Actions of Citizens
1) Describe this picture. What is happening?
2) Can anybody in these pictures get in trouble for what they are doing?
3) Why would people participate in this activity?
Student Handout
Umbrella Worksheet
Directions: Fill in each piece of the umbrella with words that describe how each of the following
amendments protects the rights of American citizens.
5th Amendment
1st Amendment
a.
b.
c.
8th Amendment
d.
e.
4th Amendment
List some ways in which the Bill of Rights is like an umbrella:
First Amendment
Religion
First Amendment: An amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing the
right of free expression; includes freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of
religion, and freedom of speech.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof …”
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Questions:
1. What is freedom of religion?
2. Why is freedom of religion important?
Source:
http://hazel.forest.net/skjold/photo_pages/religious.htm
First Amendment
Freedom of Speech and of the Press
First Amendment: An amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing the
right of free expression; includes freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of
religion, freedom of speech and freedom to petition, or question, the government.
“Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;”
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Questions:
1. What does freedom of speech mean to you?
2. Can people in this country say whatever they want? Are there any limits on
freedom of speech?
3. How are freedom of speech and freedom of the press similar?
Source:
http://www.africawithin.com/bios/martin_luther_king.htm
First Amendment
Assembly and Petition
First Amendment: An amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing the
right of free expression; includes freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of
religion, freedom of speech and freedom to petition, or question, the government.
“Congress shall make no law abridging… the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government...”
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Questions:
1. From looking at this picture, what do you think the right to assemble
means? Why is this important?
2. From looking at this picture, what do you think the right to petition
means? Is it important?
3. Why are the freedoms to assemble and petition important?
Source:
http://www.princeton.edu/~ppn/images/protest-sm.jpg
Fourth Amendment
Unreasonable Searches and Seizure
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights,
guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…”
-Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Questions:
1. What is happening in this picture?
2. When should the police be able to search a person’s
house? When should the police NOT be able to search a
person’s house?
Source:
http://holocaustssurvivors.org/cgibin/data.show.pl?di+record&da=photos&ke=102
The Fifth Amendment
Rights of the Accused
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the rights of people who have
been accused of committing a crime.
“No person shall
be…deprived of life,
liberty, or property,
without due process of
law”
-Fifth Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution
Questions:
1. What is going on in the picture?
Source: http://www.holocaustsurvivors.org/cgi-bin/data.show.pl?di=record&da=photos&ke=102
2. Why should we care about the rights of people who are
accused of committing a crime?
3. If you were accused of a crime, would you want a one
judge to decide your case or nine people on a jury? Why?
Source:
http://hcworldnews.com/midterm/jbrader/300-002OCT14.html
Eighth Amendment
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights,
protects against excessive bail or fines, as well as against cruel and unusual punishment.
“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual
punishments inflicted.”
-Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Questions:
1, Describe what you see in this picture.
2. How does this amendment protect people?
Source:
http://www.ff.iij4u.or.jp/~yeelen/system/howto/pillory.htm