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

The Senate considers the House amendments

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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.

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, two thirds of both Houses concurring, 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.

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.

ARTICLE THE FIRST.

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, to which number one representative shall be added for every subsequent increase of forty thousand, until the representatives shall amount to two hundred, to which one representative shall be added for every subsequent increase of sixty thousand persons.

ARTICLE THE SECOND.

No law varying the compensation for the service of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

ARTICLE THE THIRD.

Congress shall make no law establishing religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

ARTICLE THE FOURTH.

That Congress shall make no law, abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press, or the right of the People peaceably to assemble and consult for their common good, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

ARTICLE THE FIFTH.

A well regulated militia, being the best security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

ARTICLE THE SIXTH.

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.

ARTICLE THE SEVENTH.

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.

ARTICLE THE EIGHTH.

No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb by any public prosecution 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 private property be taken for public use without just compensation.

ARTICLE THE NINTH.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, 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 defence.

ARTICLE THE TENTH.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment by a Grand Jury.

ARTICLE THE ELEVENTH.

No fact, triable by a Jury according to the course of common law, shall be otherwise re-examinable, in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of common law.

ARTICLE THE TWELFTH.

In suits at common law, the right of trial by Jury shall be preserved, where the consideration exceeds twenty dollars.

ARTICLE THE THIRTEENTH.

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

ARTICLE THE FIFTEENTH.

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

ARTICLE THE SEVENTEENTH.

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.

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