1. Government, Citizenship, and the Constitution, 1787–Present
The American Nation
Chapter 8 – Section 3
Changing the Constitution
Government, Citizenship, and the Constitution, 1787–Present
Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

2. Things to understand when taking notes…
Key Terms
How does the Amendment process occur for the Constitution?
Importance of Article V?
What rights do the Bill of Rights protect?
1st 10 amendments
Protecting Individual liberties?
Protecting Against Abuse of Power?
Protecting Rights of Accused?
Later Important Amendments to Constitution?
Civil War Amendments?
19th Amendment?
26th Amendment?

3. Changing the Constitution
Chapter 8, Section 3
How can the Constitution be amended?
What rights does the Bill of Rights protect?
How did later amendments expand democratic rights?

4. I. Amending the Constitution
Chapter 8, Section 3

5. Amending the Constitution

6. Bill of Rights Activity
Social Studies
Divide into 10 Groups
First Amendment
Second Amendment
Third Amendment
Fourth Amendment
Fifth Amendment
Sixth Amendment
Seventh Amendment
Eighth Amendment
Ninth Amendment
Tenth Amendment
Brainstorm on back of rubric.
Write down what assigned Amendment protects in your own words.
Write down an example of how the Amendment effects life in the U.S. today.
Create a picture to support Amendment and example.
Create a Poster with information.
Present Poster to the class.
Social Studies Honors
Divide into 10 Groups
First Amendment
Second Amendment
Third Amendment
Fourth Amendment
Fifth Amendment
Sixth Amendment
Seventh Amendment
Eighth Amendment
Ninth Amendment
Tenth Amendment
Brainstorm on back of rubric.
Write down what assigned Amendment protects in your own words.
Summarize a Court Case from folder of research.
Full name of case
Background of case
Court decision and reasoning
Create a picture to support Amendment or court case.
Create a visual with information.
Present Poster to the class.

7. II. The Bill of Rights First Amendment
Chapter 8, Section 3
First Amendment
Safeguards individual rights—freedom of religion, speech, the press, the right to assemble peacefully, the right to petition the government to change its policies.
Second 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.”
Third Amendment
Congress may not force citizens to put up troops in their homes.
Fourth Amendment
Citizens are protected from unlawful searches of their homes and property.
Fifth Amendment
People cannot be forced to incriminate, or give evidence against, themselves; Grand Jury for serious crimes; Double Jeopardy; Due Process of the Law.

8. II. The Bill of Rights Sixth Amendment
Chapter 8, Section 3
Sixth Amendment
People are guaranteed the right to a speedy and public trial by a fair jury. The accused have a right to know the charges against them and who is making the charges; Right to an attorney
Seventh Amendment
Provides for juries in civil, or non criminal, trials. (value must exceed $20)
Eighth Amendment
Forbids excessive bail or fines and “cruel and unusual punishments.”
Ninth Amendment
Citizens’ rights are not limited to those listed in the Constitution. (privacy)
Tenth Amendment
All powers not given to the national government or denied to the states are reserved for the states or for the people.

9. The Bill of Rights

10. Constitutional Amendments

11. Later Amendments Expanded Rights
Chapter 8, Section 3
Thirteenth Amendment
Fourteenth Amendment
Fifteenth Amendment
Nineteenth Amendment
Twenty-sixth Amendment
Civil War Amendments
Abolished slavery.
Guaranteed citizenship to former slaves; Equal Protection; Due Process of the law to the states.
Declared that states may not deny the vote to any citizen on the basis of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
Gave women the right to vote.
Lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.
Voting Rights Amendments

12. Section 3 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 3
Basic individual liberties protected by the Constitution include the right to
a) knowingly publish lies about someone.
b) establish an official church in your state.
c) assemble peacefully.
d) make someone give evidence against themselves.
The Nineteenth Amendment expanded voting rights by
a) giving women the right to vote.
b) giving former slaves the right to vote.
c) changing the way electoral college is chosen.
d) lowering the voting age to 18.
Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.

13. Section 3 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 3
Basic individual liberties protected by the Constitution include the right to
a) knowingly publish lies about someone.
b) establish an official church in your state.
c) assemble peacefully.
d) make someone give evidence against themselves.
The Nineteenth Amendment expanded voting rights by
a) giving women the right to vote.
b) giving former slaves the right to vote.
c) changing the way electoral college is chosen.
d) lowering the voting age to 18.
Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.