“Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Speech, and the Press
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.
Amendment 2 - The Right to Bear Arms
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.
Amendment 3 - The Housing of Soldiers
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.
Amendment 4 - Protection from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
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.
Amendment 5 - Protection of Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property
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 offense 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.
Amendment 6 - Rights of Accused Persons in Criminal Cases
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.
Amendment 7 - Rights in Civil Cases
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 reexamined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment 8 - Excessive Bail, Fines, and Punishments Forbidden
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment 9 - Other Rights Kept by the People
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment 10 - Undelegated Powers Kept by the States and the People
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.”
Credit to NCCS National center for Constitutional Studies
1: Freedom of Religion, Speech, and Press 2: Right to Bear Arms 3: Housing of Soldiers 4: Protection from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures 5: Protection to Life, Liberty, and Property 6: Rights of Accused Persons in Criminal Cases 7: Rights in Civil Cases 8: Excessive Bail, Fines, and Punishments Forbidden 9: Other Rights Kept by the People 10: Undelegated Powers Kept by the States and the People
You can maybe remember it by an acronym or sentence.
For a sentence, try this: “Free-spoken, religious guns owned by soldiers are protected by liberty” for 1-5: “Criminals have civil rights to no excessive fines” for 6-8: and finally, “People have undelegated power” for 9-10! (of course, feel free to make up your own!)
As for an acronym, try something like this- SGSSLCCBRU (This is put as speech, guns, soldiers, searches/seizures, life/liberty, criminals, civility, bail, rights, undelegated), but make sure you make the letters somethin you can understand and remember!
In the Declaration of Independence, the American colonists complained about the British government putting taxes on them without their voice being heard. Hence the phrase "no taxation without representation." This referred to the fact that the colonists had no one to represent them in the British parliament.
In today's US government, citizens have the chance to influence the laws created in the country. Citizens do this by voting for members of Congress. Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. These elected officials help to create nation laws/taxes. These officials are also supposed to represent the people who they serve. So, if Americans are not happy with any new tax laws/reforms, they can write, call, or meet their representative in order to express their concerns. The elected Congress person will take this into consideration when voting.
