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Bill of Rights Stations Activity
Directions: As you move from station to station, connect each amendment of the Bill of Rights with the
rights guaranteed by that amendment. Additionally, for each amendment, draw a picture and think of an
example of a situation where that right is relevant in order to help you remember.
Amendment
Picture
Rights Guaranteed
Example
AMENDMENT I
“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.”
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of religion is the first freedom mentioned in the Bill of Rights. This
shows how important it was to the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Many of the people who first came to America did so in order to have
religious freedom. They did not want the new government to take this
freedom away.
The First Amendment allows people to believe and practice whatever religion
they want. They can also choose not to follow any religion. The government
can, however, regulate religious practices such as human sacrifice or illegal
drug use.
Freedom of Speech
Another very important freedom to the Founding Fathers was freedom of
speech. They didn't want the new government to keep people from speaking
up about issues and concerns they had with the government. This freedom
prevents the government from punishing people for expressing their opinions.
It does not, however, protect them from repercussions they may have at work
or in the public from voicing their opinions.
Freedom of the Press
This freedom allows people to publish their opinions and information without
the government stopping them. This may be through any type of media
including the newspaper, radio, TV, printed pamphlets, or online. There are
some things that you can't publish including printing lies about people to
damage their reputation (this is called defamation) or copying someone else's
work (copyright law).
Right to Assemble
This freedom gives people the right to gather in groups as long as they are
peaceable. The government must allow people to gather on public property.
This allows people to hold protests and rallies against the government calling
for changes. In some cases, the government may get involved in order to
protect the safety of the citizens. Permits may be required to hold large
protests, but the requirements for the permits cannot be too difficult to meet
and must be required for all organizations, not just some of them.
Right to Petition the Government
The right to petition the government might not sound very important today,
but it was important enough to the Founding Fathers to include in the First
Amendment. They wanted a way for the people to officially bring issues to
the government. This right allows individuals or special interest groups to
lobby the government and to sue the government if they feel they have been
wronged.
Ex: The New York Times writes a story about a scandal involving the governor of
NY.
Amendment II
“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.”
This amendment protects the rights of citizens to "bear
arms" or own weapons such as guns.
Ex. Many Americans own hunting rifles.
Amendment III
“No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a
manner to be prescribed by law.”
The Third Amendment protects private homeowners from
having the military take over their home to house soldiers.
Ex. Citizens did not need to house/feed soldiers during the War
of 1812.
Amendment IV
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.”
It protects people from unlawful searches and seizures. This means that the
police can't search you or your house without a warrant or probable cause.
Ex. The police wanted to search your cell phone to look at your texts, but you
don't have to allow this because they did not have a warrant from a judge.
Amendment V
“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases
arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in
time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same
offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in
any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life,
liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use, without just compensation.”
The Grand Jury
The first part of the amendment talks about a grand jury. The grand jury is a
jury that decides if a trial should be held. They look at all the evidence and
then decide if a person should be charged with a crime. If they decide there is
enough evidence, then they will issue an indictment and a regular trial will be
held. The grand jury is only used in cases where the punishment for the crime
is severe such as life in prison or the death sentence.
Double Jeopardy
The next section protects the person from being tried for the same crime more
than once. This is called double jeopardy.
Taking the Fifth
Perhaps the most famous part of the Fifth Amendment is the right to not
testify against yourself during a trial. This is often called "taking the fifth."
The government must present witnesses and evidence to prove the crime and
cannot force someone to testify against themselves.
Miranda Warning
You've probably heard the police on TV say something like "you have the
right to remain silent, anything you say or do may be used against you in a
court of law" when they arrest someone. This statement is called the Miranda
Warning. Police are required to tell people this before they question them as
part of the Fifth Amendment. It reminds citizens that they don't have to
testify against themselves.
Due Process
The amendment also states that a person has a right to "due process of law."
Due process means that any citizen charged with a crime will be given a fair
trial that follows a defined procedure through the judicial system.
Eminent Domain
The last section says that the government can't take a person's private
property without paying them a fair price for it. This is called eminent
domain. The government can take your property for public use, but they have
to pay you a fair price for it.
Ex. Lynn refused to testify at her criminal trial.
Amendment VI
“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public
trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been
committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be
informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses
against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have
the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.”
Speedy Trial
One of the first requirements of the Sixth Amendment is that people have a right to a
speedy trial. How fast is speedy? Well, the law doesn't say. What this means is that the
government shouldn't needlessly delay the trial. They can't hold someone in jail while
purposely delaying a trial. Some trials still take a long time for various reasons.
Public Trial
The amendment next says that the accused will have a "public" trial. This is to keep the
government from having secret trials away from the eyes of the public. This happened
under the rule of the British and the Founding Fathers didn't want this to occur under the
new government. Public trials can help to insure that government officials are following
the law.
Impartial Jury
The right to a trial by jury is guaranteed in the Sixth Amendment. This only applies,
however, to serious offenses where the punishment is more than six months in prison.
The jury must also be impartial. This means that each of the jurors is unbiased. To help
make sure the jurors are impartial, the lawyers from each side get to interview potential
jurors and choose who becomes a part of the jury.
Notice of Accusation
The amendment requires that the person will be told what crime they are charged with.
This is called a "notice of accusation." This sounds obvious to us, but without this
requirement the government could lock up people for years without ever telling them
what they did wrong. This happened under British rule and still occurs today in some
countries.
Confrontation
In order to make trials as fair as possible, the people who say they witnessed the crime
must testify in court. This gives the person accused of the crime (or their lawyer) the
chance to question and "confront" them.
Assistance of Counsel
The last part of the amendment guarantees the defendant a lawyer or "assistance of
counsel." If the person cannot afford their own lawyer, the government will provide a
lawyer. These lawyers are called public defenders.
Ex. Pete could not afford a lawyer, so the state provided a lawyer to defend her at no
charge.
Amendment VII
“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.”
This amendment protects the right to a trial by jury in civil court cases.
Ex. Josh took Carol to court because she owed him $10,000 and didn't pay it
back.
Amendment VIII
“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
This amendment insures that the punishments for crimes
are not excessive, cruel, or unusual.
Ex. In the US, you will not be sent to jail for illegal
parking.
Amendment IX
“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not
be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
All the rights not listed in the Constitution belong to the people,
not the government. In other words, the rights of the people are
not limited to just the rights listed in the Constitution.
Ex. Tim has the right to dye his hair green.
Amendment X
“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.”
This amendment states that any power not specifically
given to the federal government by the Constitution
belongs to the States and the people.
Ex. Michigan is responsible for establishing and
overseeing election procedures.