"[B]egun and held at the City of New York on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand
seven hundred and eighty nine
"THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting
the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or
abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be
added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will
best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution:
"RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representative of the United States of
America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the
following Articles by proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as
Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which
Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all
intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz..
"ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United
States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the
several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution. . . ."*
seven hundred and eighty nine
"THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting
the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or
abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be
added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will
best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution:
"RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representative of the United States of
America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the
following Articles by proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as
Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which
Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all
intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz..
"ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United
States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the
several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution. . . ."*
| I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. |
| Bill of Rights Convention |
Remember ever; and always, that your country was founded... By the stern old Puritans who made the deck of the Mayflower an altar of the living God, and whose first act on touching the soil of the new world was to offer on bended knees thanksgiving to Almighty God. Henry Wilson 18th U.S. Vice Pres. Under Ulysses S. Grant |
"Today, prayer is still a powerful force in America, and our faith in God is a mighty source of strength. Our Pledge of Allegiance states that we are 'one nation under God,' and our currency bears the motto, 'In God We Trust.' The morality and values such faith implies are deeply embedded in our national character. Our country embraces those principles by design, and we abandon them at our peril." Ronald Reagan, May 6, 1982 |
If MY people, which are called by MY name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek MY Face, and turn from their wicked ways; Then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Version of the Holy Bible |
"AMENDMENT I
"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 II
"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 III
"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 IV
"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 V
"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.
"AMENDMENT VI
"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 defence.
"AMENDMENT VII
"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 VIII
"Excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual
punishments inflicted.
"AMENDMENT IX
"The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the people.
"AMENDMENT X
"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."**
| BILL OF RIGHTS The first ten amendments adopted June 15, 1790 |
* P. 20, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, booklet
published by the National Center for Constitutional Studies
** Pp. 364-366, APPENDIX B: THE CONSTITUTION, ORIGINAL
INTENT by David Barton
published by the National Center for Constitutional Studies
** Pp. 364-366, APPENDIX B: THE CONSTITUTION, ORIGINAL
INTENT by David Barton
" 'On every question of construction, [let us] carry our selves
back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect
the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying
what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented
against it, conform to the probable one in which it was
passed.'" (Bergh, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 15:449.)"*
Thomas Jefferson
back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect
the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying
what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented
against it, conform to the probable one in which it was
passed.'" (Bergh, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 15:449.)"*
Thomas Jefferson
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