December 15 – Bill of Rights Day in the U.S.A.

Posted on December 15, 2020

Here I am republishing my 12/15/2009 post, with updated links:

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the observance of Bill of Rights Day in 1941, on the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Bill of Rights.

Key Points

The Bill of Rights can be summed up in this way:

1) Freedom of speech, press, and religion; right of assembly and to petition

2) The right to bear arms

3) Homeowner must consent to house soldiers

4) No unreasonable searches or seizures

5) No self-incrimination; due process of law

6) Right to speedy, public jury trial; right to counsel

7) Civil trial by jury

8) No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment

9) Protection of rights not specifically stated in Constitution

10) Powers not delegated by Constitution go to the states or the people

1966 U.S. stamp created for the Bill of Rights’
175th anniversary

Did you know…?

The term “Bill of Rights” originated in Great Britain, with a bill that Parliament passed in 1689.

One could say that the 4,000-year-old Code of Hammurabi and the Magna Carta (adopted in 1215) were also bills of rights.

Code of Hammurabi

According to Wikipedia, Australia is the only Western nation that does not have a constitutional or legislative bill of rights.

Play a game about legal rights.

The First Amendment is arguably the most known and one of the most important of the Bill of Rights. It includes five freedoms, which are listed on this website.