Soldiers in private homes
Limits government quartering of soldiers in private homes.
In Simple, Modern English
In peacetime, soldiers cannot be housed in someone's home without the owner's consent. In wartime, quartering must follow a procedure set by law.
Important Clauses & Details
Peace: Consent
The government cannot require a homeowner to lodge soldiers in peacetime without permission.
War: Legal procedure
Wartime quartering is not left to a commander's unlimited discretion; it must occur in a manner prescribed by law.
Why It Was Added
Colonial resentment over British military quartering made forced lodging a symbol of government intrusion. The amendment protects the household against military demands.
This amendment concerns quartering soldiers. Searches of a home raise the distinct protections of the Fourth Amendment.
Plain-English study paraphrases summarize the text; they are not verbatim translations. Historical provisions and later changes are identified above. Sources: National Archives and Constitution Annotated.