The Bill of Rights was included in the Constitution to guarantee the rights of citizens. Va. and other states would only ratify the Constitution if the amendments were added. First 8 amendments are specific lists of what the govt. can’t do. Last two restrict the govt. powers and reserve any rights not granted in the Constitution to the people and states. This makes the Constitution flexible and a “living document”.

The 1st Amendment The 1st Amendment R Freedom of: Religion A P P S Assembly Press Petition Speech Congress can't make any law about your religion, or stop you from practicing your religion, or keep you from saying whatever you want, or publishing whatever you want (like in a newspaper or a book). And Congress can't stop you from meeting peacefully for a demonstration to ask the government to change something. But... You can’t libel or slander someone. Example: John Paul Zenger was a defendant in a legal case determined that truth was defense against charges of libel

The 2 nd Amendment The 2 nd Amendment The right to bear arms Congress can't stop people from having and carrying weapons, because we need to be able to defend ourselves.

3 rd Amendment 3 rd Amendment No quartering of troops in private homes during peacetime You don't have to let soldiers live in your house, except if there is a war, and even then only if Congress has passed a law about it. But... you can during wartime if Congress has passed a law about it

The 4 th Amendment The 4 th Amendment No searches or seizures of property without probable cause or a valid warrant describing the place to be searched and the object to be seized. Nobody can search your body, or your house, or your papers and things, unless they can prove to a judge that they have a good reason to think you have committed a crime. But... Police may seize objects that are in "plain view". The officer must have had probable cause to believe that the objects are illegal

The 5 th Amendment The 5 th Amendment Must be indicted - formally accused of a crime No double jeopardy- cannot be tried twice for the same crime Cannot be forced to incriminate yourself (give evidence that will point to your guilt). Eminent Domain-Must be paid a fair amount for property taken for use by the government You can't be tried for any serious crime unless there's enough evidence for a trial. And if the jury decides you are innocent, the government can't try again with another jury. You don't have to say anything at your trial. You can't be killed, or put in jail, or fined, unless you were convicted of a crime by a jury. And the government can't take your house or your farm or anything that is yours, unless the government pays for it.

If you're arrested, you have a right to have your trial pretty soon, and the government can't keep you in jail without trying you. The trial has to be public, so everyone knows what is happening. The case has to be decided by a jury of ordinary people from your area. You have the right to know what you are accused of, to see and hear the people who are witnesses against you, to have the government help you get witnesses on your side, and you have the right to a lawyer to help you. The 6 th Amendment The 6 th Amendment Right to: a fair and speedy trial Told the charges against themselves Impartial jury Trial held in district of crime Confront witnesses against themselves Have an attorney But... until Miranda v. Arizona the police were not required to read you your rights

The 7 th Amendment The 7 th Amendment The right to have a jury in a civil trial You also have the right to a jury when it is a civil case (a law case between two people rather than between you and the government). But... the Founding Fathers never imagined lawsuits like we had today

The 8 th Amendment The 8 th Amendment Bail and/or punishment cannot be cruel or unusual The government can't make you pay more than is reasonable in bail or in fines, and the government can't order you to have cruel or unusual punishments (like torture) even if you are convicted of a crime. But... the Supreme Court has left it up to the states if they have a death penalty

The 9 th Amendment The 9 th Amendment Because there are so many basic human rights, not all of them could be listed. This means that the rights that are not listed still exist. Examples: Right to travel Right to own a car Right to have a family Etc. Just because these rights are listed in the Constitution doesn't mean that you don't have other rights too.

The 10 th Amendment The 10 th Amendment All power not delegated (given) to the Federal government is reserved (saved) for the state governments. Anything that the Constitution doesn't say that Congress can do should be left up to the states, or to the people. The states determine rules for things like fire departments, state taxes and days of public school.

Civil War Amendments The 13 th Amendment- Former slaves are now free No slavery allowed in the U.S. and territories The 14 th Amendment All former slaves are citizens The 15 th Amendment All males 21 years or older can vote regardless of former conditions of servitude, race, or creed.

Homework: Write a short rap, poem, or song explaining all of the rights given in the Bill of Rights. Your review needs to be completed for next class, if it is not then you will work on it while everyone else plays the game show.

Congress can't make any law about your religion, or stop you from practicing your religion, or keep you from saying whatever you want, or publishing whatever you want (like in a newspaper or a book). And Congress can't stop you from meeting peacefully for a demonstration to ask the government to change something. Congress can't stop people from having and carrying weapons, because we need to be able to defend ourselves. You don't have to let soldiers live in your house, except if there is a war, and even then only if Congress has passed a law about it. Nobody can search your body, or your house, or your papers and things, unless they can prove to a judge that they have a good reason to think you have committed a crime. You can't be tried for any serious crime without a Grand Jury meeting first to decide whether there's enough evidence for a trial. And if the jury decides you are innocent, the government can't try again with another jury. You don't have to say anything at your trial. You can't be killed, or put in jail, or fined, unless you were convicted of a crime by a jury. And the government can't take your house or your farm or anything that is yours, unless the government pays for it. If you're arrested, you have a right to have your trial pretty soon, and the government can't keep you in jail without trying you. The trial has to be public, so everyone knows what is happening. The case has to be decided by a jury of ordinary people from your area. You have the right to know what you are accused of, to see and hear the people who are witnesses against you, to have the government help you get witnesses on your side, and you have the right to a lawyer to help you. You also have the right to a jury when it is a civil case (a law case between two people rather than between you and the government). The government can't make you pay more than is reasonable in bail or in fines, and the government can't order you to have cruel or unusual punishments (like torture) even if you are convicted of a crime. Just because these rights are listed in the Constitution doesn't mean that you don't have other rights too. Anything that the Constitution doesn't say that Congress can do should be left up to the states, or to the people.