Research and development of seismic response control devices has gained prime importance recently, due to an increased number of devastating earthquakes. Passive control systems are now accepted all over the world and hence research in this area is continuing to develop reliable, efficient and cost effective devices along with constitutive modeling. This paper begins with qualitative description and comparison of passive, active and semiactive control systems. Further, it mentions advantages of passive control systems over the others. A detailed literature review of passive devices is then provided which includes the historical development of the devices, their dynamic behavior, testing of these devices incorporated in the structural models and their analytical formulations. The pros and cons of these devices in retrofitting of structures and their first and recent applications in a wide variety of structures are also discussed. The passive response control systems that are discussed include viscoelastic dampers, yielding dampers, viscous dampers, friction dampers, tuned mass dampers, tuned liquid dampers, tuned liquid column dampers, superelastic dampers, like shape memory alloy dampers and base isolators.