Assignment: Bill
Name:
Do you know your rights? This activity will give you a good background on the basic freedoms and rights
listed in the Bill of Rights.
1. For each of the following examples, state which amendment is involved in the scenario and WHY
you chose the Amendment by QUOTING the PART of the Amendment that applies. An example
is provided. Use on online Bill of Rights for help … or print one out yourself!
A. If Mr. Cooks is charged with a crime, he can refuse to take the witness stand.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT: "nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a
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witness against himself”
B. In a court of law, Adam Taft is found innocent of the crime of stealing his neighbor’s bike. New
evidence shows that he may be guilty, but Adam knows cannot be tried for the same crime.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
C. Mrs. Eppel does not have to house and feed U.S. Army soldiers who are in her neighborhood.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
D. After being found guilty of driving while intoxicated, the court ordered that Carolyn spend the next 30
years in solitary confinement.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
E. For no apparent reason, the police stopped Rita while she was driving and began to search through her
car trunk and personal luggage.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
F. Judge M.T. Nasty ordered a doctor to cut off the right hand of Marty, a convicted pickpocket.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
G. Congress passed a law banning the practice of Buddhism in the United States.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
H. A group of labor leaders was told that it could not conduct a peaceful rally in the town square.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
I. A United States representative prohibited a local newspaper from printing an editorial that was critical
of her record.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
J. Ms. Barth has the right to send a letter to the government asking to change the national anthem to the
theme song from Twilight.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
K. The United States attorney general ordered all American citizens to turn in their rifles and pistols by
noon on Saturday.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
L. The federal government decided that state governments were no longer necessary.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
M. The judge insisted that the defendant take the stand and explain his actions on the night of the alleged
crime.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
N. The police decided to place a “bug” in Kevin’s home telephone in the hope that they would uncover
some kind of crime.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
O. After being charged with arson, Nate was denied the right of counsel, lawyer, for his defense.
AMENDMENT
QUOTE FROM AMENDMENT:
2. Stretch your imagination and write about a future Bill of Rights issue. (An example that you may not
use: How will ‘intelligent’ artificial life forms be treated under the Constitution?)
Write a paragraph about what you think the issue might be:
Describe the issue.
Describe the Amendment it challenges.
Explain how you think it would be resolved.
Be sure to support your answer.