1787年在费城起草的宪法,在各州审议批准的过程中,也有不少美国公
民感到不安,因为宪法中并没有明确保障个人的权利。因此,《宪法》补充了10条修正案,统一称为《权利法案》,英文叫The Bill of Rights。由于补充了《权利法案》,《宪法》在13个州均获批准,并于1789年生效。
(左下图:美国威廉姆斯堡总督府的一个小会议室,就是《弗吉尼亚州权利法案》-后来成为美国宪法中《权利法案》蓝本的制定地) 第一条 Amendment I
I . F reedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition
Congress 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.
译文:国会不得制定关于下列事项的法律:确立国教或禁止信教自由;剥夺言论自由或出版自由;或剥夺人民和平集会和向政府请愿伸冤的权利。 第二条 Amendment II
II . Right to keep and bear arms
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.
译文:纪律严明的民兵是保障自由州的安全所必需的,人民持有和携带武器的权利不可侵犯。 第三条 Amendment III
III. Conditions for quarters of soldiers
No 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.
译文:未经房主同意,士兵平时不得驻扎在任何住宅;除依法律规定的方式,战时也不得驻扎。
第四条 Amendment IV
IV . Right of search and seizure regulated
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 persons or things to be seized.
译文:人民的人身、住宅、文件和财产不受无理搜查和扣押的权利,不得侵犯。除依据可能成立的理由,以宣誓或代誓宣言保证,并详细说明搜查地点和扣押的人或物,不得发出搜查和扣押状。
第五条 Amendment V
V . Provisons concerning prosecution
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 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.
译文:除非根据大陪审团的报告或起诉书,任何人不受死罪或其他重罪的审判,但发生在 陆、海军中或发生在战时或出现公共危险时服役的民兵中的案件除外;任何人不得因同一犯罪行为而两次遭受生命或身体的危害;不得在任何刑事案件中被迫自证其 罪;不经正当法律程序,不得被剥夺生命、自由或财产。不给予公平赔偿,私有财产不得充作公用。
第六条 Amendment VI
• Right to a speedy trial, witnesses, etc.
In 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 district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
译文:在一切刑事诉讼中,被告有权由犯罪行为发生地的州和地区的公正陪审团予以迅速和公开的审判,该地区应事先已由法律确定;得知控告的性质和理由;同原告证人对质;以强制程序取得对其有利的证人;并取得律师帮助为其辩护。
第七条 Amendment VII• Right to a trial by jury In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the
right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise
reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
译文:在习惯法的诉讼中,其争执价额超过二十美元,由陪审团审判的权利应受到保护。由陪审团裁决的事实,合众国的任何法院除非按照习惯法规则,不得重新审查。
第八条 Amendment VIII
• Excessive bail, cruel punishment Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
译文:不得要求过多的保释金,不得处以过重的罚金,不得施加残酷和非常的惩罚。 第九条 Amendment IX
• Rule of construction of Constitution The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
译文: 本宪法对某些权利的列举,不得被解释为否定或轻视由人民保留的其他权利。
第十条 Amendment X
• Rights of the States under Constitution
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.
译文:宪法未授予合众国、也未禁止各州行使的权力,由各州各自保留,或由人民保留。
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