Overview
The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, safeguarding fundamental individual liberties and limiting government power. Originally, twelve amendments were proposed by Congress in 1789; ten were ratified promptly, one much later, and one never ratified.
Background and Ratification
- On September 25, 1789, Congress proposed twelve constitutional amendments to address state conventions’ concerns about federal power.
- Ten of these twelve amendments were ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures on December 15, 1791.
- These ten ratified articles form the Bill of Rights.
- Article 2 became the 27th Amendment in 1992; Article 1 was never ratified.
Major Provisions of the Bill of Rights
Amendment I: Freedoms
- Ensures freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
Amendment II: Right to Bear Arms
- Protects the right to keep and bear arms tied to security of a free state.
Amendment III: Quartering of Soldiers
- Limits quartering of soldiers in private homes during peace or war without owner’s consent.
Amendment IV: Search and Seizure
- Guards against unreasonable searches and seizures and sets requirements for warrants.
Amendment V: Rights of the Accused
- Provides for grand jury indictments, prohibits double jeopardy and self-incrimination, ensures due process, and requires compensation for taken property.
Amendment VI: Criminal Prosecutions
- Guarantees a speedy, public trial by impartial jury, information on charges, confrontation of witnesses, compulsory process, and legal counsel.
Amendment VII: Right to Jury in Civil Cases
- Preserves right to jury trial in civil cases over twenty dollars and restricts re-examination of jury findings.
Amendment VIII: Punishments
- Forbids excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.
Amendment IX: Non-Enumerated Rights
- Declares that listing certain rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights held by the people.
Amendment X: Powers Reserved to States or People
- States that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.
Additional Notes
- The original capitalization and punctuation are preserved as in the enrolled original of the Joint Resolution of Congress.
- The Bill of Rights is on permanent display at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.