The Bill of Rights:

The first 10 amendments to the

U. S. Constitution

1st 6th
2nd 7th
3rd 8th
4th 9th
5th 10th
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Who determines what the Bill of Rights mean?

 The Supreme Court makes rulings on the meaning.
 The Supreme Court balances the rights of the
individual with the needs of society.

The justices of the Supreme

Court of the United States, 2008

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1st Amendment = 5 rights

 Freedom of Speech
 Freedom of Religion
 Freedom of the Press
 Freedom of Assembly
 Freedom to petition
the government
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Free Speech
 “Congress shall make no laws . . . abridging the
freedom of speech.”
 Limits:
 Threaten to blow up airplanes, schools, or the
president
 Sexual harassment
 Create too much social chaos
 Extremely crude language in a public forum
 Disrespectful, vulgar language in schools
 Hate crimes
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Free Speech: Individuals can…

 Say any political belief
 Protest (without getting out of control)
 Say things about someone that are true
 Burn the flag
 Say racist and hate
slogans
 Free speech means
someone might say
something you
disagree with.

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Freedom of Religion
 “Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise there of.”
 Two clauses:
 Establishment clause
 Free Exercise clause

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Establishment and free exercise

clause often conflict with each other.
 In schools, the  If the teacher says:
religion issue is  “Yes,” it looks like
most prevalent. establishment of
 A student may raise religion.
her hand and say,  “No,” it is denying a
“Teacher, can we student free exercise.
say an opening
prayer before this
test?”
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Establishment Clause:
Government
cannot
promote
religion.

The separation of
church and state is a
basic principle of the
US Constitution.
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Establishment Clause:
Government
Cans Cannot
 Teach about religions  Set a state religion
in school  Cannot order prayer
 Allow voluntary  Teach religious
prayer in many doctrine in the school
instances  Pay seminary or
 Transport students to religious school
a religious school teachers
 Read Bible for culture  Teach creationism
or literacy content
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Free Exercise:
People
Can Cannot
 Choose any religion  Break the law and
 Lead a prayer in most claim it is religious
instances belief
 Ask questions about  Raise children
religions without education
 Deprive children of
basic needs
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Freedom of the Press

 Congress shall make no
law . . . abridging . . . the
freedom of the press.”

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Freedom of the Press:

The Press
Can Cannot
 Print any political  Libel– intentionally
position injuring a person’s
 Make fun of people, reputation by false
especially politicians facts
 Expose wrongs by the  Disclose classified
government government secrets
 Say things you might  Detail how to make a
not agree with certain weapons
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Freedom of Assembly
 Congress shall make no law . . .
Abridging . . . The people to peaceably
assemble.”

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Freedom of Assembly:
People
Can Cannot
 Protest  Protest by
 Parade (with a throwing rocks and
permit) breaking windows
 Parade chanting  Hang out (loiter)
hate slogans on private land
without owner’s
 Gather in public
permission
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Petition the Government

 “Congress shall make no law . . . Abridging
. . . the people. . . to petition the
government for a redress of grievances.”

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Petition the government

 You may sue the government for wrongs.
 You cannot be punished for exposing
wrongs by the government.
 The courts decide the wrongs.

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2nd Amendment:
Right To Bear Arms
 “A well-regulated militia, being necessary
to the security of a free state, the right of
the people to bear arms shall not be
infringed.”

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What is the debate with the right

to bear arms?  How much can the
government do to
keep guns from
criminals and youth?
 In order to keep guns
away from criminals,
does that limit the
right of law abiding
citizens?

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Gun Debate Continued…

 Thousands of people
die every year
because of guns.
 Thousands of crimes
are prevented because
of guns.

Shoes representing gun deaths.

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3rd Amendment
 The Government
cannot force you to
shelter soldiers in
your home without
your consent in
time of war or
peace.

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Amendments 4-8
Preserve the
Rights of the
Accused.

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4th Amendment
 What does the
government need
in order to search
your home?
 Probable cause
 A warrant given
by a judge

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5th Amendment
 You cannot be tried for the same crime twice; that
is called “double jeopardy.”
 You do not have to testify against your self.
 “I plead the Fifth!”
 You must have due process
of law before you are convicted.
 The government cannot take
your land unless it pays.

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6th Amendment: Speedy Trial and Lawyer

 You have the right to
speedy trial by an
impartial jury (not
favoring either side).
 You must be told of
charges.
 You must be provided
a lawyer if you cannot
afford one.
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7th Amendment: Civil Trial by Jury

 “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 fact
tried by a jury, shall be
otherwise re-examined in
any court of the United
States, than according to
the rules of the common
law.”

The $20 in the amendment doesn’t seem significant

now. 25
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8th Amendment: Bail and Punishment

 No
excessive
bail
 No cruel
and unusual
punishment

Prisoner kissing his mom in prison

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9th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the States

 “The enumeration in the Constitution,
of certain rights, shall not be construed
to deny or disparage others retained by
the people.”
 Allows states to grant more rights than
given under the Constitution
 Issues such as
 Gay marriage
 Drinking age
 Driving age
 Abortion limitations

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10th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the People

 “The powers not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are
reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
 If the federal and state governments do not prohibit
something, than the people are allowed to do it.

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