Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution

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James Madison

Joseph Story

== Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution ==

The Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. It codifies the right to a jury trial in certain civil cases and inhibits courts from overturning a jury's findings of fact.

Text

The full text of the Seventh Amendment reads: "In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."

Historical Background

The Seventh Amendment was introduced by James Madison to the First United States Congress in 1789 as part of the proposed Bill of Rights. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Seventh Amendment is to preserve the right to a jury trial in civil cases. This was a reaction to the perceived injustices of the British legal system, where judges often had significant control over the outcomes of trials. The amendment ensures that civil litigants have the option to have their cases decided by a jury of their peers.

Scope

The Seventh Amendment applies to federal courts, but the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that it does not apply to state courts. However, many state constitutions have similar provisions.

Jury Trial in Civil Cases

The amendment guarantees a jury trial in civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds twenty dollars. This threshold has not been adjusted for inflation since the amendment's adoption. The right to a jury trial is preserved in cases that are similar to those that would have been tried by a jury under English common law at the time the amendment was adopted.

Re-examination Clause

The Re-examination Clause of the Seventh Amendment states that no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, except according to the rules of common law. This clause prevents judges from overturning a jury's findings of fact, ensuring that the jury's role as a fact-finder is respected.

Related Amendments

The Seventh Amendment is often discussed in conjunction with the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases.

Modern Interpretations

The interpretation of the Seventh Amendment has evolved over time. The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled on various aspects of the amendment, including the types of cases that qualify for a jury trial and the standards for re-examining facts found by a jury.

Related Pages

• United States Constitution
• Bill of Rights
• Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• James Madison
• Supreme Court of the United States