•Miss Springborn~ Team 6•[A] bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse." --- Thomas Jefferson December 20, 1787 

The Bill Of Rights

What are the Bill of Rights?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Guaranteed that the national government could not violate our freedoms

It was ratified/approved in 1791It was authored by James Madison

The First AmendmentWhat does it say? Congress shall make no law

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

What does this mean?

First Amendment gives American Citizens the right to:

Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech Freedom of the Press Freedom of Assembly Freedom of Petition

First Amendment – Freedom of Religion

Government cannot interfere with or promote any religion

Creates the separation between Church and state

First Amendment

Freedom of Speech

Are there any limits on your speech?

First Amendment – Freedom of the Press

The Government cannot interfere with the flow of information and the news

Why might a government want to have control over information?

First Amendment – Freedom of Assembly

People may gather or protest if done in a peaceful manner

First Amendment – Freedom of Petition

The right of people to make suggestions or complaints against the government

Controversy with the first amendment…

Should there be certain forms of speech that are limited?

Should there be religious requirements to hold political offices?

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.

Amendment Two

Basically this means… Creates a National Army Gives Citizens the right to have a

gun to protect themselves

Should gun ownership be restricted? If so, what restrictions are constitutional?

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any

house, without the consent of the owner, nor

in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed

by law.

Amendment Three

What does the Third Amendment mean?

The Government cannot force people to house soldiers

Why would this be included in the Bill of Rights?

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,

papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and

seizures, shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath

or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be

searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment Four

Fourth Amendment The right of people against unreasonable

searchesAuthorities must have a warrant issued by

a judge in order to search peoples possessions

Protection of peoples Privacy and Property

No persons shall be held to answer for a capitol, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a

presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval

forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any

person be subject for the same offense to be twice put into jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall

be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;

nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment Five

Amendment Five: Rights of people

accused of a crime

You must be charged with a specific crime

You do no have to testify against yourself

Double jeopardy- this means you cannot be tried twice for the same crime

This is called Double Jeopardy

In all Criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district

wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and 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 defense.

Amendment Six

The Sixth Amendment -

•Rights of people during criminal proceedings •Speedy Trial – Cannot be forced to stay in jail without a timely trial•Be informed of charges (Miranda Rights ) •You have the right to remain silent… etc•Right to an attorney

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 reexamined in any court of

the United States, than according to the rules of the

common law.

Amendment Seven

Right to a Jury Trial in Civil

What does the Seventh Amendment mean?

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive

fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments

inflicted.

Amendment Eight

What does the Eight Amendment Mean?

No cruel punishments for the crime you commit

Bail should fit the crime committed

Punishments should also fit the crime

Controversy:Is the Death Penalty

“Cruel and Unusual?”

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be

construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

• People have other rights that are not listed in the Constitution

Amendment Nine

The powers not given to the national government

belong to the states.

Amendment Ten

Other Amendments that were added…

There were 27 total but we are only going to cover a few below

Civil War Amendments:

13th Amendment: Abolishes slavery in the United States

14th Amendment: Makes all former slaves citizens of the United States

15th Amendment: Gives Voting rights to former slavesSays you cannot be denied voting rights on the

basis of race, color, or previous enslavementWhat KEY word is left out of the above

amendment?

16th Amendment

Establishes Income Tax allowing Congress to tax earnings of United States citizens

19th Amendment

Gave Women the right to vote

22nd Amendment

Creates the TWO term limit for the presidency of the United States

25th Amendment

Establishes the rules for Succession if the president dies in office or is removed from office

26th Amendment

Lowers the voting age from 21 to 18

27th Amendment

Establishes rules for how Congress is allowed to vote on raises for their salaries

Interesting fact about this amendment…it was actually written and proposed in 1789 along with the Bill of Rights by James Madison but it took over 200 years to be added to the actual Constitution