The Bill of RightsThe Bill of RightsRatifiedRatified

December 15, 1791December 15, 1791

Pgs. 374-377Pgs. 374-377

Rights and ResponsibilitiesRights and Responsibilities

After the Constitution was ratified, After the Constitution was ratified, ten ten amendmentsamendments, or , or changeschanges were added to were added to protect the rights of the people.protect the rights of the people.

The ten amendments were called the The ten amendments were called the Bill Bill of Rightsof Rights which describe the freedoms which describe the freedoms that the government cannot take away. that the government cannot take away.

These amendments also include actions These amendments also include actions that the government is not allowed to take.that the government is not allowed to take.

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights1. Freedom of religion, 1. Freedom of religion, press, speech, press, speech, assembly, petitionassembly, petition

6. Rights of accused 6. Rights of accused personspersons

2. Right to keep and 2. Right to keep and bear armsbear arms

7. Trial by jury7. Trial by jury

3. Quartering of soldiers 3. Quartering of soldiers in peacetimein peacetime

8. No excessive fines of 8. No excessive fines of cruel punishmentcruel punishment

4. Freedom from search4. Freedom from search 9. Other rights retained 9. Other rights retained by the peopleby the people

5. Protection of the 5. Protection of the accusedaccused

10. Powers reserved for 10. Powers reserved for the states and peoplethe states and people

The First AmendmentThe First Amendment

The First Amendment says that people The First Amendment says that people have the freedom to follow any religion have the freedom to follow any religion they want. they want.

It protects freedom of speech and freedom It protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press.of the press.

It also says that people can hold meetings It also says that people can hold meetings to discuss problems and that they can ask to discuss problems and that they can ask the government to hear their complaints.the government to hear their complaints.

The Second AmendmentThe Second Amendment

The Second Amendment protects The Second Amendment protects people’s rights to carry arms, or people’s rights to carry arms, or weapons.weapons.

It says a militia is necessary to the It says a militia is necessary to the security of a free state.security of a free state.

The right of the people to keep and The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.bear arms shall not be infringed.

The Third AmendmentThe Third Amendment

The Third Amendment says that the The Third Amendment says that the government cannot force citizens to government cannot force citizens to pay for quartering, or housing, pay for quartering, or housing, soldiers.soldiers.

During the Revolutionary War, many During the Revolutionary War, many colonists had to spend their own colonists had to spend their own money to house and feed British money to house and feed British soldiers.soldiers.

The Fourth AmendmentThe Fourth Amendment

Under the Fourth Amendment, Under the Fourth Amendment, the government cannot order that the government cannot order that a person’s home be searched or a person’s home be searched or property taken away without there property taken away without there being a good reason.being a good reason.

Reasonable search is permitted Reasonable search is permitted with a warrant.with a warrant.

The Fifth-Eighth AmendmentsThe Fifth-Eighth AmendmentsDue Process of LawDue Process of Law

People have the right to a fair public trial. People have the right to a fair public trial. They do not have to speak against They do not have to speak against

themselves in a court of law. themselves in a court of law. They have the right to have a lawyer They have the right to have a lawyer

speak for them in court.speak for them in court.They cannot be put on trial twice for the They cannot be put on trial twice for the

same crime and excessive bail or fines same crime and excessive bail or fines cannot be imposed.cannot be imposed.

No “cruel or unusual” punishments can be No “cruel or unusual” punishments can be given.given.

The Ninth AmendmentThe Ninth Amendment

The Ninth Amendment says that The Ninth Amendment says that people have many other rights not people have many other rights not listed in detail in the Constitution. listed in detail in the Constitution.

Among these are Among these are human rightshuman rights – the – the freedoms that all people should have.freedoms that all people should have.

The Declaration of Independence lists The Declaration of Independence lists them as life, liberty, and the pursuit of them as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.happiness.

The Tenth AmendmentThe Tenth Amendment

As a final protection for citizens, As a final protection for citizens, the Tenth Amendment says that the Tenth Amendment says that the federal government can do the federal government can do only those things listed in the only those things listed in the Constitution.Constitution.

All other authority belongs to the All other authority belongs to the states or to the people.states or to the people.