Bill of Rights Civics Web Version

Background Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation –Federal government lacked power –Shay’s Rebellion a sign of discontent Constitution Constitution –Need for a Bill of Rights »Protection of individual rights and state’s rights »Needed for ratification of Constitution December 15, 1791 …3/4 had ratified

First Amendment Freedom of Religion - prohibits the government Freedom of Religion - prohibits the government from establishing a state religion…along with the freedom to worship as one chooses from establishing a state religion…along with the freedom to worship as one chooses Freedom of the Press - guarantees the right to publish ideas and to read the ideas of others Freedom of the Press - guarantees the right to publish ideas and to read the ideas of others Freedom of Speech - right to express one’s idea without fear of punishment Freedom of Speech - right to express one’s idea without fear of punishment Freedom of Assembly - right to form and belong to groups and to gather peacefully Freedom of Assembly - right to form and belong to groups and to gather peacefully Right to Petition – Americans can express their ideas to the government Right to Petition – Americans can express their ideas to the government

First Amendment Examples Freedom of Expression Freedom of Expression –School Uniforms ? –Art and music –Flag burning Limitations Limitations –Committing treason –False Panic –Slander Newspapers and TV Newspapers and TV Schools and Public Buildings vs. religion Schools and Public Buildings vs. religion

Second Amendment The Right to Bear Arms The Right to Bear Arms –Private ownership of weapons »Limitations »NRA –Militias Can one own a machine gun? Can one own a machine gun? Can one walk around with a gun? Can one walk around with a gun?

Third Amendment Prohibits the government from forcing the people to house and feed soldiers during peacetime. Prohibits the government from forcing the people to house and feed soldiers during peacetime. –Popular grievance before and during the Revolution –Examples: Quartering Act and Intolerable Acts

Fourth Amendment Protects the citizens from unreasonable search and seizures…Privacy amendment Protects the citizens from unreasonable search and seizures…Privacy amendment Protections Protections –Unreasonably taking a person’s property –Entering and searching without reason –Seizing or arresting a person without just cause Probable Cause – reason to believe a crime Probable Cause – reason to believe a crime has been committed Warrant : search and arrest…legal document Warrant : search and arrest…legal document issued by a judge granting permission issued by a judge granting permission

A person accused of a crime will not A person accused of a crime will not be denied the right to life, liberty, or property w/o due process property w/o due process Five major issues Five major issues 1)Indictment by Grand Jury 2)Protection against Double Jeopardy 3)Protection against Self-Incrimination 4)Due Process 5)Protection in cases of Eminent Domain Miranda Warning Miranda Warning Miranda Warning Miranda Warning

Sixth Amendment Guarantees the rights of the accused Guarantees the rights of the accused Know the nature of the charges Know the nature of the charges Witnesses Witnesses Accused can have witnesses Accused can have witnesses Know who will act as witnesses Know who will act as witnesses Be able to challenge those witnesses in court Be able to challenge those witnesses in court Speedy and Public trial Speedy and Public trial Impartial Jury Impartial Jury Jury from the area of the crime Jury from the area of the crime Right to an attorney Right to an attorney

Seventh Amendment Citizens have the right to a trial by Citizens have the right to a trial by jury in civil cases –in amounts over $20.00

Eighth Amendment Protects the accused against Protects the accused against imprisonment or punishment imprisonment or punishment that is excessive that is excessive –protection against excessive bail bail – protection against cruel and unusual punishment How can we have capital punishment? How can we have capital punishment? What about victims rights? What about victims rights? Anything but a lecture on the Bill of Rights!!!!!!!!!!!

Ninth and Tenth Amendments 9 th - declares that people have rights 9 th - declares that people have rights beyond those mentioned in the beyond those mentioned in the Constitution Constitution – for example:live where we want choose schools for children work at a job we want travel marry and have children (or not) 10 th – the powers not specifically given to 10 th – the powers not specifically given to federal government are given to federal government are given to the states or the people the states or the people

Other Amendments 13 th Abolition of Slavery 14 th – 1868 Rights of citizenship, due process and equal protection 15 th – 1870 Voting rights regardless of race 16 th – 1913 Income Tax 18 th – 1919 Prohibition of liquor 19 th – 1920 Women’s voting rights 21 st Repeal of the 18 th 22 nd – 1951 Two term limit on president 26 th Voting age 18

Review 1. Speech, press, religion, assembly, petition 2. Bear arms 3. Quartering soldiers 4. Unreasonable search and seizure 5. Rights of the accused – life, liberty, and property w/o due process 6. Rights of the accused – jury trial, lawyer, speedy and public trial 7. Trial by jury in civil cases 8. Excessive imprisonment, bail, and punishment 9. People have rights not mentioned in the Constitution 10. Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states (and people)

The End