BILL OF RIGHTS
A citizen of the United States of America may have been born in the country or naturalized later in life. All citizens share a set of specific rights, set forth in the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution. Collectively, these 10 rights are known as the Bill of Rights. The rights afforded through the 10 amendments were designed to protect citizens' "unalienable rights" or natural rights, such as the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech and the due process of law.
General Rights
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services condenses the rights of all American citizens into six basic themes. Citizens have the right to free expression and to worship according to their beliefs. They have the right to a trial by jury that is provided promptly and without bias. They hold the right to elect public officials through voting and they have the right to run for elected offices, themselves. Citizens also reserve the right to apply for employment within federal offices.
In the Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights addresses the majority of citizens' rights.
The first amendment covers the freedom of religion, press and expression and specifically prohibits Congress from making any rulings to the contrary.
The second amendment preserves the right of the citizens to have weapons and form a militia.
The third amendment prohibits the government from forcing citizens to house soldiers in their homes.
The fourth amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches or seizures of their property.
The fifth amendment ensures that the government cannot take property from citizens without compensation and establishes some of the conditions for a fair trial.
The sixth and seventh amendments ensure that citizens receive a trial before a jury and that it is timely.
The eighth amendment outlaws cruel and unusual punishment.
The ninth amendment asserts that the Bill of Rights, itself, should not be interpreted as the only rights that U.S. citizens should enjoy.
The 10th amendment gives any power that is not specifically attributed to the United States government in the Constitution to the individual states or to the citizens.
Additional Amendments
After the Bill of Rights, additional amendments further clarify and extend U.S. citizens' rights. For example, amendment 14 specifies that anyone born in or naturalized into the United States is a U.S. citizen. The amendment also establishes the practice of representing individual states within the legislative branch. The 13th amendment abolishes slavery and the 15th and 19th amendments establish that citizens' rights cannot be withheld on account of race, color or gender.
History of the Bill of Rights
The drafting of the Constitution of the United States in 1787 provided a balanced system of government with three branches and defined the government's role and operation. However, the document did not assert the individual rights of the citizens. The Bill of Rights, inspired by Thomas Jefferson and drafted by James Madison, provided for these rights. Initially, it faced opposition from both Federalists and Anti-Federalists and did not achieve full ratification until 1791.
A citizen of the United States of America may have been born in the country or naturalized later in life. All citizens share a set of specific rights, set forth in the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution. Collectively, these 10 rights are known as the Bill of Rights. The rights afforded through the 10 amendments were designed to protect citizens' "unalienable rights" or natural rights, such as the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech and the due process of law.
General Rights
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services condenses the rights of all American citizens into six basic themes. Citizens have the right to free expression and to worship according to their beliefs. They have the right to a trial by jury that is provided promptly and without bias. They hold the right to elect public officials through voting and they have the right to run for elected offices, themselves. Citizens also reserve the right to apply for employment within federal offices.
In the Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights addresses the majority of citizens' rights.
The first amendment covers the freedom of religion, press and expression and specifically prohibits Congress from making any rulings to the contrary.
The second amendment preserves the right of the citizens to have weapons and form a militia.
The third amendment prohibits the government from forcing citizens to house soldiers in their homes.
The fourth amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches or seizures of their property.
The fifth amendment ensures that the government cannot take property from citizens without compensation and establishes some of the conditions for a fair trial.
The sixth and seventh amendments ensure that citizens receive a trial before a jury and that it is timely.
The eighth amendment outlaws cruel and unusual punishment.
The ninth amendment asserts that the Bill of Rights, itself, should not be interpreted as the only rights that U.S. citizens should enjoy.
The 10th amendment gives any power that is not specifically attributed to the United States government in the Constitution to the individual states or to the citizens.
Additional Amendments
After the Bill of Rights, additional amendments further clarify and extend U.S. citizens' rights. For example, amendment 14 specifies that anyone born in or naturalized into the United States is a U.S. citizen. The amendment also establishes the practice of representing individual states within the legislative branch. The 13th amendment abolishes slavery and the 15th and 19th amendments establish that citizens' rights cannot be withheld on account of race, color or gender.
History of the Bill of Rights
The drafting of the Constitution of the United States in 1787 provided a balanced system of government with three branches and defined the government's role and operation. However, the document did not assert the individual rights of the citizens. The Bill of Rights, inspired by Thomas Jefferson and drafted by James Madison, provided for these rights. Initially, it faced opposition from both Federalists and Anti-Federalists and did not achieve full ratification until 1791.
