1. The first 10 amendments to the U. S. Constitution
The Bill of Rights:
The first 10 amendments to the
U. S. Constitution

2. Who determines what the Bill of Rights mean?
Contents
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.
The justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, 2008

3. 1st Amendment = 5 rights Freedom of Speech Freedom of Religion
Contents
1st Amendment = 5 rights
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of the Press
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom to petition the government

4. Contents
Free Speech
“Congress shall make no laws abridging the freedom of speech.”
Limits:
Threaten to blow up airplanes, schools, or the president
Sexual harassment
Create too much social chaos
Extremely crude language in a public forum
Disrespectful, vulgar language in schools
Hate crimes

5. Free Speech: Individuals can…
Contents
Free Speech: Individuals 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.

6. Freedom of Religion Establishment clause Free Exercise clause
Contents
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

7. Establishment and free exercise clause often conflict with each other.
Contents
Establishment and free exercise clause often conflict with each other.
In schools, the religion issue is most prevalent.
A student may raise her hand and say, “Teacher, can we say an opening prayer before this test?”
If the teacher says:
“Yes,” it looks like establishment of religion.
“No,” it is denying a student free exercise.

8. Establishment Clause: Government cannot promote religion.
Contents
The separation of
church and state is a
basic principle of the
US Constitution.
Establishment Clause: Government cannot promote religion.

9. Establishment Clause: Government Cans Cannot
Contents
Establishment Clause: Government Cans Cannot
Teach about religions in school
Allow voluntary prayer in many instances
Transport students to a religious school
Read Bible for culture or literacy content
Set a state religion
Cannot order prayer
Teach religious doctrine in the school
Pay seminary or religious school teachers
Teach creationism

10. Free Exercise: People Can Cannot
Contents
Free Exercise: People Can Cannot
Choose any religion
Lead a prayer in most instances
Ask questions about religions
Break the law and claim it is religious belief
Raise children without education
Deprive children of basic needs

11. Contents
Freedom of the Press
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.”

12. Freedom of the Press: The Press Can Cannot
Contents
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 classified government secrets
Detail how to make a certain weapons

13. Contents
Freedom of Assembly
Congress shall make no law Abridging The people to peaceably assemble.”

14. Freedom of Assembly: People Can Cannot
Contents
Freedom of Assembly: People Can Cannot
Protest
Parade (with a permit)
Parade chanting hate slogans
Gather in public
Protest by throwing rocks and breaking windows
Hang out (loiter) on private land without owner’s permission

15. Petition the Government
Contents
Petition the Government
“Congress shall make no law Abridging the people. . . to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

16. Petition the government
Contents
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.

17. 2nd Amendment: Right To Bear Arms
Contents
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.”

18. What is the debate with the right to bear arms?
Contents
What is the debate with the right to bear arms?
How much can the government do to keep guns from criminals and youth?
In order to keep guns away from criminals, does that limit the right of law abiding citizens?

19. Shoes representing gun deaths.
Contents
Gun Debate Continued…
Thousands of people die every year because of guns.
Thousands of crimes are prevented because of guns.
Shoes representing gun deaths.

20. Contents
3rd Amendment
The Government cannot force you to shelter soldiers in your home without your consent in time of war or peace.

21. Amendments 4-8 Preserve the Rights of the Accused.
Contents
Amendments 4-8 Preserve the Rights of the Accused.

22. Contents
4th Amendment
What does the government need in order to search your home?
Probable cause
A warrant given by a judge

23. 5th Amendment
Contents
You cannot be tried for the same crime twice; that is 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.

24. 6th Amendment: Speedy Trial and Lawyer
Contents
6th Amendment: Speedy Trial and Lawyer
You have the right to speedy trial by an impartial jury (not favoring either side).
You must be told of charges.
You must be provided a lawyer if you cannot afford one.

25. 7th Amendment: Civil Trial by Jury
Contents
7th Amendment: Civil Trial by Jury
“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 re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.”
The $20 in the amendment doesn’t seem significant now.

26. 8th Amendment: Bail and Punishment
Contents
8th Amendment: Bail and Punishment
Prisoner kissing his mom in prison
No excessive bail
No cruel and unusual punishment

27. 9th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the States
Contents
“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
Allows states to grant more rights than given under the Constitution
Issues such as
Gay marriage
Drinking age
Driving age
Abortion limitations

28. 10th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the People
Contents
10th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the People
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
If the federal and state governments do not prohibit something, than the people are allowed to do it.