cases, including protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination. The sixth amendment guarantees the right to a fair trial, and the seventh amendment ensures the right to a trial by jury in civil cases. The eighth amendment prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
In addition to these protections, the ninth amendment recognises that there are other rights retained by the people that may not be specifically mentioned in the Constitution. The tenth amendment further emphasises this by stating that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
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Amendments proposed in 1789
The seven amendments of the US Constitution are part of the Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments. The US Constitution has had 27 amendments in total.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution. Ten of these were ratified on December 15, 1791, and became the first ten amendments, or the Bill of Rights.
The first amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government. The second amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. The third amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in civilian homes during peacetime without consent. The fourth amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. The fifth amendment guarantees various rights in criminal cases, including protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination. The sixth amendment guarantees the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases and the right to confront accusers and obtain witnesses. The seventh amendment guarantees the right to a trial by jury in certain civil cases and places limits on civil lawsuits.
The eighth amendment prohibits excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishments. The ninth amendment states that the people retain all rights not specifically granted to the government, while the tenth amendment states that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
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Amendments ratified in 1791
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The amendments were first proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789, and ten of the twelve proposed amendments were ratified in 1791.
The ten amendments ratified in 1791 are as follows:
- Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly: 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.
- Right to bear arms.
- Quartering of soldiers.
- Search and arrest.
- Rights in criminal cases.
- Right to a fair trial.
- Rights in civil cases.
- Bail, fines, punishment.
- Rights retained by the People.
- States' rights.
The seventh amendment, ratified in 1791, states that in suits at common law, where the value in controversy exceeds twenty dollars, the right to a trial by jury shall be preserved. No fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any US Court than according to the rules of common law.
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Amendments regarding citizens' rights
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791. The first Congress proposed 12 amendments, but only 10 were ratified at that time. The 11th proposal was ratified in 1992 as the 27th Amendment, and the 12th proposal was never ratified.
The first 10 amendments, which make up the Bill of Rights, are as follows:
- Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly: 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.
- The right to bear arms.
- Quartering of soldiers.
- Search and arrest.
- Rights in criminal cases.
- Right to a fair trial.
- Rights in civil cases.
- Bail, fines, and punishment.
- Rights retained by the People.
- States' rights.
The 7th Amendment, which is part of the Bill of Rights, states that in suits at common law where the value in controversy exceeds $20, the right to a trial by jury shall be preserved. This amendment helps to ensure that citizens have the right to a trial by jury in certain civil cases and that the facts tried by a jury cannot be re-examined by another court.
In addition to the Bill of Rights, there have been several other amendments to the Constitution that pertain to citizens' rights. For example, the 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, guarantees women's suffrage, and the 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowers the voting age to 18 years old.
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Amendments about the law and Congress
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791.
The 7th Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, preserves the right to a trial by jury in certain civil cases and dictates that the facts tried by a jury cannot be re-examined by the United States Courts.
The 11th Amendment, ratified in 1795, states that the judicial power of the United States does not extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state or foreign state.
The 17th Amendment, ratified in 1913, outlines the election of Senators. It dictates that the Senate shall be elected by the people and that in the case of a vacancy, the executive authority of the state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies, provided that the legislature of any state may empower the executive to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, deals with the start of terms for elected officials. It states that the terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January and that the Congress shall assemble at least once in every year and that this meeting shall be on the 3rd day of January unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
The 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, deals with the compensation of Senators and Representatives. It states that no law varying the compensation for the services of Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives has intervened.
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