Protections Afforded Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
- Amendment 1: Freedom of religion, speech, press, and
assembly; the right to petition the government.
Protections Against Arbitrary Military Action
- Amendment 2: Right to bear arms and maintain state
militias
(National Guard).
- Amendment 3: Troops may not be quartered in homes in
peacetime.
Protection Against Arbitrary Police and Court Action
- Amendment 4: No unreasonable searches or seizures.
- Amendment 5: Grand Jury indictment required to prosecute
a
person for a serious crime. No "double jeopardy" -- being tried
twice for the same offense. Forcing a person to testify against
himself or herself prohibited. No loss of life, liberty or
property without due process.
- Amendment 6: Right to speedy, public, impartial trial
with
defense counsel, and right to cross-examine witnesses.
- Amendment 7: Jury trials in civil suits where value
exceeds
20 dollars.
- Amendment 8: No excessive bail or fines, no cruel and
unusual punishments.
Protections of States' Rights and Unnamed Rights of the
People
- Amendment 9: Unlisted rights are not necessarily denied.
- Amendment 10: Powers not delegated to the United States
or
denied to states are reserved to the states or to the people.
The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, but its application was
broadened significantly by the 14th Amendment to the
Constitution, which was ratified in 1868. A key phrase in the
14th Amendment -- "nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty or property without due process of law" -- has been
interpreted by the Supreme Court as forbidding the states from
violating most of the rights and freedoms protected by the Bill
of Rights.
An Outline of American
Government: Contents