庆祝《权利法案》通过231周年

今天是《权利法案》——也就是美国宪法前十条修正案通过231周年。

1791年12月15日，新生的美利坚合众国通过了《权利法案》，确认了公民的基本权利。

《权利法案》详述了美国人与其政府相关的权利。它保障个人的公民权利和自由，如言论、出版和宗教自由。它制定了法律正当程序的规则，并将所有未授予联邦政府行使的权利保留给人民或各州。它明确指出，“本宪法中列举的某些权利，不得被解释为否认或轻视其他由人民所保留的权利。”

拜登总统在2022年权利法案日宣言中说:“《权利法案》体现了美国的核心力量：妥协和自我完善的能力。通过将基本自由编纂成法，它赢得了在我们建国时对联邦政府持怀疑态度的各州的支持，并证明我们的宪法是一份有生命力的文件，能够不断发展完善我们的联邦。它所保障的基本权利——宗教、言论、新闻、隐私等等——定义了我们的国家。” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/12/14/a-proclamation-on-bill-of-rights-day-2022/ 

以下为《权利法案》的内容。

• 第一修正案

  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。

• 第二修正案

  纪律严明的民兵为保障自由州安全所必需，人民持有和携带武器的权利不得侵犯。

• 第三修正案

  未经房主同意，士兵在和平时期不得驻扎在任何住宅；除依法律规定，战时亦不得驻扎。

• 第四修正案

  人民的人身、住宅、文件及财产安全不受无理搜查和扣押之权利不得侵犯；除非依据可能成立的理由，以宣誓或代誓宣言保证，并具体说明搜查地点和扣押之人或物，否則不得签发搜捕状。

• 第五修正案

  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，惟于战争或公共危险期间发生在陆、海军中或民兵中的案件除外；任何人不得因同一罪行而两次遭受生命或身体危害；不得在任何刑事案件中被迫自证其罪；若无正当法律程序，不得被剥夺生命、自由或财产；若无公平赔偿，私有财产不得被征为公用。

• 第六修正案

  在一切刑事诉讼中，被告享受如下权利：由罪行发生所在州和地区之公正陪审团予以迅速和公开审判，而该地区应事先已由法律确定；得知控告之性质与理由；同原告证人对质；以司法程序获得对其有利的证人；并得到律师帮助为其辩护。

• 第七修正案

  在习惯法诉讼中，若其争执价额超过二十美元，由陪审团审判之权利则受到保护；而除非按照习惯法规则，由陪审团裁决之事实不得在合众国任何法院中重新审查。

• 第八修正案

  不得要求过重的保释金，不得课以过高的罚款，不得施予残酷和逾常的刑罚。

• 第九修正案

  本宪法中列举的某些权利，不得被解释为否认或轻视其他由人民所保留的权利。

• 第十修正案

  凡宪法未授予合众国行使，亦未禁止各州行使的各种权力，均保留给各州政府或人民。

详细了解《权利法案》：

• 美国历史系列184：权利法案原件及副本知多少

• 纪念权利法案日

Celebrating 231 years of the Bill of Rights

Today is the 231st anniversary of the Bill of Rights — the First Ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

On December 15, 1791, the new United States of America ratified the Bill of Rights, confirming the fundamental rights of its citizens. 

The Bill of Rights spells out Americans’ rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States. And it specifies that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

In his Proclamation on Bill of Rights Day 2022, President Biden said, " The Bill of Rights embodies a core American strength:  the capacity for compromise and self-improvement.  By codifying fundamental freedoms, it won over States skeptical of a Federal Government at the time of our founding and proved our Constitution to be a living document, capable of evolving to perfect our Union.  The basic rights it guarantees — to religion, speech, press, privacy, and more — have come to define our Nation.  ” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/12/14/a-proclamation-on-bill-of-rights-day-2022/ 

The following text is a transcription of the Bill of Rights.

• Amendment I

  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.

• Amendment II

  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.

• Amendment III

  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.

• Amendment IV

  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.

• Amendment V

  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.

• Amendment VI

  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.

• Amendment VII

  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 re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

• Amendment VIII

  Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

• Amendment IX

  The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

• Amendment X

  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.

To learn more about the Bill of Rights: 

• 美国历史系列184：权利法案原件及副本知多少

• 纪念权利法案日