(first 10 Amendments)
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.
Amendment II
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.
Amendment III
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.
Amendment IV
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.
Amendment V
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.
Amendment VI
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.
Amendment VII
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.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed
to deny or disparage others
retained by the people.
Amendment X
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.