TheBillofRights_WhatDoesitSay__NationalArchives.pdf

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The Bill of Rights: What Does it Say?

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans’
rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the
individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law
and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the
States. And it specifies that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall
not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

The First Amendment

The First Amendment provides several rights protections: to express ideas through
speech and the press, to assemble or gather with a group to protest or for other reasons,
and to ask the government to fix problems. It also protects the right to religious beliefs and
practices. It prevents the government from creating or favoring a religion.

The Second Amendment

The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.

The Third Amendment

The Third Amendment prevents government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers
to use their homes. Before the Revolutionary War, laws gave British soldiers the right to
take over private homes.

The Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment bars the government from unreasonable search and seizure of
an individual or their private property.

The Fifth Amendment

The Fi�h Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes. It states
that serious criminal charges must be started by a grand jury.  A person cannot be tried
twice for the same o�ense (double jeopardy) or have property taken away without just
compensation. People have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be
imprisoned without due process of law (fair procedures and trials.)

The Sixth Amendment

The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections to people accused of crimes, such
as the right to a speedy and public trial, trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases, and
to be informed of criminal charges. Witnesses must face the accused, and the accused is
allowed his or her own witnesses and to be represented by a lawyer. 

The Seventh Amendment

The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in Federal civil cases.

The Eighth Amendment

The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual
punishment.

The Ninth Amendment

The Ninth Amendment states that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean
that people do not have other rights that have not been spelled out.

The Tenth Amendment

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272

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How Did it Happen? 

The Tenth Amendment says that the Federal Government only has those powers
delegated in the Constitution. If it isn’t listed, it belongs to the states or to the people.

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