Why the Bill of Rights Was Written
By: Kenny Leones | Posted: 23rd November 2009
The Bill Of Rights of the United States Constitution is an important piece of legislation that ensured some of the basic rights of US citizens. On September 25, 1789, The US Congress proposed amendments to Constitution. Of the twelve proposed amendments, ten passed the state legislatures. It was ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights is also known as Amendments I to X of the United States Constitution.
When the adoption of the US Constitution was being debated, there were concerns that the Constitution would give a chance for the central government to be tyrannical. There were still fresh reminders of the civil rights violations committed by Britain before the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. The Bill of Rights was the answer to these concerns since the basic the Bill of Rights basically spelled out the immunities of citizens.
Amendment I guarantees freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble and freedom to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II says that the people have the right to own and use guns since it is important in keeping the security of the nation.
Amendment III deals with quartering of soldiers. Soldiers can be cannot be quartered in time of peace without the consent of the owner. While in time of war, soldiers must be quartered in way that was allowed by law.
Amendment IV assures the citizen the right against unreasonable searches and seizures of persons, houses, papers, and effects. This means that no one has the right to search or seize any individual, the individual's house, papers and other effects without a proper warrant.
Trial by grand jury, protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination, due process of law and compensation for the taking of private property for public use are the rights guaranteed in Amendment V.
Amendment VI deals with the rights of the accused. The accused has the right to a fair and speedy public trial, right to tried by an impartial jury from a district where the crime had been committed, right to know what crime the person is accused of, right to see witnesses against him face to face, right to have witnesses in his behalf and the right to have an lawyer that will defend him.
Amendment VII guarantees a trial by jury on civil suits where the value being contested is more than twenty dollars.
Amendment VIII protects the citizens against excessive imposition of bails and fine and infliction of cruel and unusual punishments.
Amendment IX says that the rights of a citizen are not limited to the rights enumerated in the Bill Of Rights.
Amendment X states that powers that were neither given nor prohibited by the Constitution to the United States are reserved to the states and the people.
Most of the rights enumerated in the Bill Of Rights are now guaranteed civil rights not just in the United States but also in most countries of the world.This article is free for republishing
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Tags: freedom of speech, united states constitution, us congress