Chapter 6: The Bill of Rights
Civics
THE BILL OF RIGHTS (Chapter 6)
Study Guide
Vocabulary
1. Separation of Church and State – means the government may not favor any religion or establish an
official religion
2. Eminent Domain – or the power to take private property for payment for public use
3. Due Process of Law – entitles accused citizens the right to be treated fairly according to rules
established by law
4. Double Jeopardy – or being placed on trial twice for the same crime
The Debate in Congress and Ratification
 The main reason the Anti-Federalists agreed to sign the Constitution was because the Federalists agreed
to add the Bill of Rights to the Constitution
 Reasons for adding a Bill of Rights:
 Congress would be responding to the will of the people and earning their trust
 Reasons for not adding a Bill of Rights:
 Others wanted Congress to first deal with the governing of the nation and not amendments
 12 Amendments were originally proposed, but only 10 were approved
 The Bill of Rights was finally ratified in 1791
The Amendment Process
 Amendments can be proposed in two ways:
 Two Thirds Vote of Both Houses of Congress
 A National Convention called by Congress upon request from the Legislatures of 2/3’s of the States
 Amendments, once proposed, can then be approved in two ways:
 Legislatures of Three-Fourths of the States vote and if they agree the amendment becomes law and
part of the Constitution
 A Convention of Three-Fourths of the States is called and the convention votes on whether to pass
the proposed amendment
The Freedoms in the 1st Amendment
 Freedom of Speech – you can say what you want and express your ideas so long as those ideas don’t
endanger another person or group
 Freedom of Press – you can print what you want in newspapers, books, and magazines; that means
citizens and journalists can criticize the government and political leaders
 Freedom of Religion – you can practice whatever religion you believe in; the government can’t outlaw
one religion
 Freedom of Assembly – you can gather with others to voice your opinion and spread your ideas both in
public and private
 Freedom to Petition – you can request the government ‘make right’ a situation
The Bill of Rights and the Supreme Court
 Tinker v. Des Moines
 Two students wore armbands in protest of the Vietnam War. They were suspended by the school
but took their case to the Supreme Court saying that their First Amendment right to freedom of
speech and expression had been violated. The Supreme Court agreed with the students and said
what the school did was unconstitutional.
Chapter 6: The Bill of Rights
Civics
 Skokie v. Illinois
 In 1977 the Nazi party wanted to march in the town of Skokie, Illinois, home of 40,000 Jewish
residents. The town of Skokie said that in order to march the Nazis had to pay $350,000 dollars; an
amount the Nazis did not have. The Nazis said their First Amendment right to freedom of speech
and freedom of assembly had been violated, and the U.S. District Court agreed with the Nazi’s,
saying it was their right to march.
The Amendments
 1st Amendment
 Gives you the right to ask the government to change the law as well as the essential rights of freedom
of press, religion, speech, assembly, and petition
 2nd Amendment
 Says you have the right to bear arms (firearms/weapons)
 3rd Amendment
 Says the government can’t make you house soldiers (quarter troops) without your consent
 4th Amendment
 Says you have the right to see a search warrant before your home, possessions, etc. are searched
 5th Amendment
 Says you have the right to a fair price if the government takes your property (Eminent Domain)
 Says you have the right against self incrimination (“I Take The Fifth”)
 Says you can’t be tried twice for the same crime (Double Jeopardy)
 6th Amendment
 Says you have the right to a jury trial if you are accused of a crime
 Says you have the right to an impartial jury
 Says you have the right to have a lawyer
 8th Amendment
 Says you have the right to a fair bail if you are arrested
 9th Amendment
 Says that you have more rights than are listed in the Constitution
 10th Amendment
 Says that the fifty states have those rights not given to the national government
ALL AMERICANS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS!