Your Bill of Rights: In simpler words
1st Amendment: Protects our right to practice our religion, to speak freely, to assemble in public, to address the government, and for the press to publish freely.
2nd Amendment: Protects our right to own guns in order to maintain a well-regulated militia.
3rd Amendment: Guarantees that the army cannot force homeowners to give them room and board.
4th Amendment: Protects our homes, persons, and property from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
5th Amendment: Guarantees our right to a fair trial, and protects us from being forced to testify against ourselves. And protects us from double jeopardy – being tried again for the same
crime.
6th Amendment: Guarantees a person accused of a crime the right to have a speedy trial, an impartial jury, and the assistance of an attorney, and to be able to confront witnesses against them.
7th Amendment: Guarantees the right to a trial by jury in federal civil cases.
8th Amendment: Prohibits excessive bail or fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
9th Amendment: People may have other rights even though they are not listed in the Bill of Rights.
10th Amendment: Powers not given to the U.S. government by the Constitution belong to the states or to the people.
Full Text Version:
Amendment I
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.
Amendment II
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.
Amendment III
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.
Amendment IV
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.
Amendment V
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.
Amendment VI
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.
Amendment VII
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 reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
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.
