<Table> <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Subject </Th> <Th> Date submitted for Ratification </Th> <Th> Date ratification completed </Th> <Th> Ratification time span </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1st </Td> <Td> Prohibits Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion , impeding the free exercise of religion , abridging the freedom of speech , infringing on the freedom of the press , interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2nd </Td> <Td> Protects the right to keep and bear arms . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 3rd </Td> <Td> Places restrictions on the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner 's consent , prohibiting it during peacetime . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 4th </Td> <Td> Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause as determined by a neutral judge or magistrate . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5th </Td> <Td> Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain , protects the right to due process , and prohibits self - incrimination and double jeopardy . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6th </Td> <Td> Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury , including the rights to be notified of the accusations , to confront the accuser , to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7th </Td> <Td> Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases , according to common law . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8th </Td> <Td> Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail , as well as cruel and unusual punishment . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9th </Td> <Td> Protects rights not enumerated in the Constitution . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10th </Td> <Td> Reinforces the principle of federalism by stating that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated to it by the states or the people through the Constitution . </Td> <Td> September 25 , 1789 </Td> <Td> December 15 , 1791 </Td> <Td> 2 years 2 months 20 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11th </Td> <Td> Makes states immune from suits from out - of - state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders ; lays the foundation for sovereign immunity . </Td> <Td> March 4 , 1794 </Td> <Td> February 7 , 1795 </Td> <Td> 11 months 3 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12th </Td> <Td> Revises presidential election procedures by having the President and Vice President elected together as opposed to the Vice President being the runner up . </Td> <Td> December 9 , 1803 </Td> <Td> June 15 , 1804 </Td> <Td> 6 months 6 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13th </Td> <Td> Abolishes slavery , and involuntary servitude , except as punishment for a crime . </Td> <Td> January 31 , 1865 </Td> <Td> December 6 , 1865 </Td> <Td> 10 months 6 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14th </Td> <Td> Defines citizenship , contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause , the Due Process Clause , the Equal Protection Clause , and deals with post -- Civil War issues . </Td> <Td> June 13 , 1866 </Td> <Td> July 9 , 1868 </Td> <Td> 2 years 0 months 26 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15th </Td> <Td> Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race , color or previous condition of servitude . </Td> <Td> February 26 , 1869 </Td> <Td> February 3 , 1870 </Td> <Td> 11 months 8 days </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16th </Td> <Td> Permits Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the United
when was the bill of rights last amended
December 15 , 1791