At the time of the adoption of the Constitution, several member states who wished to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, added declaratory and restrictive clauses which became the first 10 amendments to the constitution and became known as the Bill of Rights (The Bill, 2005). The 1st Amendment provided that Congress should not make any law to establish a religion for the country, or which prohibited free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, or the right of the people to assemble peaceably, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The 2nd Amendment, which bears on some criminal cases, is a guarantee of the right to bear arms. The 4th Amendment is the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search and seizure, and that this can only be done when warrants have been issued with probable cause. The 5th Amendment says no one shall answer to a capital crime unless indicted by a grand jury, except in time of war or public danger; that no person can be tried twice for the same crime; that no person shall be compelled to be a witness against themself in any criminal case; and that no one shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.
The 6th Amendment guarantees the accused the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of the state and district where the crime took place, and the right to a defense cousnel (The Bill, 2005). The 7th Amendment states that where the value of the controversy exceeds $20, the plaintiff has the right to a trial by jury according to the rules of common law. The 8th Amendment is an agreement against excessive bail being set and excessive fines being imposed, and bars cruel and unusual punishment, though it does not define cruel and unusual punishment. The 9th Amendment ensures that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage others retained by th...