1. The Amendments By: Adam Gremminger

2. Amendment 1 The first amendment has to do with many things, but one of the most important ones is freedom of religion. This amendment said that no law can be passed forcing somebody into a religion. Also this amendment said that you have the freedom of speech. There is an acronym that helps you remember what the amendment 1 is about. It is “RAPP”. The R stands for religion. The A stands for assembly. This means that you have the right to PEACEFUL assembly. The first P stands for Petition. This means that you have the right to write your congressmen if you have a dis-agreement with the government. The second P is for press. You have the freedom of press (As long as it is true).

3. Amendment 2 The second amendment says that we need a government paid military. We used to have “minute men” that were just normal men that would use their family guns and go off to war without any training, but the second amendment said that we need an organized military that is paid for by the government. Another part of the second amendment is the right to bear arms. This gives anyone who meets the requirements can own and carry a weapon.

4. Amendment 3 The third amendment said that soldiers can not be quartered in citizens houses without their permission. Back in the Revolutionary war, British soldiers used to live in the colonist’s houses without their permission, which made them angry. It is now the government’s job to house the soldiers.

5. Amendment 4 The fourth amendment is about the polices ability to search people’s belongings. This says that police need a warrant to search someone’s things. The warrant has to be passed by the consent of the magistrate, and has to be very specific to what they want to look for. In order to get a warrant you need good evidence.

6. Amendment 5 The amendment 5 is one of the most important of them all. You will need this amendment if you ever get in trouble with the law. This amendment says that you have the right to remain silent and you do not have to defend yourself. You do not have to be a witness against yourself. Also you can not be tried twice in a court of law. (Double Jeopardy)This means that once you have been tried once for a crime, you can not be tried again for the same crime. Also government can buy your property for the amount of money that it’s worth.

7. Amendment 6 The sixth amendment is also very important. It states that you have the right to know what you’re charged for. If you ask the police what you are being arrested for they must tell you. Also you have the right to call a witness or a lawyer. Amendment 6 also says that you can enjoy the right of a speedy trial. This means that the trial has to happen as soon as possible, so you don’t have to sit in jail waiting for your trial for a long time. Also you can call up the person that’s accusing you for the crime and use them as a witness.

8. Amendment 7 In this amendment it says that you can not sue someone and call them to court if the fine is less than twenty dollars. This is important, because people would sue people for stupid reasons otherwise.

9. Amendment 8 In amendment 8, it says that excessive bail will not be required. This means that if somebody does not have much money, then they can not charge excessive bail against them. Also it says that there will be no cruel or unusual punishment, which means you can’t do any cruel punishment such as cut somebody’s hand off for stealing something out of a store.

10. Amendment 9 This amendment lists all of our rights specifically. This made sure that people didn’t take unspecific rights and twist them the way they wanted it to be.

11. Amendment 10 This amendment balanced the power between the states and the federal government. This keeps the states happy knowing that they also have a say in the government.