1. The Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments of the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights.
These 10 amendments protect most of our civil rights.
1-9 protects the rights of the people.
10 protects the rights of the States.

2. First Amendment: Protects our: 1. Freedom of Religion
2. Freedom of Speech
3. Freedom of the Press
4. Right to Peacefully Assemble
5. Right to Petition the Government

3. 1st Amendment Limitations
1. Inciting Violence
2. Hateful/Abusive Language (Verbal Assault, Psychological Abuse, Slander, etc.)
3. Making threats against others
4. Printing false information and passing it off as the truth
5. Printing negative statements about someone without proof (Liable)
6. Religious Practices (i.e. Polygamy, Sacrifice)

4. Second Amendment
Protects our right to:
1. Form Militias
2. Bear Arms

5. 2nd Amendment Limitations
1. Convicted Felons
2. Mentally ill
3. Fully Automatic Weapons
4. Armor Piercing Rounds
5. Explosives
6. Age Restrictions
7. Militias must act in their State’s interest

6. Third Amendment Protects us from:
1. Quartering Soldiers during peacetime
2. Or during war unless there are laws passed.

7. Fourth Amendment Protects us from:
1. Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
And states that,
2. Warrants must state where they will search and what they are looking for.

8. 4th Amendment Limitations:
Probable Cause: a really good reason to suspect.
Plain Sight Doctrine: the authorities can collect any evidence of a crime within sight as long as they have a legal right to be there.
Schools, Airports, Courts, Police Stations, Hospitals, etc.

9. Fifth Amendment Protects us from:
1. Double Jeopardy: being tried twice for the same crime.
2. Self-incrimination: testifying against yourself (Right to Remain Silent, “Pleading the Fifth”)
And says that:
3. Grand Juries will issue indictments for Capital Crimes
4. And the authorities must follow the rules of “Due Process”. (Procedures set out by law)

10. Sixth Amendment Gives us the right to: 1. A Speedy Trial
2. Impartial Jury
3. Be informed of the charges against you
4. To confront witnesses against you
5. To call witnesses
6. To representation (lawyer)

11. Seventh Amendment Gives us the right to:
1. A trial by jury in civil cases
Civil Case: a court case between two people or groups of people (instead of the government)
And says that,
2. Any appeal of a case must follow the procedures of common law.
Common Law: law derived from custom and judicial precedent.

12. Eighth Amendment Protects us from, 1. Excessive bail
2. Excessive fines
3. Cruel and Unusual Punishment

13. Ninth Amendment States that,
1. Just because the Civil Right is not mentioned in the Constitution does NOT mean that it is NOT a right of the people…
Basically, we have more rights than are listed in the Constitution.
Can you think of any?

14. Tenth Amendment The final amendment in the Bill of Rights.
States that,
All powers of government that are not given to Federal Government by the Constitution belong to the State Governments, unless the Constitution says that it is not…

15. So Who Gets to Have these Constitutional Rights?
Everyone who is on US soil.
This includes: The 50 States, US Territories, US Embassies, and US Military Bases, and all Naval and Air Craft flying the American Flag.
You do not even have to be a citizen…
EXCEPTIONS:
Enemy Combatants (terrorists and spies)
POWs