The Bill of Rights

Congress discussed more than 100 proposals for amendments before it sent 12 to the states for approval. –10 were ratified –These 10 became known as the Bill of Rights

The First Amendment First Amendment of the Constitution has Five parts –Freedom of Religion –Freedom of Speech –Freedom of the Press –Freedom of Assembly –Freedom of Petition

Freedom of Religion –Americans have the right to practice any religion – or to practice no religion at all –Forbids Congress form establishing an official national religion, or from favoring one religion in any way –Colonial tries Many settlers seeking the freedom to practice their religion, established the colonies –Other time, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution as requiring a strict separation of church and state A strict division between religion and government

Freedom of Speech –Right to express ideas and opinions through speech –Includes right to listen to the ideas and opinions of others –Guarantees that Americans can openly express their thoughts and ideas –Protects Americans’ right to express opinions about the government and to criticize the actions of government officials

Freedom of Speech Limits to Freedom of Speech –Injure others –Tell lies or spread false rumors May be sued in court for slander –Knowingly making false statements that hurt another person’s reputation –Exercised free speech in a way that might cause physical harm to others Yelling “Fire”

Freedom of the Press The right to express ideas in writing is freedom of the press Closely related to freedom of speech Limits –Libel or the act of publishing falsehoods that damage a person’s reputation Includes electronic media and, TV and radio broadcasts

Freedom of Assembly Freedom to hold meetings Americans have the right to meet to discuss problems and plan actions They can gather to express their views about government decisions

Freedom of Petition The right to ask the government to do some thing or stop doing something A petition is a formal request Gives you the right to contact your representatives in Congress and ask them to pass laws you favor Gives you the right to ask representatives to change laws you do not like

The Second and Third Amendments Second Amendment –Right to bear arms Prevents the federal government from passing laws that limit the right to bear arms Third Amendment –The government cannot quarter, or give housing to, soldiers in private citizens’ homes during peacetime without the owner’s consent During British rule, the colonists were sometimes forced to house and feed British soldiers

Fourth and Fifth Amendments Fourth Amendments –Protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures –Unless there is just cause, our persons or property cannot be searched and our property cannot be taken from us by the government –A Judge can issue a search warrant A legal document that describes the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized

Fourth and Fifth Amendment Fifth Amendment –Protecting the rights of a person accused of a crime Before a person can be brought to trial, a grand jury must indict, or formally accuse, the individual of a crime –Protects against hasty government action Protects an accused person from self-incrimination, or having to testify against oneself Protects people from double jeopardy or being tried twice for the same crime No person can be denied life, liberty, or property without due process of law Right to own private property –Government cannot take citizens’ private property for public use or eminent domain, unless they pay fair price

The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments Sixth Amendments –Guarantees a person accused of a crime the right to a prompt public trial by a jury –Must be informed of the crimes they are charged with committing –A person accused of a crime has the right to have the help of a lawyer

The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments Seventh Amendment –Provides for a trial by jury in certain kinds of cases that involve conflicts over money or property –Courts cannot set bail too high Bail is the money or property an accused person gives a court to hold It guarantees that he or she will appear for trial Eighth Amendment –Forbids “cruel and unusual” punishment Has been debated for years

The Ninth and Tenth Amendments Ninth Amendment –Implies that the people of the United States enjoy many other basic rights that are not listed in the Constitution Has been issue to say we have a right to privacy Tenth Amendment –All powers not expressly given to the federal government nor forbidden to the states by the Constitution are reserved to the states or to the people