7th - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases & the rights of those being sued
George Washington was the first American President who served in office from April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797. One of the key events during his presidency was the ratification of the 7th Amendment to the Constitution. The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights, which includes the 7th Amendment, was ratified (meaning approved) on December 15, 1791.

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7th Amendment Simplified Summary
A simplified summary of the 7th Amendment is:

Jury Trials in Civil Cases

Cause and Reason for the 7th Amendment
The cause or reason for this addition to the Constitution was to re-assert trial by jury in both criminal and non-criminal (civil) cases.

7th Amendment Text - The Seventh Amendment
The original full text of the 7th Amendment of the Constitution is as follows:

7th Amendment Text

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.

7th Amendment Meaning, Explanation and Summary
The outrage of the early colonists against the treatment, and the laws, imposed by the British led to the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. The meaning of the words and phrases in the 7th Amendment of the Constitution are explained as follows:

Meaning of the Words

7th Amendment

Meaning:  A court proceeding to recover a right or claim. The term "common law" was the name given to the law that emerged as "common" throughout the realm of England and was extended to include the 13 Colonies to be used by Colonial Government. The court systems in the colonies enforced the Common Law of England.

7th Amendment

Meaning of the $20 clause: When the 7th Amendment was written in the 1791, $20 was considered a lot of money.

Today, any disputes that involve amounts less than $75000 will not be handled in a federal court.

7th Amendment

Meaning: If the amount of the lawsuit exceeds a certain amount, the defendant has the right to a trial by jury.

"...and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States..."

Meaning: Once a claim had been settled in a trial by jury it should not be put to trial again. 

7th Amendment

Meaning: The court systems and courts in the colonies enforced the Common Law of England and Great Britain.

Meaning of the Words of the Seventh Amendment

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Who wrote the 7th Amendment of the Constitution?
James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution", wrote the 7th Amendment in 1789 as one of the first 10 amendments collectively known as the Bill of Rights. The 7th Amendment about Trial by Jury in Civil Cases & the rights of those being sued was ratified on December 15, 1791.

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.

President George Washington Video
The article on the 7th Amendment of the Constitution provides the text, definition and history of one of the major achievements of his presidential term in office. The following video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 7th Amendment American President whose presidency spanned from April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797.