Since It's an Election Year - Part 7

For some reason every time I get to this point of the Constituion I end up having to apologize to anyone who may have been following this blog for the length of time since my last post.  I seem to get ill and then have to will myself not to post anything political for several days so that I can fulfill my promise that I wouldn't until the entirety of the Constitution was covered. To that end today I will post the Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution that were proposed and approved by the founders.




"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government." Patrick Henry




AMENDMENTS
TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


Amendment I.*

*The first ten Amendments (Bill of Rights) were ratified effective

December 15, 1791.

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 defence.


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.