|
US Seminal Documents
Page history
last edited
by Anna Gay 12 years, 5 months ago
Compare the American Bill of Rights vs the English Bill of Rights. What are the primary arguments? What are the primary differences between the two?
American Bill of Rights
|
English Bill of Rights
|
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.
|
Whereas the late King James the Second, by the assistance of divers evil counsellors, judges and ministers employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the protestant religion and the laws and liberties of this kingdom;
That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal;
That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament;
By causing several good subjects being Protestants to be disarmed at the same time when papists were both armed and employed contrary to law;
|
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.
|
That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence sutable to their conditions and as allowed by law; |
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.
|
By raising and keeping a standing army within this kingdom in time of peace without consent of Parliament, and quartering soldiers contrary to law; |
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 defense.
|
By prosecutions in the court of King's bench, for matters and causes cognizable only in parliament; and by divers other arbitrary and illegal courses. |
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.
|
That jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned, and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders; |
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
|
That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted; |
US Seminal Documents
|
Tip: To turn text into a link, highlight the text, then click on a page or file from the list above.
|
|
|
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.