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[Bill of Rights]
The conventions
of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the
Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction
or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive
clauses should be added.
- Article the
first [Not Ratified]
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the
Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty
thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the
proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not
less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative
for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives
shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so
regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred
Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty
thousand persons.
- Article the
second [Amendment XXVII - Ratified 1992]
No law, varying the
compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives,
shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have
intervened.
- Article the
third [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.
- Article the
fourth [Amendment II][4]
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.
- Article the
fifth [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.
- Article the
sixth [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.
- Article the
seventh [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 offence 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.
- Article the
eighth [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 defence.
- Article the
ninth [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 re-examined in any Court of the United States, than
according to the rules of the common law.
- Article the
tenth [Amendment VIII]
Excessive bail shall not
be required, nor excessive
fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.
- Article the
eleventh [Amendment IX]
The enumeration in the
Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the people.
- Article the
twelfth [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.
Notes:
4. In the Congressional
Statutes at Large, Vol. 1, Page 97, at http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=001/llsl001.db&recNum=220,
the first and third commas are omitted, so that it reads:
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.
The question remains open of where those additional, and
grammatically spurious, commas came from, but they do not change the
legal meaning of the provision, and it would not be erroneous to omit
them.