1. The Bill of Rights
Reasons and contents

2. Reasons created Rights were not listed in the original constitution
Anti-federalists wanted a guarantee that the power of the new national government would be limited
Protects rights while limiting government
Aftermath of abuses suffered at the hands of English rule

3. The bill of rights Protects individual rights “civil liberties”
Personal freedoms
Limits the power of the government
Creates due process
Rules and procedures that government officials must follow
Police. Attorneys, Judges, elected officials, etc.

4. 1st amendment Protects key civil liberties Speech Press Petition
Assembly
Religion
Cannot establish an official religion or favor one religion over another – Establishment Clause
Individuals may worship as they see fit, so long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others – free exercise clause

6. 2nd amendment
“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”
Created – England had limited these rights; colonists in some areas were forced to turn in weapons
Effects – long lasting debate over meaning
Individual rights interpretation = all citizens have the right to own guns
Collectivist interpretation = amendment was aimed at groups, such as militias and the military

7. 3rd amendment

8. Beginning of the “due process” amendments – relates to your rights when suspected of a crime
4th amendment
PRIVACYa s
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
REASON AND SUPPORT

9. 5th amendment
Continuation of the “due process” amendments – relates to your rights when arrested for a crime
Must be officially charged with crime by a grand jury
Cannot be tried for the same crime twice
Freedom from “double jeopardy”
not forced to bear witness against yourself
“plead the 5th” = right to remain silent
Cannot be “deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law”
Must be paid for private property taken from you
Eminent domain

10. 6th Amendment
Continuation of the “due process” amendments – relates to your rights when tried for a crime
Entitled to a Fair and speedy trial
Impartial jury, publicly held, in state where crime occurred
Informed of charges
Ability to Confront witnesses
Right to an attorney

11. 7th amendment
“In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law”

12. Continuation of the “due process” amendments – relates to your rights when convicted of a crime
8th amendment
No excessive bail
No excessive fines
No cruel or unusual punishment

13. 9th and 10th amendments 9th amendment
“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. “
Just because a right isn’t specifically listed doesn’t mean that the citizens don’t have that right
10th amendment
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Anything not specifically listed as a national power is a state power