1. Summation of the Constitution

2. A. Bill of Rights 1. First ten amendments to the Constitution. 2. Additions to the original text. 3. There was much debate over their inclusion. 4. Alexander Hamilton-saw no need for them. 5. Thomas Jefferson- Felt they needed to be stated with the utmost clarity.

3. B. What does it mean? 1. The bill of rights cannot protect citizens alone. 2. Only when the document is applied by the powers of government does it have power.

4. C. Purpose 1. The purpose of the bill of rights is to prevent the federal government from taking away our rights as humans and as citizens. 2. When the government (state or national) does something that violates our rights it is up to the Supreme Court using its power of judicial review to strike down the act citing the bill of rights.

5. D. Living Document 1. When our founding fathers created the Constitution they realized that any document meant to frame a government needed flexibility. 2. They wanted the Constitution to be able to stand for generation after generation.

6. D. So…. 1. In recognizing this they incorporated two important features: a. Elastic Clause b. Amendment Process