The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments in the Constitution, regarding the liberties of the people and the government’s limit to power. These ten amendments were added to the Constitution to secure certain rights of the people and control the government’s role in our lives; and because it is a living document, it changes.
Article one it gives us the right to peacefully assemble and the freedom of speech. This means we can gather together and profess what we believe to be true as long as we don’t stir the people up to violence. It also states that the press has the right to report what they want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, and there will never ever be a country religion, but we are free to have any religion we wish.
Article two says we have the right to bear arms; now that means that we can have a gun or weapon on our person of in our houses, specifically to protect ourselves from the government.
Number three states that the government cannot have armed soldiers living in privet homes. This insures privacy from the government.
The forth says that the police of military cannot have unwarranted seizures, searches or arrests or for an unreasonable cause.
The fifth Article gives the right to no self incrimination. This means if you get caught committing a crime or for one you did in the past, then the officer will remind you of this right and that whatever you say will be used against you in court. Have you ever watched a movie with a criminal getting caught and he says, “I’m pleading the fifth.”? That means he is calling upon his right to remain silent. It also says that no one can turn you in for a crime you were already tried for. This is called double jeopardy.
The sixth guarantees a quick and public trial with a jury. And to be convicted, all 12 have to agree. If all don’t agree or disagree, then a new jury will take their place.
The seventh one states that a civil suit will have a jury as well. A civil suit is when someone gets hurt by accident or something gets damaged; and not for the offender to go to jail, but for him or her to pay money. A criminal suit is for a crime, and the penalty is jail; but in some severe cases the death penalty will be used.
Number eight saves us from cruel or unusual punishments. This means that the President cannot give you a penalty like hanging you by your toenails, or have you beaten with chairs. It also demands a presumption of innocence before you are proven guilty.
Interestingly enough, in the ninth Article, it guarantees our other rights not specified in the Constitution.
Last but definitely not the least, is Article ten. It shows the Federal Government to what extent it can rule over us. It only should have the power granted by the Constitution.
The states have all the other power; this power cannot be taken away from them. These rights were given to us to keep the government from becoming like what the Founding Fathers feared; a monarch.
