October 20, 2015
• Please make sure you have copied today’s agenda into
your planner and have a pencil on your desk ready to
take notes!
• HLA:
• SSL Contact Info is due THURSDAY (only if you
are changing!)
• Amendment Flashcards are due THURSDAY!
• Chapter 4 Definition Depot is due FRIDAY!
• Wear ORANGE tomorrow! 
Chapter 4 – The Amendments
to the US Constitution
http://www.centeroncongr
ess.org/the-bill-rights
The “Bill of Rights”
The “Bill of Rights”

Added in 1791, the first
10 amendments are
known as the “Bill of
Rights”.

The purpose is to limit
the power of the federal
government by protecting
the rights of the people

It was added because the
Anti-Federalists
demanded it.
“Civil Liberties”

The Bill of Rights
guarantees “Civil
liberties” - freedoms we
have to think and act
without government
interference or fear of
unfair treatment.
 The Amendments place
strict limits on how the
federal government
treats the people.
“Civil Liberties”



“Civil liberties”,
however, do not allow
American citizens to do
things like break the law.
“Your rights end where
someone else’s begin”…
Your rights are balanced
against the rights of others
and the good of the
community.
“R.A.S.S.D.A.T.
E.P.S.”
“R.A.S.S.D.A.T.

R.A.S.S.D.A.T.
E.P.S is an easy way
to remember the
“Bill of Rights”.
E.P.S.”
“R.A.S.S.D.A.T.

E.P.S.”
R = Religion, Assembly, Speech, Press, Petition
 A = Arms (right to bear arms)
 S = Soldier Quartering
 S = Search & Seizure (privacy amendment)
 D = Double Jeopardy, Due process, eminent Domain
and you Don’t have to testify against yourself (rights of
the accused)
 A = Attorney & fair and speedy trial in Criminal Cases
 T = Trial by Jury in Civil Cases over $20
 E = Excessive Bail or Cruel and Unusual Punishment
 P = People’s Rights
 S = States Rights
“The First Amendment”
“The First Amendment”
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
“R.A.S.P.P.”
“R.A.S.P.P” is a good
acronym to remember
the major elements of
the First Amendment.
 This amendment
protects the 5 basic
freedoms that are
essential to the
American way of life.
 Religion, Assembly,
Speech, Press, Petition!!!

1. “R” = Religion

Freedom of Religion prohibits
Congress from establishing any
official or “state” religion in
the U.S.
 It also guarantees Americans
the right to worship or practice
any religion they choose (or to
not worship at all).
 Americans special value on
freedom of religion since many
people moved here to escape
religious persecution.
2. “A” = Assembly

Freedom of Assembly
protects our right to
assemble in groups
for any reason as
long as these
assemblies are
peaceful in nature.
 This also allows us to
join whatever groups
we choose to join…
3. “S” = Speech



Freedom of Speech protects your
right to say what is on your mind, in
public or private, without fear of
punishment by the government.
Face to face discussions, telephone
conversations, lectures, and even
“unspoken expressions” are all
protected.
It does not allow for speech that is
harmful to people or that threatens
the government.
– Slander: spoken lies
– Libel: maliciously printing lies
Landmark Supreme Court
Cases
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
Tinker v. Des Moines




During Vietnam War Era
School banned protests of any
kind
Students (Tinker) wore black
armbands to silently protests the
war and were expelled
Is this a 1st Amendment
Violation?



Students were in charge of writing
school newspaper and drafted two
articles about pregnancy and
divorce.
Principal deleted the articles
from the school newspaper
before printing in fear that
students may be identified who
were pregnant or from divorced
families
Is this is a 1st Amendment
Violation?
4. “P” = Press

Freedom of the press
protects our rights to
express ourselves in
published information
and allows us to read
what others have
published (without
“censorship”).
 This freedom is also
limited (as speech)
5. “P” = Petition

Freedom of petition
guarantees all
Americans the right
to petition (a formal
request) the
government.
 This allows us to
express our views to
the government.