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《弗吉尼亚权利法案》被认为是殖民地草拟宪法的先导，它也是一部有关天赋人权问题最著名的纲领性文件。这部法案诞生于《独立宣言》发表前一个月。作为宪法框架的一部分，它率先列举了一批公民权利。作者乔治·梅森是弗吉尼亚的一个大地主，他坚信“根植于人性之中的伟大权利”。
历史学家理查德·伯恩斯坦指出：“权利”并非仅指那些不受政府干涉的个人权益，它还包括“正当之事”和行为准则。乔治·梅森因为重申有关个人权益与自由的原则，所以“在人类自由史上获得光荣地位”。
Ⅰ. That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact,deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Ⅱ. That all power is vested in, and conse quently derived from, the people; that magistrates [1] are their trustees and servants,and at all times amenable to them.
Ⅲ. That government is, or ought to be,instituted for the common benefit, protection, andsecurity of the people, nation or community; ofall the various modes and forms of governmentthat is best, which is capable of producing thegreatest degree of happiness and safety andis most effectually secured against the dangerof maladministration; and that, wheneverany government shall be found inadequate orcontrary to these purposes, a majority of thecommunity hath an indubitable [2] , unalienable [3] ,and indefeasible [4] right to reform, alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
Ⅳ. That no man, or set of men, are entitledto exclusive or separate emoluments [5] or privileges from the community, but inconsideration of public services; which, notbeing descendible, neither ought the offices ofmagistrate, legislator, or judge be hereditary.
Ⅴ. That the legislative and executive powersof the state should be separate and distinct fromthe judicative; and, that the members of the twofirst may be restrained from oppression by feelingand participating the burthens of the people, theyshould, at fixed periods, be reduced to a privatestation, return into that body from which they wereoriginally taken, and the vacancies be supplied byfrequent, certain, and regular elections in whichall, or any part of the former members, to be againeligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.
Ⅵ. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner,assented, for the public good.
Ⅶ. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority without consent of the representatives of the people is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.
Ⅷ. That in all capital or criminal prose cutions a man hath a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty,nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgement of his peers.
Ⅸ. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Ⅹ. That general warrants, whereby any officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.
Ⅺ. That in controversies respecting property and in suits between man and man,the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred.
Ⅻ. That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
ⅩⅢ. That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace,should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that, in all cases, the military should be under strict subordination to, and be governed by, the civil power.
ⅩⅣ. That the people have a right to uniform government; and therefore, that no government separate from, or independent of, the government of Virginia, ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.
ⅩⅤ. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation,temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
ⅩⅥ. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it,can be directed by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion,according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.
一、所有人都是生来同样自由与独立的，并享有某些天赋权利，当他们组成一个社会时，他们不能凭任何契约剥夺其后裔的这些权利；也就是说，享受生活与自由的权利，包括获取与拥有财产、追求和享有幸福与安全的手段。
二、所有的权力都属于人民，因而也来自人民；长官是他们的受托人与仆人，无论何时都应服从他们。
三、政府是为了或者应当是为了人民、国家或社会的共同利益、保障和安全而设立的；在所有各种形式的政府当中，最好的政府是能够提供最大幸福和安全的政府，是能够最有效地防止弊政危险的政府；当发现任何政府不适合或违反这些宗旨时，社会的大多数人享有不容置疑、不可剥夺和不能取消的权利，得以用公认为最有助于大众利益的方式，改革、变换或废黜政府。
四、除非为了服务公众，任何个人或一群人都无权自社会得到独占的或单独的报酬或特权；公务职位不能相传，行政官、立法者与法官等职不应世袭。
五、州的立法权和行政权应与司法分立，并应有明确界限；前两者的成员如能感受并分担人民的疾苦，就可以不致压迫人民；他们应在规定的期限，恢复平民身份，回到他们原来的单位去，其空缺则通过经常的、确定的、定期的选举来填补；在选举中，将按照法律规定，确定以前的所有成员或部分成员是否仍符合条件。
六、遴选议会人民代表的各项选举，均应自由进行；举凡能够证明与本社会有永久性共同利害关系并属于本社会的人都享有选举权；未经其本人同意，或其选出的代表同意，不能对其征税，或剥夺其财产以供公众使用；也不受任何未经他们为公益而以同样方式同意的法律的约束。
七、任何当局未经人民代表同意而中止法律或执行法律，其与此有关的所有权力都有损于人民的权利，均不得行使。
八、在所有可判死刑案件或刑事诉讼中，人们有权要求知道对其起诉的理由和性质，有权与起诉人和证人对质，要求查证对其有利的证据，并有权要求由来自其邻近地区的公正陪审团进行迅速审理；未经陪审团的一致同意，不能确认他有罪，也不能强迫他自证其罪；除非根据当地法律或由与其地位相同的公民所组的陪审团裁决，不得剥夺任何人的自由。
九、不得要求缴交过量的保释金或判处过重的罚金，也不得判处残酷而非同寻常的刑罚。
十、对官员或执令人员签发一般搜捕令，使其在没有获得所犯事实的证据时，即行搜查可疑地点，或拘捕未经指名或其罪行未经阐明且无实据足以佐证的人；这种搜捕令实属不可容忍并且是压迫性的，绝对不应签发。
十一、在财产纠纷和人与人之间的诉讼案件中由陪审团进行裁定，这一古老的审判程序比任何其他程序均为可取、应予以保持并视为神圣不可侵犯。
十二、出版自由乃自由的重要保障之一，绝不能加以限制；只有专制政体才会限制这种自由。
十三、由受过军事训练的人民组成管理得当的民兵，乃自由州的妥善、自然而安全的保障；在和平时期，常备军会危及自由，应避免设置；在任何情况下，军队都应严格服从文职权力，并受其统率。
十四、人民有权享有一个统一的政府；因此，在弗吉尼亚地区内，不得于弗吉尼亚政府之外另行设立或成立任何政府。
十五、必须坚持公正、适中、节制、勤俭和优良品德，经常谨守各项基本原则，否则任何人民都不能保有自由的政府，也无法享有上苍所赐的自由。
十六、宗教，亦即我们对创世主所负有的责任以及尽这种责任的方式，只能由理智和信念加以指引，不能借助于强力或暴行；因此，任何人都有按照良知的指示，自由信仰宗教的平等权利，所有人都相互有责任以基督的克制、博爱和仁慈对待他人。
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That the legislative and 1 powers of the state should be separate and distinct 2 the judicative; and, that the members of the two first may be restrained 3 oppression by feeling and participating the burthens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced 4 a private station, return into that body 5 which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied 6 frequent, certain, and regular elections 7 which all, or any part of the former members, to be again eligible, or 8 , as the laws shall direct.
1.executive 2.from 3.from 4.to 5.from 6.by 7.in 8.ineligible
Ⅱ.That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.
ⅩⅤ.That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
二、所有的权力都属于人民，因而也来自人民；长官是他们的受托人与仆人，无论何时都应服从他们。
十五、必须坚持公正、适中、节制、勤俭和优良品德，经常谨守各项基本原则，否则任何人民都不能保有自由的政府，也无法享有上苍所赐的自由。
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[1] magistrate: a civil officer with power to administer and enforce law地方法官
[2] indubitable: too apparent to be doubted不容置疑的
[3] unalienable: not to be separated不可剥夺的
[4] indefeasible: not capable of being annulled or made void不能废弃的
[5] emoluments: payment for services rendered报酬；酬金