The Bill of Rights and Other Amendments Today we will discuss the Bill of Rights and the other amendments to the Constitution.

Vocabulary amendment – a change made by adding to or taking away, especially to a written document Bill of Rights – first 10 amendments to the Constitution Constitution – written plan of government for the United States

What We Already Know In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson listed three of the basic natural rights, and declared that governments exist to protect those rights.

What We Already Know In their first constitutions, most states revealed their fear of a strong government that could be a threat to their natural rights.

What We Already Know During the late 1780s, several states refused to approve of the new Constitution because it did not contain a bill of rights guaranteed to the people.

The Bill of Rights can be divided into three categories. The first four amend-ments guarantee personal liberties. The second four provide protection during legal proceedings. The last two reserve rights for the people and the states.

Amendments 1 thru 4: Personal Liberties Freedom of religion, of speech, of the press, of peaceable assembly, and to petition (protest to) the government Right to bear arms (as part of a militia?) to protect your rights No troops quartered in homes without consent during peace time No unreasonable search and seizure

Amendments 5 thru 8: Protection during Legal Proceedings Protection from double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and loss of property without due process Right to a speedy public trial; to knowledge of the charges; to confront and call witnesses; and to a lawyer Right to a trial by jury No excessive bail, no excessive fines, no cruel or unusual punishment

Amendments 9 and 10: Powers Reserved to the States This list of the people’s rights is not necessarily all the rights the people have. All powers not delegated to the national government, nor prohibited from the states, are reserved for the states. Delegated powers = given to the national government Reserved powers = given to the state governments Concurrent powers = shared by both national and state governments

Which amendment . . . guarantees a jury trial? protects the media (the press)? allows citizens to own firearms? keeps the government from searching your house without a warrant? says you can’t be tried twice for the same crime? bans cruel and unusual punishment? gives the states all the powers that are not assigned to the national government? guarantees freedom of speech and religion?