Name______________________________ Per.

____

Bill of Rights Activity

Directions: Read and discuss each of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. As
you go through the amendments, complete the chart by paraphrasing
amendments 1, 2, 3, 8, and 10 in your own words.

Basic Idea
The Text in the Bill of Rights What did the Amendment say? Put it
into your own words!

Congress shall make no law

respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free
Amendment exercise thereof; or abridging the
1 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.

A well regulated Militia, being

Amendment
necessary to the security of a Free
2 State, the right of the people to
keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace

Amendment
3
be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the
Owner…

The right of the people to be

secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and No searching someone’s property
seizures, shall not be violated, and without a warrant which may only be
Amendment [warrants can only be issued issued if probable cause that a crime
4
based on probable cause], has been committed is shown. (Right
supported by Oath or affirmation, to privacy implied)
and particularly describing the
place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.
 … nor shall any person be subject
for the same offence to be twice
put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor
Protection from double jeopardy
shall be compelled in any criminal
Amendment case to be a witness against (being tried more than once)and self
5 himself, nor be deprived of life, incrimination (testifying against
liberty, or property, without due yourself), entitled to due process and
process of law; nor shall private just compensation if property taken
property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.

In all criminal prosecutions, the

accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an
impartial jury of the State and
district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, … and to
Amendment
be informed of the nature and
6
cause of the accusation; to be
confronted with the witnesses
against him; to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in
his favor, and to have the
Assistance of Counsel for his
defence.
In criminal cases, the person accused
of a crime is entitled to:
● a speedy and public trial
● an impartial jury
● be informed of the charges
● be able to examine witnesses
against him
● call witnesses in his defense
● a lawyer

In suits at common law, where the

value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by
jury shall be preserved, and no People in a civil case (not criminal)
Amendment fact tried by a jury, shall be have a right to a jury trial.
7 otherwise reexamined in any
Court of the United States, than
according to the rules of the
common law.

Excessive bail shall not be

Amendment required, nor excessive fines
8 imposed, nor cruel and unusual
punishments inflicted.

The enumeration in the
Constitution, of certain rights, shall
Amendment not be construed to deny or
9 disparage others retained by the
people.
● other rights may exist aside from
the ones explicitly mentioned
● even though they are not listed,
they can’t be violated by the
US government
● prevents the expansion of
government power

The powers not delegated to the

United States [United States
means federal government] by
Amendment the Constitution, nor prohibited by
10 … the States, are reserved to the
States respectively, or to the
people.