Fifth Amendment

The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution states:

“  |  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 offense 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. |  ”

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This amendment is typically associated with criminal trials where witnesses "plead the 5th" to invoke their right to avoid self-incrimination during questioning. It is erroneously believed by many that only guilty people would plead the 5th. In fact, this amendment was crafted in part to protect the innocent.[1]

> Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America

> Bill of Rights:
>  1 \- Freedom of speech, press, religion, etc.
>  2 \- Right to bear arms
>  3 \- Quartering of soldiers
>  4 \- Warrants
>  5 \- Due process
>  6 \- Right to a speedy trial
>  7 \- Right by trial of a jury
>  8 \- No cruel or unusual punishments
>  9 \- Unenumerated rights
>  10 \- Power to the people and states

> * * *

> 11 \- Immunity of states to foreign suits
>  12 \- Revision of presidential election procedures
>  13 \- Abolition of slavery
>  14 \- Citizenship
>  15 \- Racial suffrage
>  16 \- Federal income tax
>  17 \- Direct election of the United States Senate
>  18 \- Prohibition of alcohol
>  19 \- Women's suffrage
>  20 \- Terms of the presidency
>  21 \- Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment
>  22 \- Limits the president to two terms
>  23 \- District of Columbia Voting for President
>  24 \- Prohibition of poll taxes
>  25 \- Presidential disabilities
>  26 \- Voting age lowered to 18
>  27 \- Variance of congressional compensation

## See also[edit]

* Privacy
* Police state
* Nanny State
* Eminent domain
* Martial law
* Militia
* Double jeopardy
* Oath Keepers
* Oath
* Oath for federal officials
* Oath for federal judges

## References[edit]

1. ↑ "[W]e have emphasized that one of the Fifth Amendment's "basic functions ... is to protect innocent men ... 'who otherwise might be ensnared by ambiguous circumstances.' " Grunewald v. United States, 353 U. S. 391, 421 (1957) (quoting Slochower v. Board of Higher Ed. of New York City, 350 U. S. 551, 557-558 (1956)) (emphasis in original). In Grunewald, we recognized that truthful responses of an innocent witness, as well as those of a wrongdoer, may provide the government with incriminating evidence from the speaker's own mouth. 353 U. S., at 421-422." OHIO v. MATTHEW REINER, No. 00-1028. Decided March 19, 2001. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=000&invol=00-1028

## External links[edit]

* What Fifth Amendment?, Pejman Yousefzadeh, RedState, Accessed March 27, 2014
* https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=don't talk to police&sm=1
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc \- An law school professor and former criminal defense attorney tells you why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police