U.S. Constitution

The Bill of Rights

By: Leah Thompson

The First Amendment

The actual 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.

What it means: This amendment is about the

freedom of speech of people, and how the people of America have the right to peacefully come together and petition against the government.

Example: It is used today in our country

as a way for people to protest against certain things and say what they want.

The Second Amendment

The Actual Amendment: 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.

What it means: It means that the people of

our country have the right to own a weapon in order to protect themselves and that that right cannot be taken away from them.

Example: It is used in our country today

so that people can own a gun to protect themselves or go hunting.

The Third Amendment

The actual amendment: 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.

What it means: It means that people in our

country don’t have to provide a room or food for a soldier unless they want to.

Example: It is used in our country

today as a way for people to have their own say on letting strangers into their homes.

The Fourth Amendment

The actual amendment: 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.

What it means: It means that the police or

anyone can not search a persons home without a warrant backed up by probable cause and it has to be specific to a certain person, place or thing.

Example: It is used in our country today as

a way for a persons home/belongings to not be violated by the police during a case/trial.

The Fifth Amendment

The actual amendment: 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 offense 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.

What it means: It means that no person in the U.S. can be held accountable for a crime unless found guilty by a grand

jury. It also means that a person in the U.S. cannot have their private property taken away from them to be used for the public unless they are compensated for it.

Example: It is used in our country today in court rooms and so that private property cannot be taken away from

the owners.

The Sixth Amendment

The actual amendment: 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 defense.

What it means: It means that if a person is

accused of committing a crime he or she has the right to a quick and public trial. Also that they have the right to know who accused them of the crime and the right to know what crime they are being accused of.

The Seventh Amendment

The actual amendment: 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 re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

What it means: It means that a case cannot

have a re-trial in court. It also means that if the money owed in the case is over $20 then the people don’t have the right to have a jury.

Example: It is used today in court cases

so that a person if found not guilty for a case cannot be re-tried for the same case if new evidence comes up.

The Eighth Amendment

The actual amendment: Excessive bail shall not be

required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

What it means: It means that they payment

required for bail or other fines can not be to the extreme nor can punishments that are inflicted be extreme or cruel either.

Example: It is used today so that in a

case a person doesn’t have to pay an extreme amount of money in payment for bail.

The Ninth Amendment

The actual amendment: The enumeration in the

Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

What it means: It means that the people of

our country can not be denied of their rights.

Example: It is used today in our

country in court rooms so that a person’s rights aren’t violated in a case.

The Tenth Amendment

The actual amendment: 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.

What it means: It means that the U.S.

doesn’t have the right to individually govern a state and that the state decides the rights of the people in it.

Example: It is used today in our

country so that every sate isn’t the same in their rights.

Conclusion In conclusion the Bill of

Rights is a document that this country needs for many things. Such as our crime and punishments or our free will to do many things. Our country needs to know where the line is between religion and politics, war and people’s homes. The Bill of Rights help us know where that line is and without this document our country would not be stable.

Bibliography http://billofrightsinstitute.org/fo

unding-documents/bill-of-rights/

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/billofrightsintro.html

http://www.webdesign-guru.co.uk/icon/rubber-stamps-free-graphics/

http://www.aboutbail.com/help/9/will-i-get-my-bail-money-back

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