Fifth Amendment Pros And Cons

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The Fifth Amendment, or Amendment V, is in the Bill of rights which is included in the United States Constitution. This amendment protects a person against having to be a witness against themselves during a criminal case. “I Plead the Fifth” is a spoken term that allows a person to decline to answer questions that might incriminate him or her, without penalty or having it count against him or her. It became a “part of the Bill of Rights on September 5, 1789 and was voted for by 3/4 of the states on December 15, 1791,” according to the article The Fifth Amendment written by kids.laws.com. There are five freedoms that are given to U.S. citizens with the Fifth Amendment. This amendment states, “a person can’t be put on trial for a serious crime, unless a grand jury decides …show more content…

If there is enough evidence, a prosecution is issued. Only then can the person who is charged with the crime can put on trial. Although, a person in the military can go to trial without a grand jury first deciding that it is necessary if the person commits a crime during a national emergency or a war.” Once the trial ends, the person cannot be tried again for the same crime. This is called Double Jeopardy. The government also cannot force someone testify against himself. This is why trials use evidence and witnesses instead of a testimony. The government also cannot “take away a person’s right to life, property, or freedom without going through certain steps that give the person a fair chance,” which is also stated in the article The Fifth Amendment. This “chance” is referred to as Due Process. Due Process helps to protect a citizen’s rights. The government cannot take away a person’s property for public use without paying compensation. The defendant in a court case cannot be punished for using their right