1. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Lesson 7: Bill of Rights
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

2. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

3. The Bill of Rights The Big Idea
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to define clearly the rights and freedoms of citizens.
Main Ideas
The First Amendment guarantees basic freedoms to individuals.
Other amendments focus on protecting citizens from certain abuses.
The rights of the accused are an important part of the Bill of Rights.
The rights of states and citizens are protected by the Bill of Rights.

4. The Bill of Rights= The first 10 amendments To the U. S. Constitution
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

5. 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
Individual??
Society??
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

6. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Main Idea 1: The First Amendment guarantees basic freedoms to individuals.
James Madison promised that a bill of rights would be added to the Constitution.
States ratified ten amendments, called the Bill of Rights.
Protection of individual liberties is important in a democracy because of majority rule–the idea that the greatest number of people in society can make policies for everyone.
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition.
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

7. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Basic Rights
Freedom of Religion
The government cannot support or interfere with the practice of religion, support one religion over another, or establish an official religion.
Freedom of Speech and of the Press
Americans have the right to express their own ideas and to hear the ideas of others.
Freedom of Assembly
Americans have freedom of assembly, or of holding meetings.
Right to Petition
Americans have the right to petition, or make a request of the government; this right allows Americans to show dissatisfaction with laws or to suggest new laws.
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

8. The first amendment—5 rights mentioned
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of the Press
Freedom of Assembly
Right to petition the government
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

9. Five Rights in the Amendment
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Freedom of Assembly
Petition the government
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

10. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
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
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

11. Establishment and free exercise clause often conflict with each other
In schools, the religion issue is most prevalent
If a student raises his hand and says “teacher, can we say an opening prayer before this test”
If the teacher says:
“Yes”, It looks like establishment of religion
“No”, It is deigning a student free exercise.
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

12. Establishment Clause—Government cannot promote religion
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

13. Establishment clause-Government Cans Cannot
Teach about religions in school
Allow voluntary prayer in many examples
Transport students to a religious school
Read Bible for culture or literacy content
Set a state religion
Government cannot order a prayer
Teach religious doctrine in the school
Pay seminary teachers
Teach creationism
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

14. Free exercise of religion
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

15. Free Exercise—The person Can Cannot
Choose whatever religion
Lead a prayer in most examples
Ask questions about religions
Worship who ever you want
Break the law and claim it is religious belief
Raise children without education
Deprave children of basic needs
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

16. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Freedom of speech
“Congress shall make no laws abridging the freedom of speech”
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

17. Free speech– The individual 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
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

18. Free speech—limits on the person
Threaten to blow up airplanes, schools or the president
Sexual harassment
Create too much social chaos
Extremely crude language in a public form
Disrespectful, vulgar language in schools
Hate crimes
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

19. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Freedom of the press
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.”
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

20. Freedom of the press-the press Can Cannot
Print any political position
Make fun of people, especially politicians
Expose wrongs by the government
Say things you might not agree with
Libel– intentionally injuring a person’s reputation by false facts
Disclose defense-security secrets
Detail how to make a certain weapons
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

21. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Freedom of Assembly
Congress shall make no law Abridging The people to peaceably assemble”
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

22. Freedom of Assembly--Individual Can Cannot
Protest
Parade (with a permit)
Parade chanting hate slogans
Gang members can congregate in public
Protest by throwing rocks and breaking windows
Hang out on private land against owners will—loitering
Teen curfew
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

23. Petition the Government
“Congress shall make no law Abridging the people. . . to petition the government for a redress of grievances”
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

24. 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
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

25. Main Idea 2: Other amendments focus on protecting citizens from certain abuses.
Second Amendment deals with state militias and the right to bear arms
Third Amendment prevents the military from forcing citizens to house soldiers
Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable search and seizure
Authorities must get a search warrant to search or seize property, except in emergency situations.

26. 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.”
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

27. What is the debate with the right to bear arms?
How much can the government keep guns from criminals and youth?
In order to keep guns away from criminals, does that limit the right of law abiding citizens?
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

28. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Gun debate continued
Thousands of people die every year because of guns
Thousands of crimes are prevented because of guns
Shoes representing gun deaths.
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

29. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Third Amendment
The Government cannot force you to shelter soldiers in your home without your consent in time of war or peace.
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

30. Rights of the Accused Amendments #4-8 Important to preserve freedom
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

31. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Fourth Amendment
What does a policeman need in order to search your home?
A warrant given to him by a judge
Probable cause is also needed
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

32. Main Idea 3: The rights of the accused are an important part of the Bill of Rights.
The Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments provide guidelines for protecting the rights of the accused.

33. The Fifth Amendment
Guarantees the government cannot punish anyone without due process of law—meaning the law must be fairly applied.
A grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to indict a person; a court cannot try a person for a serious crime without an indictment.
This amendment protects people from having to testify at their own trial.
Anyone found not guilty cannot face double jeopardy—be tried again for the same crime.
No one can have property taken without due process of law, except in cases of eminent domain.
Eminent domain is the power to take personal property to benefit the public.

34. Rights Guaranteed by the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments
Right to a speedy, public trial by jury.
Right to know charges and hear witnesses.
Right to impel witnesses to appear.
Right to an attorney.
Seventh
Right of trial by jury in civil cases—cases where harm has occurred but not necessarily the breaking of the law.
Eighth
Allows for bail, a set amount of money that defendants promise to pay the court if they fail to appear at the proper time.
Bans “cruel and unusual punishments.”

35. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Fifth Amendment
You cannot be tried for the same crime twice—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.
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

36. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Sixth Amendment
Right to speedy trial by impartial jury—meaning not favoring either side
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

37. Sixth Amendment continued
You must be told of charges
You must be provided a lawyer if you cannot afford one
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

38. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Eighth Amendment
No excessive bail
No cruel and unusual punishment
Prisoner kissing his Mom in prison
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

39. Main Idea 4: The rights of states and citizens are protected by the Bill of Rights.
Ninth and Tenth Amendments give general protection for other rights not addressed by the first eight.
Ninth Amendment says that the rights listed in the Constitution are not the only rights citizens have.
Tenth Amendment states that any powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited by the Constitution belong to the states and the people.
Helps keep the balance of power between states and federal government.

40. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

41. 7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution
Activity 12: Bill of Rights (GLE: 56)
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution

42. Closure: Review Daily Objectives
7th Grade Unit 2b: Constitution