The 1st Amendment
Basic Freedoms
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of the Press
Freedom of Assembly
Right to petition the government
The 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 keep and bear Arms,
shall not be infringed.
The 3rd Amendment
Quartering (housing) of Soldiers
This was created in response to British
laws before the Revolution. The British
were allowed to house troops in homes
King George says I
of colonists without their
can say in your home
permission.
Today this doesn’t really affect us
much, but it is important because it
shows that we have a right to privacy
in our homes.
The 4th Amendment
Search and Seizure
What does a policeman
need in order to search
your home?
A warrant given to him by a
judge
Probable cause is also
needed
The 5th Amendment
Rights of the Accused
You cannot be tried for the same crime
twice—called “Double Jeopardy”
“I plead
the
fifth”
You do not have to testify against
yourself. “I plead the fifth”
You must have due process of law
before you are convicted
The government cannot take your
land unless it pays.
The 6th Amendment
Rights of the Accused
Right to
Right to
Right to
Right to
Right to
a Speedy Trial
a Public Trial
a Jury Trial
Subpoena
an Attorney: This information is
continued in the Miranda warnings, police
state: “If you cannot afford an attorney, one
will be provided.”
The 7th Amendment
right to a jury trial in civil cases
This means that any person
can demand a jury trial.
For example, if a person owes
someone in your family owes
money, and you suspect them,
and have evidence that they
owe him/her, the government can hold a
trial. If their problem is very serious, it will
be re-examined.
The 8th Amendment
Rights of the Accused
No excessive bail
No cruel and unusual
punishment
The 9th Amendment
Limitations of Rights
 This means that if the rights were not
spelled out specifically in the Constitution,
then those rights belonged to the people.
For example, the Constitution has nothing in
it about what type of soft drink you can
buy. Therefore, the government cannot
deny you that choice.
The 10th Amendment
Reserved Powers
This means that if the rights
were not spelled out specifically
in the Constitution, then those
rights belonged to the states.
 For example, the Constitution is silent
about driving a car. The power to
grant licenses for driving is a power
left to the states.
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??
Amendments
Over the last 221 years there have
been 17 additional amendments
added to the constitution.
Can you name any of these
amendments?