Importance and Purpose of the Bill of Rights

What is the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights is the unified address to numerous, highlighted constitutional issues, taken up and deliberated upon to a point of agreement at different times in American history. The main intent was to prevent subsequent misconstruction of powers and ensure public confidence. The articles were ratified by three fourths of the US legislatures.

Purpose of the Bill of Rights:

The Bill of Rights addresses primary issues such as:

• Prohibition of any law biased towards establishment of religion.
• Right to arms, within federal territory.
• Prohibition of any act that deprives life, liberty and/or property, illegally.
• Elimination of capital, punitive action, after an impartial grand jury indictment.
• Reservation of non-federal government powers with regards to citizenry.

There were ten amendments in all that were collectively proposed by James Madison within the Bill of Rights, to preserve the sanctity of the US Constitution that was being threatened by Federalist and anti-Federalist conflict. The proposition came in the wake of the declaration that the ratification of the US Constitution should be withheld, since it did not adhere to the principles of liberty. The main purpose was a moderate revision of the constitution, generating scope for re-structuring the government and the security of citizen rights.

Importance:

The original draft of the US Constitution had articles that were contested by many U.S. Representatives. Issues that were part of the Constitution components were taken up and due amendments were made in time. The first ten amendments ratified were termed as the Bill of Rights, in 1791. These amendments play a key role in the law and government policies and are symbolic of freedoms and US culture and etch the importance of the Bill of Rights in the American psyche. The fourteen copies of the Bill of Rights are national property of much importance and one is on display at the National Archives, Washington D.C. The different Bill of Rights amendments incorporated the following points:

First Amendment:

• Secular approach of the government as far as the establishment of a particular religion is concerned.
• Freedom of speech.
• Freedom of press.
• Right to assembly.
• Redressal of grievances.

Second Amendment:

• Right to bear arms.

Third Amendment:

• Eradication of forceful quartering of soldiers.

Fourth Amendment:

• Prohibition of unreasonable search of person, house, papers etc.

Fifth Amendment:

• Prohibition of double jeopardy or self-incrimination, with regards to capital or infamous crime.

Sixth Amendment:

• Compulsory trial by jury and the right to counsel.

Seventh Amendment:

• Preservation of the right of trial with regards to civil cases by jury.

Eighth Amendment:

• Prohibition of bail and/or corporal punishment.

Ninth Amendment:

• Protection of those rights not enumerated, like not less than a ratio of 1:40,000 representation within the Congress and increments.

Tenth Amendment:

• Reservation of state and people powers.

Though the idea of subsequent inclusion to the Constitution was argued against, the ratification symbolized people's power to change and re-address their rights whenever necessary. It stood for the adoption of a system that accommodated security of liberty and individual rights. The Bill of Rights was designed to guard US citizens against the abuse of basic rights granted by the Constitution. James Madison is recognized as the 'Father of the Constitution' and the author of the 'Bill of Rights'. The latter was the outcome of difficult compromises, amidst state recommendations to the amendments, popularly supported by Thomas Jefferson. The concept of 'natural rights' inherent to all citizens was highlighted in the final draft. Rights such as that of life, liberty, property possession etc. were incorporated with the intent of empowering people's intervention in the democracy, while checking on powers of the government.