List of 6 safeguards to individual rights

The First Amendment protects freedom of religion and freedom of speech and of the press. It also protects the right of peaceful assembly and to petition the government.

The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms, for the purpose of maintaining a militia. Although there has been debate as to whether this protects an individual's right to own firearms, the Supreme Court has held that it applies only to the states' right to have an armed militia.

The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of troops in any house during peacetime and allows it in times of war only in a lawful manner.

The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizure and requires a search warrant before a search can take place.

The Fifth Amendment requires indictment by a grand jury before a person can be charged with a serious crime. It also prohibits a person from being tried twice for the same crime (double jeopardy) or from being forced to be a witness against himself (self-incrimination). It protects against deprivation of life liberty or property without due process of law (due process clause). It also prohibits the taking of private property without just compensation.

The Sixth Amendment provides important rights for criminal defendants, including the right to a speedy and public trial, to a trial by an impartial and local jury, to be informed of the charges against him, to be confronted by witnesses against him, to compulsory process for obtaining witnesses, and to have a lawyer.