1. Chapter 10
The Bill Of rights

2. The First ten amendments

3. Protection from government power
John Hancock promised that the new Congress’s first job would be to add a bill of rights to the Constitution
The bill of rights was added to protect Americans from abuses of government power

4. Ratification
When the Constitution was approved, the agreement was based upon ratification (or amend) the original document
9 out of 13 states agreed to adopt the Constitution upon this ratification
When the convention met in 1788, they agreed that “Rights of the People” must be added

5. The first Government
In 1789, the first presidential election took place as George Washington was elected President and John Adams was elected Vice-President
James Madison was also known as the “Father of the Constitution”

6. Creating the bill of rights
By 1791, 9 out of 10 states had approved 10 amendments
These 10 amendments became known as the Bill of Rights
These “paper barriers” have protected people from the abuses of government for over 200 years and were far stronger than Madison could have ever hoped.

7. The First amendment
Madison combined basic freedoms into the First Amendment, including the freedom of:
Religion
Speech
Press
Assembly
Right to Petition Government

8. Violation of Amendment Rights
If a person believes that the gov’t has violated any of these rights, they may challenge the gov’t in court.
If a case reaches the Supreme Court, 9 out of 10 justices must decide how the Constitution applies to the situation.

9. Right to worship The first right to religious freedom includes:
1.) Congress cannot declare any religion
a national religion of the US
2.) It also cannot make laws to favor any
religion over another
These were created, in Jefferson’s words, to build a “wall of separation between church and state”

10. Right to Worship (Con’t)
The second right to religious freedom is that Congress can make no law to prohibit people from believing, or not believing. People are free to choose their religious preferences without fear of punishment

11. Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech protects the rights of individuals to speak freely in public places
Speech (also known as “expression”) includes symbolic speech or actions to express their opinions
The court does impose limits on types of speech, including that which can be harmful or deemed offensive or disagreeable.

12. Freedom of speech

13. Freedom of Press Freedom of press includes: newspapers magazines books
television/movies
internet
other communication media
The purpose of freedom of press isn’t to protect “free thought for those who agree with us, but freedom for the thought that we hate.”

14. Right to Assemble & Petition
The final two rights protected in the first amendment are:
The right to peacefully assemble
(gather together with others, protest)
The right to petition (or appeal)
the government

16. What if a protest is unpeaceful?
Police can arrest a speaker or protestor who urges others to be violent or break the law
Anyone who riots or damages public property can be arrested and fined
Protestors cannot close streets or buildings

18. End of first amendment!
Complete worksheet on First Amendment!

19. The Second Amendment The Right to Bear Arms
The meaning of this amendment is highly debated as to differing opinions
1.) The right to own guns *only*if you are in an organized militia
2.) The right to own weapons for their own self defense

21. The third amendment
“No soldier shall…be quartered [housed] in any house, without the consent of the owner.”
This amendment was created to protect the privacy of people’s homes, and to prohibit what the British did by demanding soldiers to be taken in and cared for by the owners.

23. The Fourth Amendment Searches & Seizures
Seizure – the act of forcibly taking control of a person or property
Before arresting or searching a person’s home, the police must get a warrant from a judge, proving there is good reason to search that person’s home or property.

25. End of amendments two through four
Assignment
Draw a picture that relates to each amendment (2-4) and write that amendment at the top of each picture. Picture must (be):
Colored
Apply to the Amendment
At least a half page in size

26. Legal Rights Amendments 5-8
The next four amendments lay out of the rights and protections that apply to people who are accused of crimes or are involved in other legal disbutes

27. The Fifth amendment Legal Rights: 1.) Right to a trial by jury
2.) Cannot be tried for the same crime twice if found not guilty
3.) Police cannot force anyone to say things that might be used against them (self-incrimination)
4.) Police must remind people of their right to be silent before questioning them (“Miranda Rights”)
**In court, defendants do not have to take the witness stand**

29. Fifth Amendment (Con’t)
5.) A person must be given due process of law in all circumstances (follow rules and act reasonably) 6.) A person must be given compensation if their property is taken over Ex.) A company buys part of someone’s property to build a road or building

30. The sixth amendment
Criminal Trial Rights: 1.) A speedy trial 2.) A public trial 3.) Trial by jury 4.) The accused must be informed of the charges against them 5.) A defendant has the right to hear and question all witnesses that testify in a trial 6.) A defendant has the right to an attorney to assist them with their defense

32. The Seventh amendment Civil Trial Rights
Not all trials involve criminal actions. Some trials involve civil matters such as:
1.) Money
2.) Property
3.) Family Matters
4.) Divorce

33. The Eighth amendment Bail and Punishment
Before trials, it protects from excessive bail
After trials it protects from:
1.) Excessive fines
2.) Cruel and Unusual punishment
(meaning inhumane conditions)

34. Gregg vs. georgia
Upon arguments about the death penalty, the Supreme Court ruled it was constitutional to put someone to death for a crime, and did not violate the Eighth Amendment
There are still advocates today that argue their opinions on the death penalty

35. End of amendments 5-8 on legal issues
Assignment
Write a persuasive essay on the death penalty and your opinions on whether or not you agree with it. It must be grammatically correct, of sound reasoning, and at least 2 FULL pages

36. The ninth amendment
This amendment states that just because some rights are not listed, doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.
Ex.) The right to privacy

37. The tenth amendment Power to the States
Powers not given to the national government by the Constitution are “reserved to the states…or to the people”.
When state and national governments conflict, the national government is supreme

39. Conclusion of Bill of rights
Bill of Rights = First Ten Amendments
1st Amendment = 5 basic freedoms
2nd, 3rd, & 4th = protections from gov’t power
5th – 8th = fair treatment in legal actions
9th & 10th = relationship between states, people and national government

41. **Compose much like planet books!**
Assignment
Complete your own Bill of Rights book. It must contain the following information:
1.) Title Page
2.) Page for each of the Amendments, with the amendment written out
3.) A (colored) picture to go with each amendment
**Compose much like planet books!**