The Seventh Amendment – The Civil Jury Trial – Justice in the Hands of the People 

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.”

What the Seventh Amendment Guarantees

The Seventh Amendment protects your right to a jury trial in civil cases—cases between private individuals or businesses, not criminal prosecutions.

If the dispute involves more than twenty dollars (a symbolic amount to show even small matters count), you have the right to:

• Be judged by a jury of your peers, not by a government-appointed judge alone

• Have the jury’s verdict respected—not overturned by higher courts without a valid legal basis

Power to the People—Even in Civil Disputes

Civil cases often involve:

• Contracts

• Property rights

• Workplace discrimination

• Personal injury

• Medical malpractice

These cases might not grab headlines, but they deeply affect people’s lives.

The Seventh Amendment says clearly:

“The people—not the powerful—should decide the facts.”

That means corporations, agencies, or even the courts themselves cannot bypass a jury to impose their version of events.

Why the Founders Included It

In colonial times, British judges often ruled in favor of the Crown and denied colonists their day in court. Juries that sided with the people were overruled, and verdicts were reversed.

So the Founders made this promise permanent:

Facts decided by a jury cannot be second-guessed by the government.

It was a guardrail against elite control of the courts. A way to keep justice local, practical, and rooted in the real world.

Still Relevant Today

Some argue jury trials are inefficient or outdated.

But ask yourself:

• Who do you trust more to decide your case: a panel of citizens, or a single official in robes?

• If your landlord, insurer, or employer wrongs you, should you face a system stacked against you?

The Seventh Amendment ensures you have a voice even when facing wealth or power.

Final Thought

“Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done—by the people.”

The Seventh Amendment isn’t just about dollars and documents.

It’s about dignity.

It’s about making sure every person, no matter how small the claim, gets a fair shot at justice.

Because no case is too small when your rights are on the line.