The First Ten Amendments or
The Bill of Rights

The First Amendment

1. The Opening Clause - states that Congress can not make laws about the forthcoming topics;
2. The Establishment Clause - prohibits the government from establishing a state sanctioned church or religion and from favoring one religious group over another;
3. The Free Exercise Clause - says Congress cannot interfere with people's religious expression;
4. The Freedom of Speech Clause - this guarantees freedom of speech to all Americans without fear of being punished by the government for saying something the government doesn't agree with;
5. The Freedom of the Press Clause - guarantees freedom of the press to print or advocate any message they want without fear of being punished by the government;
6. The Freedom of Assembly Clause - guarantees that you can assemble with anyone you want to whenever you want;
7. The Freedom of Petition Clause - guarantees that you can petition government officials to correct things that you think the government may be doing wrongly.

Second Amendment

1. The Well Regulated Militia Clause - which says each state can have its own local militia;
2. The Right to Bear Arms Clause - which says that individuals have the right to keep and bear arms.

Third Amendment

1. The No Quartering of Troops Clause - This means that the government is not allowed to house troops in people's homes or property during peace time without their consent, or during war time except as prescribed by law.

Fourth Amendment

1. The Unreasonable Searches and Seizures Clause - this means that government officials must have a very good reason, such as evidence that points to a crime, in order to search someone's personal property;
2. The Warrants Clause - This clause states that the government must have a properly executed warrant, meaning that a judge has looked at the evidence and has issued a formal order, in order to search or confiscate someone's personal property. In other words, they cannot search your property just because they want to.

Fifth Amendment

1. The Grand Jury Clause - Gives defendants the right to have very serious charges screened and approved by a Grand Jury of their fellow citizens;
2. The Military Cases Clause or Grand Jury Exception Clause - This clause excepts people in the armed services in actual service from the Grand Jury right in the previous clause;
3. The Double Jeopardy Clause - This means that a person cannot be tried or punished for the same crime more than once;
4. The Self-Incrimination Clause - People cannot be forced to testify against themselves in court. This is popularly called "pleading the Fifth" or "taking the Fifth;"
5. The Due Process Clause - This states that the government cannot punish someone unless there has been a thorough process followed that protects the rights of the accused during a trial or investigation;
6. The Eminent Domain Clause/Just Compensation Clause - This clause states that the government must pay a fair amount for any lands it takes through the process of eminent domain.

Sixth Amendment

1. The Speedy Trial Clause - This clause states that people have a right to have their case tried quickly and not drag on forever and ever;
2. The Public Trial Clause - This guarantees a public trial. In other words, the government cannot try someone in secret;
3. The Right to Trial by Jury Clause - This means that criminal defendants have the right to be judged by a jury of their neighbors;
4. The Arraignment Clause - This states that people have a right to be notified of It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man up to die before the accused has met his accusers face-to-face, and has been given a chance to defend himself against the charges.It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man up to die before the accused has met his accusers face-to-face, and has been given a chance to defend himself against the charges.the nature and circumstances of the crime they are being charged with;
5. The Confrontation Clause - This states that a defendant has the right to be confronted by the witnesses who are testifying against him;
6. The Compulsory Process Clause - This states that the defendant must be allowed to procure witnesses in his favor;
7. The Right to Counsel or Assistance of Counsel Clause - this states that a defendant has the right to have a lawyer for his defense.

Seventh Amendment

1. The Trial by Jury in Common Law Clause - This clause is the third mention in the First Ten Amendments of the right to trial by jury;
2. The Reexamination Clause - This clause forbids any court from reexamining or overturning any decision made by a jury.

Eighth Amendment

1. The No Excessive Fines Clause - This clause says that courts may not impose excessive bail or fines upon defendants. What exactly an excessive fine is is up to interpretation;
2. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause - This clause forbids courts from imposing cruel or unusual punishments upon people. Usually the definition of a cruel or unusual punishment changes with each successive generation.

Ninth Amendment

1. The Enumeration of Rights Clause - This clause guarantees protection of any rights not mentioned in the Constitution.

Tenth Amendment

1. The Powers Not Delegated Clause or Reserved Powers of the States Clause - This clause says that any rights not designated as being under the power of the Federal Government are automatically reserved by the states.