Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since its inception, with the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, being ratified on December 15, 1791. The process of amending the Constitution involves proposing changes, which are then approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. The Bill of Rights was influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the English Bill of Rights, and other documents, and it safeguards individual freedoms and limits government power. These amendments address a range of issues, including the right to free speech, religion, and the right to bear arms, while also ensuring protections such as due process and trial by jury.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments | Bill of Rights |
| Date of ratification of the Bill of Rights | 15 December 1791 |
| Number of amendments proposed by the First Congress of the United States | 12 |
| Number of amendments ratified by state legislatures | 10 |
| Number of amendments approved by the Senate | 12 |
| Number of amendments approved by the House | 17 |
| Ninth Amendment | States that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that have not been spelled out |
| Tenth Amendment | States that the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution |
| Date of proposal of the Lee Resolution | 7 June 1776 |
| First Amendment | 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 |
| Second Amendment | The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed |
| Third Amendment | No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner |
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What You'll Learn
The first 10 amendments
An amendment is a change or addition to the United States Constitution. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, and consist of the following:
First Amendment: Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. The people also have the right to assemble peaceably and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment: The Right to Bear Arms
A well-regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Third Amendment: Quartering of Soldiers
No soldier shall, in peacetime, be quartered in any house without the owner's consent, nor in wartime, but in a manner prescribed by law.
Fourth Amendment: Search and Arrest
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. No warrants shall be issued without probable cause.
Fifth Amendment: Rights in Criminal Cases
The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for those accused of crimes. It states that serious criminal charges must be started by a grand jury, and a person cannot be tried twice for the same offence (double jeopardy) or have property taken away without just compensation. People also have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be imprisoned without due process of law (fair procedures and trials).
Sixth Amendment: Right to a Fair Trial
The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections to people accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial, trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases, and to be informed of criminal charges. Witnesses must face the accused, and the accused is allowed their own witnesses and to be represented by a lawyer.
Seventh Amendment: Rights in Civil Cases
The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in Federal civil cases.
Eighth Amendment: Bail, Fines, Punishment
The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
Ninth Amendment: Rights Retained by the People
The Ninth Amendment states that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that are not explicitly mentioned.
Tenth Amendment: States' Rights
The Tenth Amendment states that the Federal Government only has those powers delegated to it in the Constitution. Any powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved for the States or the people.
Dreamers' Rights: The Fourteenth Amendment's Protection
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Freedom of speech and religion
The US Constitution is a document that outlines the country's system of government and the rights of its citizens. Amendments are changes or additions to the Constitution. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are together known as the Bill of Rights, which was added to limit federal power and protect individual liberties.
The First Amendment, which was passed by Congress on September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791, guarantees four specific freedoms: religion, speech, press, and assembly.
The freedom of religion is protected by prohibiting the government from establishing an official religion or prohibiting the free exercise of any religion. This means that the government cannot favour any particular religion over another, nor can it prevent people from practising their chosen religion.
The freedom of speech is protected by prohibiting the government from abridging or restricting the speech of its citizens. This means that people are free to express their ideas and opinions without fear of government censorship or retaliation. This freedom also extends to the freedom of the press, which allows for the publication and dissemination of information and ideas without government interference.
The right to peaceably assemble and petition the government is also protected by the First Amendment. This means that people have the right to gather peacefully and to present their grievances or requests to the government. This right is essential for a functioning democracy, as it allows citizens to organise, protest, and influence government policy.
The First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech and religion is a cornerstone of American democracy, ensuring that individuals have the right to express themselves and practise their faith without government interference. These freedoms are considered natural rights, inherent to all people, and are essential for maintaining a free and open society.
Racial Profiling: The Constitutional Amendment Protection
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Right to bear arms
An amendment is a change or addition to the United States Constitution. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Second Amendment, also known as "The Right to Keep and Bear Arms," is part of these original amendments and protects the right of Americans to possess weapons for self-defence, the defence of their rights, and their property. The original text of the Second Amendment is as follows:
> "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 interpreted."
The notion of citizens possessing weapons for their defence predates the Constitution. In the English Bill of Rights of 1689, for example, Parliament allowed Protestant English citizens to "have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law." Similarly, during the colonial and revolutionary periods, legal documents such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Pennsylvania Constitution asserted the right of citizens to arm themselves.
The Second Amendment's purpose has evolved over time. Initially, it served as a bulwark against foreign invasion and federal overreach. However, in the 20th and 21st centuries, it has taken on a broader significance, encompassing general safety and the protection of life, liberty, and property. In the landmark Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Court affirmed that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep a gun for self-defence, not just as part of a state-run militia. The Court also clarified that this right is not unlimited and does not prevent certain prohibitions, such as those forbidding "the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill."
The Amendment: Paying Taxes is Necessary
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Protection of individual liberty
An amendment is a change or addition to the United States Constitution. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, written by James Madison, make up the Bill of Rights, which became law on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to protect individual liberties and limit government power.
The first four amendments of the Bill of Rights pertain to liberty. The First Amendment protects the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government. The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms, citing the importance of a well-regulated militia. The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent. The Fourth Amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures of themselves or their property, requiring a warrant for government intrusion into citizens' homes.
The Fifth Amendment outlines rights in criminal cases, and the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a fair trial. The Seventh Amendment outlines rights in civil cases, and the Eighth Amendment addresses bail, fines, and punishment. The Ninth Amendment states that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution shall not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution to the states or the people.
The Bill of Rights was influenced by documents such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, the English Bill of Rights, and the Massachusetts Body of Liberties. It also reflects the ideas of Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke, who discussed fundamental rights, including the "right to life, liberty, and property."
The 25th Amendment: A Constitutional Change
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The Ninth Amendment
An amendment is a change or addition to the United States Constitution. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
> The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
In other words, just because a right is not specifically listed in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have that right. This amendment addresses a "great residuum" of rights that have not been "thrown into the hands of the government", as James Madison put it. Madison was concerned that enumerating various rights could "enlarge the powers delegated by the constitution". The Ninth Amendment became part of the Constitution on December 15, 1791, upon ratification by three-fourths of the states.
Amendments and States' Rights: Understanding the Constitution's Power
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Frequently asked questions
An amendment is a change or addition to the Constitution. Amendments can be proposed by two-thirds of both Houses of Congress and must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures to become valid.
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments protect civil liberties and state powers, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms.
There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution. The first ten, including the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. The 18th Amendment, ratified in 1913, prohibited the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. The 21st Amendment, ratified in 1933, repealed the 18th Amendment. The 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, concerned the election of Senators.
Amendments are proposed to address concerns or gaps in the original Constitution. The Ninth Amendment, for example, clarifies that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights not mentioned. The Tenth Amendment, meanwhile, limits the Federal Government to only the powers delegated in the Constitution.
