Civil Liberties

Freedom of religion: Protects the right to practice any religion or none at all without government interference.

1st Amendment

Freedom of speech: Guarantees individuals can express opinions publicly or privately without government censorship.

1st Amendment

Freedom of the press: Protects the media’s ability to publish news, opinions, and information freely.

1st Amendment

Right to peacefully assemble: Allows people to gather in groups for protests, meetings, or demonstrations.

1st Amendment

Right to petition the government for redress of grievances: Ensures citizens can complain to or seek changes from the government.

1st Amendment

Right to keep and bear arms: Protects individuals’ right to own and carry weapons for lawful purposes.

2nd Amendment

Freedom from quartering soldiers in private homes in peacetime: Prevents the government from forcing citizens to house soldiers.

3rd Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures: Protects people from being searched or having property taken without cause.

4th Amendment

Requirement of warrants based on probable cause: Requires police to obtain a warrant backed by evidence before searching or seizing property.

4th Amendment

Right to due process: Ensures fair legal procedures before the government can punish or take property.

5th Amendment

Protection against double jeopardy: Prevents someone from being tried twice for the same crime.

5th Amendment

Protection against self-incrimination: Allows individuals to refuse to testify against themselves in court.

5th Amendment

Right to just compensation for property taken for public use (eminent domain): Requires the government to pay fair value if it takes private property.

5th Amendment

Right to a speedy and public trial: Guarantees criminal trials happen without unnecessary delay and are open to the public.

6th Amendment

Right to an impartial jury in criminal cases: Ensures defendants are judged by unbiased jurors from the community.

6th Amendment

Right to be informed of criminal charges: Requires that defendants be told exactly what crimes they are accused of.

6th Amendment

Right to confront witnesses: Allows defendants to question or challenge those who testify against them.

6th Amendment

Right to compulsory process to obtain witnesses in one’s favor: Permits defendants to call witnesses to testify on their behalf.

6th Amendment

Right to assistance of counsel (lawyer) in criminal cases: Guarantees a defendant the right to have legal representation.

6th Amendment

Right to trial by jury in civil cases over $20: Preserves the right to a jury trial in non-criminal cases involving significant money.

7th Amendment

Protection against excessive bail: Prevents courts from setting unfairly high bail amounts.

8th Amendment

Protection against excessive fines: Stops the government from imposing unreasonably large financial penalties.

8th Amendment

Protection against cruel and unusual punishment: Bans torture and overly harsh punishments that don’t fit the crime.

8th Amendment

Recognition that the enumeration of certain rights shall not deny others retained by the people: Clarifies that people have additional rights not listed in the Constitution.

9th Amendment

Powers not delegated to the U.S. are reserved to the states or the people: States that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or citizens.

10th Amendment

Citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.: Declares anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. is a citizen of the nation and their state.

14th Amendment

Protection against state infringement of privileges or immunities of citizens: Prevents states from violating basic national citizenship rights.

14th Amendment

Right to due process of law (state level): Extends the guarantee of fair legal treatment to actions by state governments.

14th Amendment

Right to equal protection of the laws: Requires states to treat individuals equally under the law.

14th Amendment

Protection against state deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process: Stops states from unfairly taking away rights or property without fair procedures.

14th Amendment

Right of national citizenship: Affirms dual citizenship and equal rights at both the federal and state level.

14th Amendment