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  1. Overview: United States Bill of Rights 1789 (2021 Edition)
  2. Full Record: United States Bill of Rights 1789 (2021 Edition)
  3. Committee:The Senate
  4. Session: 1789-09-02 11:00:00
  5. Event type: CREATE

United States Bill of Rights 1789 (2021 Edition)

Twelve articles of amendment to the Constitution, introduced in September 1789 by Congress.

The Senate

The upper chamber of the United States Congress

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Document introduced in:

Session 4963: 1789-09-02 11:00:00

The Senate considers the House amendments

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Clause by Clause Consideration of the House's Proposed Amendments

There are 0 proposed amendments related to this document on which decisions have not been taken.

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; and, as extending the grounds of public confidence in the government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution. [+e126976]

[+e126976]

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, two thirds of both Houses [+e126975]concurring[+e126978]deeming it necessary[+e126975 -e126978], That the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution—Viz. [+e126975]

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ARTICLES in addition to, and amendment of, the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution. [+e126975]

[+e126975]

ARTICLE THE FIRST. [+e126863]

[+e126863]

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, [+e126863]to[+e126868]after[+e126863 -e126868] which[+e126863] num[+e126868], the proportion shall [+e126863 -e126868]be[+e126863]r[+e126868] [+e126863]s[+e126863 -e126868]o[+e126863]ne[+e126868] re[+e126863]presentativ[+e126868]gulated by Congress, that ther[+e126863 -e126868]e shall be [+e126863]added for every subsequent inc[+e126868]not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Rep[+e126863 -e126868]re[+e126863]a[+e126868]se[+e126863]ntative[+e126863 -e126868] [+e126863]o[+e126868]f[+e126863]or every[+e126863 -e126868] forty thousand[+e126863] persons[+e126863 -e126868], until the [+e126863]nu[+e126863 -e126868]ARTICLE THE SECOND. [+e126873]

[+e126873]

No law varying the compensation [+e126873]for[+e126874]to[+e126873 -e126874] the [+e126873]service of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States[+e126874]members to Congress,[+e126873 -e126874] shall take effect, until an election of Representatives [+e126873] [+e126877]

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ARTICLE THE THIRD. [+e126877]

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Congress shall make [+e126877]articles of faith or a mode of worship[+e127025]no law e[+e126877 -e127025]stablishing [+e126877]one [+e126878 -e126891]religio[+e126877]n,[+e126891]us sect[+e126878 -e126891]n,[+e126877 -e126878] [+e126877]of religion, or abridging [+e127025]o[+e126877]pr[+e126891] f[+e127025]oh[+e126891]edom [+e127025]ib[+e126891] speech, or the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and petition to the government for the redress of grievan[+e127025]ces[+e127025 -e127027]iting the [+e126891 -e127027]OUR[+e127033]f[+e126891 -e127033]r[+e126877 -e127033] [+e126877 -e127027]society [+e126878 -e127027] [+e126894 -e127027]

[+e126894 -e127027]

ARTICLE THE FOURTH[+e126894 -e127027].[+e126894 -e127033] [+e126894 -e127027]

[+e126894 -e127027]

Th[+e126894 -e127027]a[+e126907 -e127027]nec[+e127031 -e127033]t Congr[+e126907 -e127033]sar[+e127031 -e127033]y [+e127031]e[+e126907 -e127027]o the[+e127031]ss shall make no law, abridging th[+e126907 -e127027]e Freedom of Speech, [+e126894 -e127027]or[+e126907 -e127027]and of the[+e126894 -e127027] [+e126894 -e127033]Press, [+e126894 -e127027]or[+e126907 -e127027]and the right [+e126894 -e127027]FIF[+e127035]of [+e126894 -e127035]the People peaceably to assemble and consult for the[+e126894 -e127027]ir[+e126907 -e127027] common good, and to [+e126894 -e127027]petition[+e126907 -e127027]apply to the [+e126894 -e127027]g[+e126907 -e127027]G[+e126894 -e126907]overnment for [+e126894]a[+e126907]the[+e126894 -e126907] redr[+e126894] [+e126910]

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ARTICLE THE FIFTH. [+e126910]

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A well regulated militia,[+e126910] compose[+e126910 -e126915]IX[+e127035]d of[+e126910 -e127035] the body of the People,[+e126910 -e126915] being the best security of a free State, the right of the People to keep an[+e126910] [+e126918]

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ARTICLE THE SIXTH. [+e126918]

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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. [+e126918]

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ARTICLE THE SEVENTH. [+e126920]

[+e126920]

The right of the People to be secure in thei[+e126920]SEVEN[+e127035]r pe[+e126920 -e127035]rsons, houses, [+e126920]held [+e127037]p[+e126920]o ans[+e127037]a[+e126920]er for a cap[+e127037]p[+e126920]tal or otherwise infamous [+e127037]e[+e126920]rim[+e127037]r[+e126920], unless on a[+e127037]s,[+e126920]resentmen[+e127037] [+e126920 -e127037]an[+e126920]or [+e127037]d [+e126920]dictment of a grand[+e127037]ef[+e126920]ury, except in cases [+e127037]fec[+e126920 -e127037]ts[+e126920]ising in the lan[+e127037],[+e126920] [+e126920 -e127037]ag[+e126920]r naval forces,[+e127037]ainst [+e126920 -e127037]unre[+e126920]in the mi[+e127037]as[+e126920]tia when in actual service, in time of war or[+e127037]onable se[+e126920 -e127037]arches a[+e126920]danger; nor shall any [+e127037]n[+e126920]e[+e127037]d[+e126920]s[+e127037] [+e126920]n be [+e127037]s[+e126920]ubj[+e127037]ei[+e126920]t to be p[+e127037]zu[+e126920] in jeopardy of life or limb,[+e127037]res[+e126920 -e127037], shall not be viol[+e126920]ce;[+e127037]ate[+e126920 -e127037]d, and no warrants shall issue, but upon pro[+e126920]b[+e126920 -e127037]able cause supported by oath or [+e126920];[+e127037]a[+e126920 -e127037]ffirmation, and particularly desc[+e126920],[+e127037]ribing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. [+e126920]

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ARTICLE THE EIGHTH. [+e126922]

[+e126922]

No person[+e126922]EIGH[+e127039] sh[+e126922 -e127039]all be [+e126922]twi[+e126923]subject, ex[+e126922 -e126923]ce[+e126922] [+e126923]p[+e126922]u[+e126923]t in [+e126922]jeopardy[+e126923]case[+e126922 -e126923] of [+e126922]life or limb by any public prosecution[+e126923]impeachment, to more than one trial, or one punishment[+e126922 -e126923] for the same offense, 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 pri[+e126922]A[+e126926]RTICLE THE N[+e126926 -e127041]NIN[+e127043]INTH.[+e126926 -e127043] [+e126926 -e127041]

[+e126926 -e127041]

In all criminal prose[+e126926 -e127041] where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars,[+e127045]cutions, the accused sh[+e126926 -e127041]j[+e127045]a[+e126926 -e127045]ll enjoy the right to [+e126926 -e127041]; and no fact tried by a jury[+e127045]a [+e126926 -e127041]shall be ot[+e127045]s[+e126926 -e127045]pee[+e126926 -e127041]wis[+e127045]dy[+e126926 -e127041]re-examined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law[+e127045] and public tria[+e126926 -e127045]l, to[+e126926 -e127051] be informed of the[+e126926 -e127045] nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for [+e126926 -e127041]ELEV[+e127051]obtai[+e126926 -e127051]ning witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence. [+e126926 -e127041]

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ARTICLE THE TENTH. [+e126928 -e127041][+e126928]

[+e126928]

N[+e126929]The trial of all crimes (except in cases of[+e126928 -e126929]TWELF[+e127051] impeachm[+e126928 -e127051]ent, and in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in ac[+e126928 -e126929]ARTICLE THE ELEVENTH. [+e126932]

[+e126932]

No [+e126932]appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, shall be allowed, where the value in controversy shall not amount to one thousand dollars, nor shall any [+e126932 -e126935]fact, triable by a Jury[+e126932]ARTICLE THE TWELFTH. [+e126940]

[+e126940]

In suits at common law, the right of trial by Jury shall be preserved[+e126940], where the consideration exceeds twenty dollars[+e126941].[+e126940] [+e126944]

[+e126944]

ARTICLE THE THIRTEENTH. [+e126944]

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Excessive bail shall not be required; nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. [+e126944]

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ARTICLE THE FIFTEENTH. [+e126948]

[+e126948]

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. [+e126948]

[+e126964]

ARTICLE THE SEVENTEENTH. [+e126964]

[+e126964]

The powers not delegated [+e126964]to the United States [+e126967]by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it, to the States, are reserved to the States respectively[+e126964] or to the people[+e126967].[+e126964] [+e126964 -e126976]

[+e126964 -e126967]

[+e126964 -e126967]

according to the course of [+e126932]the [+e126932 -e126935]common law,[+e126932] shall[+e126935] be otherwise re-examinable,[+e126932] in any court of the United States,[+e126935] than according to the rules of common law. [+e126932]

[+e126932]

tual service in time of War or public danger) shall be by an Impartial Jury of the Vicinage, with the requisite of unanimity for conviction, the right of challenge, and other accustomed requisites; and n[+e126928 -e126929]o person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherw[+e126928]ise[+e126929]ays [sic][+e126928 -e126929] infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment by a Grand Jury[+e126928]; but if the crime be committed in a place in the possession of an enemy, or in which an insurrection may prevail, the indictment and trial may by law be authorised in some other place within the same State[+e126928 -e126929]. [+e126928]

[+e126928]

[+e126928 -e126929]

vate property be taken for public use without just compensation. [+e126922]

[+e126922]

d bear arms, shall not be infringed[+e126910], but no one religiously scrupulous of bearing arms, shall be compelled to render military service in person[+e126910 -e126915].[+e126910] [+e126910 -e126915]

[+e126910 -e126915]

ess of grievances[+e126894], shall not be infringed[+e126894 -e126907].[+e126894] [+e126894 -e126907]

in pre[+e126878 -e126891]fe[+e126878]re[+e126878 -e126891]nc[+e126878]exercise[+e126891]prohibiting the free[+e126877 -e126891] exe[+e126877 -e126878]re[+e126891]rcise [+e126877 -e126891]to[+e126878 -e126891] o[+e126878]ther[+e126877 -e126891]s[+e126878 -e126891]eof, nor shall the [+e126877 -e126891]rights of Conscience be infringed.[+e126877] [+e126877 -e126878]

shall have intervened.[+e126873]mb[+e126863 -e126874]e[+e126863 -e126868]r[+e126863] of R[+e126863 -e126868]epresentatives shall amount to two hundred, [+e126863]to[+e126868]after[+e126863 -e126868] which [+e126863]one representativ[+e126868]the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that ther[+e126863 -e126868]e shall [+e126863]not [+e126863 -e126868]be [+e126863]added for every subsequent inc[+e126868]less than two hundred Representatives, nor less than one Rep[+e126863 -e126868]re[+e126863]a[+e126868]se[+e126863] of six[+e126868]ntative for every fif[+e126863 -e126868]ty thousand persons. [+e126863]

[+e126863]

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