The shortest amendment in the Bill of Rights is the Third Amendment, which states: “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.” This amendment consists of just 27 words.
The Third Amendment was a response to the Quartering Acts imposed by the British government during the colonial period, which allowed British soldiers to take over colonists’ homes. This amendment asserts the privacy and property rights of citizens, ensuring that they cannot be compelled to house soldiers against their will, except under specific conditions. Its brevity highlights the direct and clear intent to protect individual rights in the face of governmental power.