THE BILL OF RIGHTS Amendments I - X 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Excessive bail shall not be required,
nor excessive
fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain
rights,
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the
people.
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.