Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution

Amendment V (the Fifth Amendment) of the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, is related to legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law. For instance, grand juries and the phrase "due process" both trace their origin to common law.

History

The original text of the Constitution generated some opposition on the ground that it did not include adequate guarantees of civil liberties. In response, the Fifth Amendment, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights, was proposed by Congress in 1789. The process of adoption by ratifications by the requisite number of states was completed on December 15, 1791.

Related Topics:
1789 - Ratification - December 15 - 1791

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