Today is Bill of Rights Day. Some of the Founding Fathers were concerned that the US Constitution as originally written gave too much power to the Federal Government and feared that a strong, central government would usurp the power of the people and abuse individual and states’ rights. They insisted that the first 10 amendments be added to the Constitution. These amendments are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. They were added to the Constitution on December 15, 1791. Here is my rendition in rhyme of the Bill of Rights.
The US Bill of Rights
First Amendment:
The Congress cannot religion dictate
Or prohibit free practice of it,
Or abridge freedom of our speech,
Even a little bit;
Or the right to gather in peace
Or freedom of the press
Or to present a petition
For a grievance to redress.
Second Amendment:
A strong militia being required
To keep us safe from harm
And to ensure a free State,
You can keep and bear arms.
Third Amendment:
No soldier, in time of peace,
Without the owners OK,
May be quartered in any home,
Not even for a day;
Nor even in time of war,
As we once terrible saw,
Can they be billeted in our homes
Except as provided by law.
Fourth Amendment:
For the people to be secure
In persons, houses and stuff
Against invalid seizure and search,
Suspicion is not enough.
If there is no probable cause
That there has been a crime,
No warrant shall be issued
For a search at any time,
But if there does exist that cause,
Authorities can proceed
But only with a warrant
For what’s to be searched and seized.
Fifth Amendment:
Before you’re guilty of a crime,
A capital one, at least,
A Grand Jury must indict
Or you can go in peace,
Except when in the military
And in a time of war
Or when there’s public danger
On our Nation’s shore.
You cannot be tried two times
For the same offense;
Nor be forced against yourself
To give evidence;
Nor, without due process
Lose life or liberty;
Nor, except as decreed by law,
Be deprived of property;
Nor shall private holdings
Be taken for public use
Without compensation just,
For that would be abuse.
Sixth Amendment:
In criminal prosecutions
You have a human right
To a quick and public trial
At a local site.
You have the right to be informed
Of the charges against you,
To call and question witnesses
And have help of counsel, too.
Seventh Amendment:
In suits of common law
Of twenty bucks or more
You have the right to a jury trial
For your honor to restore
And no fact arising there
Can be used in any court
Of these United States
Except by rules of common tort.
Eighth Amendment:
Excessive bail shall not be;
Nor excessive fines imposed;
Nor cruel, unusual punishment
To citizens be exposed.
Ninth Amendment:
The enumeration of rights herein,
Or omission by authors’ slights,
Should not be construed to deny
The people’s retained rights.
Tenth Amendment:
Powers not given to the Feds,
Nor to the States restrained,
Do not default to the US;
They’re by the States or people retained.
Note: This and 54 other poems about Patriots and patriotic events can be found in Patriotic Poems available through Amazon.com.