THE BILL OF RIGHTS

Bill of Rights with Amendments

The Ten Original Amendments: The Bill of Rights.
Passed by Congress September 25, 1789.
Ratified December 15, 1791.


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.

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Additonal Amendmets

Amendment XI

Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to
extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against
one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens
or subjects of any foreign state.



Amendment XII

Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified July 27, 1804.

The Electors shall meet in their respective States and vote by ballot
for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be
an inhabitant of the same State with themselves; they shall name in
their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct
ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of
votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit
sealed to the seat of the Government of the United States, directed to
the President of the Senate; the President of the Senate shall, in the
presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the
certificates and the votes shall then be counted; - The person having
the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if
such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed;
and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the
highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as
President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by
ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall
be taken by States, the representation from each State having one
vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members
from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall
be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall
not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon
them,before the fourth day of March next following, then the
Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or
other constitutional disability of the President. The person having
the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the
Vice-President, if such numbers be a majority of the whole number of
electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the
two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the
Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds
of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number
shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally
ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of
Vice-President of the United States.



Amendment XIII

Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.

Section 1

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for
crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist
within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.



Amendment XIV

Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868

Section 1

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life,
liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor to deny to any
person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2

Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States
according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of
persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the
right to vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President
and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress,
the executive and judicial officers of a State, or the members of the
Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such
State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United
States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion,
or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced
in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to
the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such
State.

Section 3

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or Elector
of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or
military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having
previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of
the United States, or as a member of any State Legislature, or as an
executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the
Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection
or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies
thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House,
remove such disability.

Section 4

The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by
law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for
services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be
questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or
rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or
emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims
shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5

The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of this article.



Amendment XV

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

Section 1

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race,
color, or previous condition of servitude.

Section 2

The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.



Amendment XVI

Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes,
from whatever sources derived, without apportionment among the several
States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.



Amendment XVII

Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from
each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each
Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch
of the State Legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the
Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of
election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the Legislature of any
State may empower the Executive thereof to make temporary appointments
until the people fill the vacancies by election as the Legislature may
direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or
term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the
Constitution.



Amendment XVIII

Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919.

After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture,
sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the
importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United
States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for
beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to
enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified
as an amendment to the Constitution by the Legislatures of the several
States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the
date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.



Amendment XIX

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.



Amendment XX

Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified February 6, 1933.

Section 1

The terms of the President and the Vice-President shall end at noon on
the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives
at noon on the 3rd day of January, of the years in which such terms
would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms
of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such
meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they
shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3

If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President,
the President elect shall have died, the Vice-President elect shall
become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before
the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President
elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice-President elect
shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the
Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President
elect nor a Vice-President shall have qualified, declaring who shall
then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall
be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President
or Vice-President shall have qualified.

Section 4

The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of
the persons from whom the House of representatives may choose a
President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them,
and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the
Senate may choose a Vice-President whenever the right of choice shall
have devolved upon them.

Section 5

Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October
following the ratification of this article (October 1933).

Section 6

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified
as an amendment to the Constitution by the Legislatures of
three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date
of its submission.



Amendment XXI

Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.

Section 1

The Eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United
States is hereby repealed.

Section 2

The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or
Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of
intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby
prohibited.

Section 3

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified
as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several
States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the
date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.



Amendment XXII

Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951.

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than
twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as
President, for more that two years of a term to which some other
person was elected President shall be elected to the office of
President more that once.

But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of
President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not
prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or
acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes
operative from holding the office of President or acting as President
during the remainder of such term.

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified
as an amendment to the Constitution by the Legislatures of
three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date
of its submission to the States by the Congress.



Amendment XXIII

Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.

Section 1

The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States
shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the
whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the
District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more
than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those
appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the
purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be
electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and
perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 2

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.



Amendment XXIV

Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

Section 1

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or
other election for President or Vice President, for electors for
President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in
Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any
State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or any other tax.

Section 2

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.



Amendment XXV

Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.

Section 1

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or
resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2

Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the
President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take the office
upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.

Section 3

Whenever the President transmits to the President Pro tempore of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written
declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of
his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to
the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice
President as Acting President.

Section 4

Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal
officers of the executive departments or of such other body as
Congress may by law provide, transmits to the President Pro tempore of
the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their
written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the
powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately
assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President Pro tempore
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his
written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the
powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a
majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments
or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmits within
four days to the President Pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the
President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.
Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within
forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the
Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written
declaration, or, if Congress is not in session within twenty-one days
after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote
of both houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers
and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to
discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall
resume the powers and duties of his office.



Amendment XXVI

Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified June 30, 1971.

Section 1

The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or
older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or
any state on account of age.

Section 2

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.



Amendment XXVII

Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992

No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and
Representatives shall take effect, until an election of
Representatives shall have intervened.