Article I. (Freedom of speech, religion)
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.
Article II.(Right to bear arms)
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.
Article III.(Protection from military occupation in times of peace.)
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 IV.(Right to privacy - Protection from unreasonable searches & seizures)
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 V.(Right to Jury trial, no "Double Jeopardy", right to private property)
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
offence 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.
Article VI.(Right to speedy trial, and to be allowed to face
your accusers)
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.
Article VII.(Right to Jury trial in civil suits)
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 re-examined in any Court of the United States,
than according to the rules of the common law.
Article VIII.(Protection from "excessive" and "cruel and unusual"
punishments)
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article IX.(This constitution does not limit the rights of people)
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed
to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article X.(This constitution limits the power of the
federal government.)
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.
Article the first :
In 1789, twelve proposed articles of amendment were submitted to the
States. Of these, Articles III through XII were ratified and became the first
ten amendments to the Constitution, popularly known as the Bill of Rights.
In 1992, proposed Article II was ratified and became the 27th amendment to
the Constitution. (The ratification process took over 200 years!)
This leaves one final amendment, still awaiting ratification. The following
amendment would have become the 1st Amendment to the Constitution, if it
would have been ratified. It is the only article
of the original 12 not to have been ratified. (It was only ratified by 8 states, two short of the requirement) It deals with the ratio
of elected officials to citizens. It would set a limit on the number of
people each congressman could represent. The yet-to-be-ratified Article I
reads as follows:
I. 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, after which the proportion
shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one
hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty
thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two
hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that
there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one
Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
If this had been ratified, the House of Representatives would now have over
5,600 members!
Amendment XI (1798) - States may not be sued in federal courts. (Sort of)
Amendment XII (1804) - Change in procedure for electing President & V.P.
Amendment XIII (1865) - Prohibition of slavery (except as a punishment for crime)
Amendment XIV (1868) - Privileges or immunities, due process, elections and debt
Amendment XV (1870) - All Races may vote
Amendment XVI (1913) - Congress may tax incomes
Amendment XVII (1913) - Senators no longer appointed by state legislatures
Amendment XVIII (1919) - Prohibition on manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol
Amendment XIX (1920) - Females may vote
Amendment XX (1933) - "Lame duck" session of Congress eliminated
Amendment XXI (1933) - Repeal of Amendment XVIII (Repeal of Prohibtion)
Amendment XXII (1951) - Limit of Presidential terms
Amendment XXIII (1961) - Election rules for the District of Columbia
Amendment XXIV (1964) - Elimination of Poll Tax and the right to vote
Amendment XXV (1967) - Rules of Presidential succession
