Congress of the United States. BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF NEW-YORK, AND EIGHTY-NINE. • The Conventions of a number of States, having, at the time of their adopting the Conftitution, expreffed a defire, in order to prevent mifconftruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and reftriclive claufes fhould be added: And, as extending the ground of public confidence in the government, will beft enfure the beneficent ends of its inftitution : ESOLVED by the Senate and House of Repre Congress affembled, two-thirds of both Houfes concurring, That the following articles be propofed to the legiflatures of the feveral states, as amendments to the conftitution of the United States, all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the faid legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purpofes, as part of the faid Conftitution; viz. Articles in addition to, and amendment of, the Conftitu tion of the United States of America, propofed by Congrefs, and ratified by the Legislatures of the fe veral States, purfuant to the fifth article of the ori ginal Conftitution. Article the First. After the firft enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there fhall be one reprefentative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion fhall be fo regulated by Congrefs, that there fhall be not lefs than one hundred reprefentatives, nor less than one representative for every forty thousand perfons, until the number of reprefentatives fhall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion fhall be fo regulated by Congrefs, that there fhall be not lefs than two hundred reprefentatives, nor more than one reprefentative for every fifty thousand perfons. Article the Second. No law varying the compenfation for the fervices of the Senators and Reprefentatives, fhall take effect, until an election of reprefentatives shall have intervened. Article the Third. Congrefs fhall make no law refpecting an eftablishment of religion, or prohibting the free exercife thereof; or abridging the freedom of fpeech, or of the prefs; or the right of the people peaceably to affemble, and to petition the government for a redrefs of grievances. Article the Fourth. A well-regulated militia being neceffary to the fecurity of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms fhall not be infringed. Article the Fifth. No foldier fhall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the confent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Article the Sixth. The right of the people to be fecure in their perfons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreafonable fearches and feizures, fhall not be violated, and no warrants fhall iffue, but upon probable cause, fupported by oath or affirmation, and particularly defcribing the place to be fearched, and the perfons or things to be feized. Article the Seventh. No perfon fhall be held to anfwer for a capital or otherwife infamous crime, unless on a prefentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cafes arifing in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual fervice in time of war or public danger; nor fhall any perfon be fubject for the fame offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor fhall be compelled in any criminal cafe to be witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due procefs of law; nor fhall private property be taken for public ufe, without juft compenfation. Article the Eighth. In all criminal profecutions, the accufed fhall en joy the right to a fpeedy and public trial, by an im partial jury of the ftate and diftrict wherein the crime fhall have been committed, which district shall have been previously afcertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and caufe of the accufation; to be confronted with the witneffes against him; to have compulfory procefs for obtaining witneffes in his favour, and to have the affiftance of counsel for his defence. Article the Ninth, In fuits at common law, where the value in controversy fhall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury fhall be preferved, and no fact, tried byajury, fhall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. Article the Tenth. Exceffive bail fhall not be required, nor exceffive fines impofed, nor cruel and unufual punishments inflicted. Article the Eleventh. The enumeration in the constitution, of certain rights, fhall not be conftrued to deny or difparage others retained by the people. Article the Twelfth. The powers not delegated to the United States by the conftitution, nor prohibited by it to the ftates, are referved to the ftates refpectively, or to the people. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, Speaker of the House of Reprefentatives. JOHN ADAMS, Vice-Prefident of the United States, and Prefident of the Senate. JOHN BECKLEY, Clerk of the House of Reprefentatives. Note. The ten laft articles of amendments have been M 3 Table of Contents. Acts paffed at the Firft Seffion of the Third Congrefs. CHAPTER I. An act making an alteration in the flag IV. An act in alteration of the act eftab- V. An act for the remiffion of the duties VII. An act making further provision for the VIII. An act authorizing a loan of one mil PAGE 6 7 7 9 16 37 |