1. Changing the Constitution
“The Living Document”

2. Formal Changes Proposing Amendments
2/3 vote in both houses of Congress
National Convention
2/3 of states must approve

3. Ratifying Amendments
Approval of 3/4th of the legislatures or 38 states
Approval of ratifying conventions called by Congress (used only once for 21 Amendment)

4. Facts: 7 year limit on ratifying an amendment
Since 1789 more than 9,000 amendments have been proposed
27 amendments ratified

5. Informal Changes Expansion of taxes
Creation of cabinet departments in the executive branch
Expanding the Judicial Branch
None of these were official Constitutional Amendments.

6. "[A] bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse." --- Thomas Jefferson December 20, 1787

7. Bill of Rights The first ten Amendments to the Constitution.
Madison originally proposed twelve.
The Amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791
The original copy of the Bill of Rights is located at the National Archives in Washington D.C. (

8. Amendment I
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Five Basic Freedoms
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Press
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom to Petition

9. Freedom of Religion
The right to exercise one's own religion, or no religion, free from any government influence or compulsion.
Congress cannot pass a law making any religion the official religion of the United States.

10. Freedom of Speech The right to speak out without fear of punishment.
It also protects "symbolic speech.” This is nonverbal expression whose purpose is to communicate ideas.
Some examples of protected symbolic speech include works of art, T-shirt slogans, political buttons, music lyrics and theatrical performances.

11. Freedom of the Press
The right of newspapers to print whatever they feel is newsworthy without censorship.
World Press Freedom Committee 

12. Freedom of Assembly and Petition
Freedom of Assembly provides the right to gather together in a group.
Freedom of Petition provides the right to ask the government to change things.
People are guaranteed these freedoms so far as they do not take away the freedoms of others.
Million Man March
African-American men from across the country gathered on Washington's National Mall October 16, 1995 for a massive Million Man March advocating "unity, atonement and brotherhood".

13. Second Amendment Right to organize state militias Right to bear arms
“From my cold, dead hands!”

14. Third Amendment Prohibits Quartering of soldiers: In peacetime
Limits it in time of war

15. Fourth Amendment
Prohibits unreasonable search and seizure of persons and property without a valid warrant
Officials must have probable cause and a search warrant
How do you feel about the Patriot Act?

16. Fifth Amendment Jury for serious criminal trials
Prohibits military trials for civilians
Prohibits double jeopardy (being tried for the same crime twice)
Accused do not have to testify against him or her self, (self-incrimination) to Plead the Fifth.

17. Fifth Amendment cont.
Guarantees inalienable rights without dues process (government must follow fair and lawful procedures)
Prohibits government from taking private property for public use without just compensation
Eminent Domain

18. Sixth Amendment Right to speedy trial Accused to know all charges
Accused can question and obtain witnesses
Right to a lawyer

19. Guarantees a jury trial in most civil cases
Seventh Amendment
Guarantees a jury trial in most civil cases

20. Eighth Amendment Prohibits excessive bail and fines
Prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment”

21. Ninth Amendment
People have other basic rights in addition to those mentioned in Constitution.

22. Tenth Amendment
Rights not given to federal government nor denied to the states are reserved to the states or to the people