The Bill of Rights

of The United States of America

The First Ten Amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were proposed September 25, 1789 and 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 re-examined 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.


 
First Amendment battle in Congress
Senator Exon's Communications Decency Act is now part of the Senate
Telecommunications Bill. It would restrict freedom of speech on the Internet
by making Service Providers liable for content they carry, unlike other
"common carriers" such as the telephone companies, US Postal Service and
Independent Mail Services or Retail outlets providing literature.

Exon's bill paves the way for the government to censor the Internet.