Bill of Rights 1 st 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Amendment I (1 st ) Freedoms of: –R: Religion (practice what you want) –A: Assembly (group of people) –P: Petition (formally request gov’t action) –P: Press (write what you want) –S: Speech (say what you want)

Limits of First Amendment Freedoms Limits are for safety and security of Americans Speech –Cannot provoke riots –Cannot speak or write in a way that immediately leads to criminal activity or efforts to overthrow the gov’t Cannot spread lies to hurt ones reputation –Slander: spoken lies –Libel: printed lies

Amendment II (2 nd ) Right to bear arms: own firearms Right to a state militia

Amendment III (3 rd ) No quartering (providing food and shelter) of troops during peacetime, and only with authorization of Congress during war.

Amendment IV (4 th ) No illegal search and seizure (the searching and taking of items). Search warrant must be provided.

Amendment V (5 th ) Cannot be put on trial for a crime w/o a formal charge by a grand jury. Protection from double jeopardy, being put on trial for the same charge twice. Right to remain silent (plead the 5 th ) A person accused of a crime cannot be forced to perform self- incrimination (testify against themselves) May not be denied “life, liberty, or property” w/o due process (following established legal procedures) Limits gov’t powers of eminent domain, the right of the gov’t to take private property for public use.

Amendment VI (6 th ) Right to speedy and public trial by jury in a criminal case. Right to an attorney.

Amendment VII (7 th ) Right to trial by jury in a civil case.

Amendment VIII (8 th ) Prohibits: –Excessive bails and fines –Cruel and unusual punishment

Amendment IX (9 th ) Rights not listed are still protected Example: privacy, gov’t interference with our personal lives

Amendment X (10 th ) Powers not listed in the Constitution are reserved for the states.