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Civil Liberties “Your rights as Americans”. Founding Documents Declaration of Independence - “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are.

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Presentation on theme: "Civil Liberties “Your rights as Americans”. Founding Documents Declaration of Independence - “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are."— Presentation transcript:

1 Civil Liberties “Your rights as Americans”

2 Founding Documents Declaration of Independence - “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Constitution – framers believed in natural rights

3 Writ of Habeas Corpus Art. 1, Sec. 9 “Produce the body” Requires government officials to present a prisoner in court and to explain to the judge why the person is being held

4 Ex Post Facto Laws “after the fact” Being charged for committing a crime, that wasn’t a crime when the person committed the action

5 Bills of Attainder Legislative act that punishes an individual without judicial trial Court should decide guilt, not Congress

6 Bill of Rights 1.Free speech, press, assembly, petition, (expression, symbolic) AND religion’s two clauses: A. establishment clause B. Free exercise clause 2. Right to bear arms 3. Prohibits quartering soldiers 4. Restricts illegal search and seizures (probable cause, reasonable suspicion, search warrants, exclusionary rule)

7 Bill of Rights 5. Due process: Provides grand juries, restricts eminent domain (govt can’t take private property unless compensation), prohibits forced self-incrimination, double jeopardy (can’t be charged for the same crime twice)

8 6. Outlines criminal court procedure The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. seven discrete personal liberties: (1) the right to a Speedy Trial; (2) the right to a public trial; (3) the right to an impartial jury; (4) the right to be informed of pending charges; (5) the right to confront and to cross-examine adverse witnesses; (6) the right to compel favorable witnesses to testify at trial through the subpoena power of the judiciary; and (7) the right to legal counsel.

9 Bill of Rights Continued 7. Trial by jury 8. Prevent excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment 9. Amendments 1-8 do not necessarily include all possible rights of the people 10. Reserves for the states any powers not delegated to Fed. Govt by Constitution

10 14 th Amendment “privileges and immunities” – Constitution protects all citizens Due process – prohibits abuse of life, liberty, or property of any citizen, state rights were subordinate to Fed rights Equal protection clause – Constitution applies to all citizens equally

11 Judicial Review Marbury v. Madison The power of the Supreme Court to judge the constitutionality of a law

12 Legislative Action Sometimes laws can guarantee rights Ex. Civil Rights Act of 1964

13 Religion “Establishment” clause – prohibits the gov’t from establishing an official church “Free exercise” clause – allows people to worship as they please

14 Free Speech DOES NOT mean that you can “say anything you want”… but pretty close Restrictions Threat to national security Libel – false written statement attacking someone’s character, with intent to harm Obscenity – not protected, hard to define – Ex. Pornographic material Symbolic speech – action to convey a message

15 Right to Privacy Not in the Constitution Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) Roe v. Wade (1971) Yahoo and Google – search and e-mails?

16 Due Process 5 th and 14 th Amendment Forbids national AND state gov to “deny any person life, liberty, or property without due process of law.” Procedural – fair trial Substantive – fundamental fairness

17 Search and Seizure 4 th Amendment Freedom from “unreasonable search and seizure” Prevent police abuse Ex. Mapp v. Ohio

18 Self-incrimination 5 th Amendment No one “shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.” Miranda v. Arizona 1966

19 Right v. Right Most cases are not simple They often pit two rights against each other Ex. – freedom of press v. national security


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