What is the Bill of Rights, how many amendments are there, and what are they?
86197
What is referred to as the Bill of Rights are the first Ten Amendments to the United States Constitution.  They are actually the ten “ratified amendments in that 12 were proposed to the legislatures of the then several States 25 17 September 1789.  Ratification was completed 15 December 1791.\n\nThis “Bill of Rights” evolved from an agreement during the constitutional convention to reach the votes required to send the proposed constitution to the then congress functioning under the Articles of Confederation.  The draft of proposed 12 amendments were written primarily by James Madison who was heavily influenced by the Virginia List of Rights.  \n\nThey differ from lists of rights in “other” governmental jurisdictions (as parts of other constitutions) which are generally lists of specific rights.  The U.S. Bill of rights is basically a list things that they federal government is excluded from doing (the first 8 articles).  The last two articles are declarations of basic truths.\n\nThere are 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution (inclusive of the ten in the Bill of Rights).  However, there has been a number of amendments proposed (in total I believe 36) of which only the 27 have been ratified.\n\nAmendments must follow the Constitutional amendment process as detailed in Article 5 of the Constitution.  Beginning with the 18th Amendment Congress has taken up the practice of noting a time limit for ratification by the States.  I believe that this was held valid in Coleman v. Miller [1939]\n\nFollowing is my working list of the Amendments that I use on a daily basis.  One note of import, you will notice that amendment 2 is different from what is normally printed in that is has a single comma as opposed to the typical 3 commas.  My version is the version which was proposed to the several States and ratified.  Its meaning (due to the different punctuation) is quite different.  My reference on this is the Library of Congress.\n\nAmendment I - Religion, Speech, Assembly, and Politics\nCongress 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.\n\nAmendment II - Militia and the Right to Bear Arms\nA 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.\n\nAmendment III - Quartering of Soldiers\nNo 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.\n\nAmendment IV - Searches and Seizures\nThe 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.\n\nAmendment V - Grand Juries, Self-Incrimination, Double Jeopardy, Due Process, and Eminent Domain\nNo 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.\n\nAmendment VI - Criminal Court Procedures\nIn 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 distric
268763
Bill of Rights.\n\n(but Drama Guy's answer four below mine is the best)
427540
There is no thesis to the Bill of Rights. They are 10 amendments to the Constitution. Each has its own idea i.e. 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion, Press, and Assembly; 5th Amendment no double jepardy, & cannot incriminate yourself. Each Amendment is different and has its own thesis. Maybe the overall theme of the Bill of Rights is freedoms from government oppression and a listing of natural righs that we all posses and no one (government) can deny us. Their purpose was to list rights that we all posses, remember that since these the Bill of Rights were not included in the original Constitution many did not want to support it. Only when they were guaranteed that these rights would be added in Amendments did they approve them.
344822
Yes, and has been several times. The Bill of Rights are the FIRST 10 amendments. And the last one was passed just a few years ago. But it is not common, because it must pass a 2/3 majority of BOTH house of congress, then be ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures. How long does it take? the last one was proposed in 1790, but didn't make the first cut!    LOOK THEM UP. Learn them. FIGHT FOR THEM!
34026
27 Amendments to the US Constitution.  List of the 27 with the link below.
760799
Are you talking about the English Magna Carta or the Constitution and Bill of Rights of the USA.???\nIt is confusing.
40360
It is "the Bill of Rights" [not 'or"]\n\nThe first 10 Amendments to the US Constitution.  They were adopted at the same time as the Constitution, and enumerate individual and other rights reserved to the states, such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly (No. 1), right to bear arms (no. 2); freedom from unreasonable search and seizure (no. 4) etc.
1012898
YES, the US Constitution is made up of the Articles (5 practical, 2 procedural) and the Amendments (27 total although there are only 26 active since prohibition (18) was overturned by the 21st.).  The first 10 Amendments are called the Bill of Rights.
950935
The bill of rights is the first 10 ammendmants to the constitution.
502682
Unlimited (no term limits)\n\n9\n\nTo resolve specific federal questions or civil rights issues raised through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.(cmhurley64 gave you the duties of a STATE Supreme Court)\n\nThe First 10 Amendments to the Constitution
92039
As of 2004,\nThe current state constitution of Georgia has 64 radified amendments.
913674
The Bill of Rights--the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States--ranks alongside the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence as one of the nation's most treasured documents. Since its adoption in 1791, the Bill of Rights has served as the cornerstone of basic American freedoms. Its laws specify the fundamental rights and most cherished liberties of the American people and protect them from the whims of popular majority opinions and abusive government officials.\nWhat the Bill of Rights Says\n\nThe first eight amendments of the Bill of Rights set forth specific guarantees and liberties. The Ninth Amendment acknowledges that the American people have rights that are not even specified in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. (The Federalists argued for this particular amendment, stating that it would be impossible to list all of the rights and liberties that should be protected.)\n\nThe Tenth Amendment emphasizes the national character of the United States constitutional system. It declares that the states or people retain those "powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution."\n\nMost people, however, believe that their most important rights are those guaranteed by the First Amendment. Commonly called "First Amendment freedoms," these are the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, and press, as well as the right of the people to assemble and to petition a government.\n\nOther vital provisions contained in the first eight amendments also deal with the rights of individuals. They are designed to protect people against inconsistent or abusive government, particularly in criminal proceedings.\n\nFor example, the Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures (either of themselves or of their property and possessions) by law enforcement officials.\n\nThe Fifth Amendment prohibits double jeopardy, which means that someone cannot be tried twice for the same crime. The Fifth Amendment also states that people cannot be compelled to testify against themselves (self-incrimination), and it guarantees "due process," which means people accused of a crime must be properly notified of the charges and given a fair hearing.\n\nThe Sixth Amendment establishes the right of an accused person to a public trial by jury. The accused also has the right to have a lawyer, to confront hostile witnesses, and to obtain witnesses in his or her defense.\n\nFinally, the Eighth Amendment prohibits the infliction of "cruel and unusual punishments" (either mental or physical) on those convicted of a crime.\n\nThe remaining amendments (the Second, Third, and Seventh) do not cover individual rights in criminal proceedings but address other specific concerns. The Second Amendment is the most noteworthy and controversial of these remaining amendments. After noting the need for a "well regulated militia" (a body of citizen soldiers called to serve during times of emergency or war), this amendment declares that the people's right "…to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."\n\nThe Third Amendment prevents the government from making citizens shelter soldiers in their homes. This amendment was drafted in response to abuses by British forces during the Revolutionary War.\n\nThe Seventh Amendment was included to meet the demands of many Anti-Federalists who wanted to insure trial by jury in civil suits.\n\nToday, for all intents and purposes, the fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights apply with equal force to both the national and the state governments.\n\nState Bills of Rights\n\nAll of the fifty state constitutions contain a bill of rights. The Illinois Bill of Rights borrows from the Declaration of Independence in stating, "All men are by nature free and independent and have certain inherent and unalienable rights among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Some
172829
The Bill of Rights is the first X Amendments to the constituition.\n\n(If that's alll you wanted to know, stop here. :o)\n\n They were added because the Antifederalists in Virginia and New York would not ratify the constitution. It was important that they did because Virginia was the largest  state at the time, and if New York didn't ratify, the U.S. would be geographically split. Thus, in order to gain the ratification of those two states, they added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
281789
Bill of Rights\n\nThe two states that have not ratified the Constitution are holding out for a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms. While Madison does not think a Bill of Rights is essential, he nonetheless agrees, as a price of ratification, to propose a Bill of Rights.\n\nIn 1789, as a representative to the first Congress, Madison goes through the numerous state proposals selecting, deleting, refining, and combining, all in an effort to produce a bill that will secure passage of the Constitution, protect liberties and yet not weaken the new government. Twelve of his amendments are soon approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. The last two states ratify the Constitution. Ten of the amendments are ratified by 1791. We know them as the Bill of Rights.\n\nThe quick adoption of the Bill of Rights and its continued effectiveness more than 200 years later show that Madison has achieved his objectives. The 1992 approval of one of the original amendments - which requires that Congress wait until after its next election before realizing any pay raise it voted for itself - demonstrates the continued relevance of Madison's work.\n\nMadison, in the five-year period from 1786 to 1791, firmly attaches his name to three of the great documents of American history -the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights.
743083
To set up a form of government that would protect commerce. This government was to be divided up into three groups; Legislative; Judaical and Executive. The common states were feuding over each of their own states rights in dealing with commerce. The Bill of Rights (the 1st 10 amendments) were added later at the peoples request. The Bill of Rights is a limitation on the government, even though, today, most think that the government gave them these, they did not.
1103155
The constitution is considered "the highest law in the land."  It contains the Preamble, which is basically a statement of what the US is all about; the Articles, which give the basic structure of the government and the powers that each branch of government has, and the rules for amending the constitution; and the Amendments, which cover all kinds of issues regarding citizenship, rights of citizens, and more stuff about the structure of the government and how it gets paid.
785997
United States Constitution and the United States Bill of rights. The structure keeps changing but the basics pretty much remains the same.