The Bill of Rights: A Transcription

www.archives.gov

November 27, 2007 =

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and = held at the=20 City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one = thousand seven=20 hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, = having at=20 the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, = in order=20 to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further=20 declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as = extending the=20 ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure = the=20 beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of = Representatives of=20 the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of = both=20 Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the=20 Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the = Constitution of=20 the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by = three=20 fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and = purposes,=20 as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the=20 Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by = Congress, and=20 ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to = the fifth=20 Article of the original Constitution.

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first = ten=20 amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These = amendments=20 were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the = "Bill of=20 Rights."

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of = religion, or=20 prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of = speech,=20 or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, = and to=20 petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a = free=20 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=20 the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to = be=20 prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, = papers,=20 and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not = be=20 violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, = supported=20 by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to = be=20 searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise = infamous=20 crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, = except in=20 cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when = in=20 actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any = person be=20 subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life = or limb;=20 nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness = against=20 himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without = due=20 process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public = use,=20 without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right = to a=20 speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and = district=20 wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall = have=20 been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the = nature and=20 cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses = against him;=20 to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, = and to=20 have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall = exceed=20 twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and = no fact=20 tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of = the United=20 States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines = imposed, nor=20 cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall = not be=20 construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the = Constitution, nor=20 prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States = respectively,=20 or to the people.

Amendments=20 11-27

Note: The capitalization and = punctuation in=20 this version is from the enrolled original of the Joint Resolution = of=20 Congress proposing the Bill=20 of Rights, which is on permanent=20 display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building, = Washington,=20 D.C.

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