| United States The United States of America The United States of America Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 07 July 2012 |
Bill of Rights
Passed by Congress September 25, 1789
Ratified December 15, 1791
1.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
2.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
3.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
4.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
5.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 offence 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
6.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
7.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
8.Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
9.The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people
10.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
The later amendments to the constitution
11.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
Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795
12.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 they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons 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 the 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 number 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
Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified July 27, 1804
13.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
Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865
There is hardened belief there was an earlier 13th amendment, which disappeared from the amendments at the finish of the civil war.
Some believe that this amendment states that lawyers cannot hold elected office in government
14.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 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 power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article
Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868
15.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 power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation--
Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Altered by Amendment 21
19.The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any States on account of sex
The Congress shall have power by appropriate legislation to enforce the provisions of this article
21.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
The 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
Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933
22.Section 1
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 than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the
President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by
the 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
Section 2
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
Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951
23.Section 1
The District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the 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
Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961
24.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 any poll tax or other tax
Section 2
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation
Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964
Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967
26.Section 1
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any State on account of age
Section 2
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation
Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified June 30, 1971
Passed by Congress September 25, 1789
Ratified December 15, 1791
1.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
2.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
3.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
4.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
5.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 offence 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
6.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
7.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
8.Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
9.The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people
10.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
The later amendments to the constitution
11.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
Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795
12.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 they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons 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 the 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 number 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
Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified July 27, 1804
13.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
Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865
There is hardened belief there was an earlier 13th amendment, which disappeared from the amendments at the finish of the civil war.
Some believe that this amendment states that lawyers cannot hold elected office in government
14.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 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 power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article
Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868
15.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 power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation--
Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Altered by Amendment 21
19.The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any States on account of sex
The Congress shall have power by appropriate legislation to enforce the provisions of this article
21.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
The 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
Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933
22.Section 1
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 than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the
President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by
the 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
Section 2
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
Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951
23.Section 1
The District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the 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
Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961
24.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 any poll tax or other tax
Section 2
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation
Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964
Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967
26.Section 1
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any State on account of age
Section 2
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation
Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified June 30, 1971
On December 15, 1791,the Constitution of the United States was amended. The Bill of Rights is the term
for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments explicitly limit the
Federal government's powers, protecting the rights of the people by preventing Congress from abridging
freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religious worship, and the
right to bear arms, preventing unreasonable search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, and
self-incrimination, and guaranteeing due process of law and a speedy public trial with an impartial jury.
These rights apply to citizens and non-citizens alike. In addition, the Bill of Rights states that "the
enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others
retained by the people," [1] and reserves all powers not granted to the Federal government to the
citizenry or States. Since 1794, it has been amended seventeen additional times specifically to limit
federal power and to expand rights for the governed. Its last amendment was on March 23, 1971, limiting
the power of Congress to increase their compensation. For a full English translation of the United States
of America's constitution, click here.
for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments explicitly limit the
Federal government's powers, protecting the rights of the people by preventing Congress from abridging
freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religious worship, and the
right to bear arms, preventing unreasonable search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, and
self-incrimination, and guaranteeing due process of law and a speedy public trial with an impartial jury.
These rights apply to citizens and non-citizens alike. In addition, the Bill of Rights states that "the
enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others
retained by the people," [1] and reserves all powers not granted to the Federal government to the
citizenry or States. Since 1794, it has been amended seventeen additional times specifically to limit
federal power and to expand rights for the governed. Its last amendment was on March 23, 1971, limiting
the power of Congress to increase their compensation. For a full English translation of the United States
of America's constitution, click here.