The Bill of Rights The First 10 Amendments to the Constitution

First Amendment rights: Guarantees freedom of religion, speech, the press, the right to assemble peacefully and the right to petition the government

2nd Amendment—Right to bear arms “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Third Amendment The Government cannot force you to shelter soldiers in your home without your consent in time of war or peace.

4th Amendment: Unreasonable search and seizure is prohibited

5th Amendment The 5th Amendment protects people from being held for committing a crime unless they are properly accused) You may not be tried twice for the same crime. You don’t have to testify against yourself in court. Government cannot take private property without compensation

6th Amendment The 6th Amendment guarantees a speedy trial (you can’t be kept in jail for over a year without a trial) the accused must be allowed to have a lawyer

7th Amendment: Right to trial by jury

8th Amendment The 8th Amendment guarantees that punishments will be fair and not cruel, and that extraordinarily large fines will not be set.

9th Amendment All rights not stated in the Constitution and not forbidden by the Constitution belong to the people.

10th Amendment The 10th Amendment states that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states or to the people.

How Well Did You Pay Attention?

Situation #1 Students at Dunn Middle School don’t like their new history teacher. They stage a demonstration outside the school to protest the amount of homework he gives and each student makes a personal speech expressing his/her feelings toward this teacher. Which Amendment would this fall under? First Amendment

Situation #2 My friends and I want to set up a lemonade stand and sell lemonade to the local Trenton residents. But there’s nowhere in the Constitution that says that I can do that. Can I and under what Amendment? Ninth Amendment

Situation #3 I was found guilty of stealing a french fry from the plate of my neighbor at lunch. The case was taken to court and I was sentenced to death. Is this fair? Which amendment protects me? Eighth Amendment

Situation #4 I was accused of intentionally breaking my neighbor’s leg because she made cheerleader and I did not. I was sent to jail and was told that I was going to court. Which amendment describes how my case will be handled when I go to court? Seventh Amendment

Situation #5 I’ve been accused of stealing a couple thousand dollars from the school safe) and have been put in jail. I’ve been waiting for my trial for 2 years now. Is this fair? Which Amendment relates to this problem? Sixth Amendment

Situation #6 If I am accused of stealing and I’m taken to court, do I have to answer all the questions the judge or lawyers ask me even if I think the answer I give might hurt my case? What if I really did steal? Do I have to say that I did? What Amendment protects me? Fifth Amendment

Situation #7 Police suspect a few people of possessing illegal drugs and firearms. They visited the homes of these people one night, charging in and searching through their personal belongings without a warrant. Is this legal? What Amendment might protect them? Fourth Amendment

Situation #8 There is looting and rioting in a major U.S. city. It has become such a problem that the U.S. armed forces sent out the Army to keep the peace. The soldiers in the Army need a place to stay. Do people have to let them in to their homes? What amendment protects them from doing so? Third Amendment

Situation #9 A new law is passed by Congress which says guns will no longer be available for sale in America. All firearms are to be destroyed and all gun manufacturers must stop producing guns of any sort. Any citizen that currently owns a gun must turn it over to the government for complete destruction. What Amendment might protect you? Second Amendment

Situation #10 People on Laylor Street say that their garbage hasn’t been picked up for two weeks. They’re angry with the waste removal company. The waste removal company says the people on Laylor Street haven’t been putting out their garbage cans on time. A reporter investigates and finds evidence that the waste removal company is lying. A story is written about the situation and printed in the Trenton Times. What is this an example of? First Amendment