On December 15, 1791, precisely two hundred and eleven years ago, the founding fathers of our great nation had completed a document that would protect and guarantee the rights of its citizens. This masterpiece is still known as the Bill of Rights and is still the first ten amendments of our constitution in America. This paper will examine if these rights are still necessary due to changing times. First, we will get familiar with the origins of the Bill of Rights and why it is essential for a government.

"In the three and a half months during which the proposed amendments to the constitution were before Congress, only seven or eight days were actually spent debating them. On September 25, 1789, final drafts of twelve amendments (out of the many that had been suggested by Madison and others) were passed by Congress and presented to the states for approval. Two of the twelve were never ratified; they would have limited the number of members of the House of Representatives, and prevented Congress from raising its salaries without an election intervening. On December 15, 1791, when Virginia became the eleventh state to ratify them, the other ten proposed amendm

ARTICLE 5: "No 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 offense 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."(Benton, 364)

Being a young person, I am most familiar with the forth amendment, unreasonable searches and seizures. This right protects citizens from the people they pay to protect us. Ironic as it may seem, this is essential. Police are notorious for illegal searches and seizures because it is very much opinionated on having probable cause, which is a drawback to this right.

The third amendment, the no quartering troop act I feel was an amendment of its time. The colonies felt that the British were forcing them to provide free rooms for soldiers in peacetime. These people felt that their rights were being trampled. I firmly believe in this amendment, but feel it is the most, narrow amendment in the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE 2: "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."(Benton, 364)

There are numerous amounts of reasons for needing the Bill of Rights. Throughout history, kings, dictatorships, and even some democratic governments have reduced or taken away peoples rights. In many parts of the world today, people cannot worship as they please or talk about what they believe. They cannot criticize the government or even complain about what's bothering them. They cannot take political action or gather with their friends. They cannot necessarily believe what their newspapers print. They cannot own property. They cannot go where they want. If they are arrested and locked up, they might not get a fair trial.

ARTICLE 4: "The 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 person or things to be seized."(Benton, 364)

ARTICLE 10: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."(Benton, 365)

ARTICLE 6: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, whic

Some common words found in the essay are:
Bill Rights, OJ Simpson, Rights Throughout, Rights December, House Representatives, Declaration Rights, bill rights, United Constitution, 364 article, Constitution Supreme, 365 article, rights citizens, people abuse, searches seizures, ten amendments, unreasonable searches seizures, december 15, safe guard, december 15 1791, probable cause, system checks balances,
Approximate Word count = 1956
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)