The Bill of Rights:
The first 10 amendments to the
U. S. Constitution
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
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Who determines what the Bill of Rights mean?
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The Supreme Court makes rulings on the meaning.
The Supreme Court balances the rights of the
individual with the needs of society.
The justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States, 2008
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1st Amendment = 5 rights
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Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of the Press
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom to petition
the government
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Free Speech
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“Congress shall make no laws . . . abridging the
freedom of speech.”
Limits:
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Threaten to blow up airplanes, schools, or the
president
Sexual harassment
Create too much social chaos
Extremely crude language in a public forum
Disrespectful, vulgar language in schools
Hate crimes
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Free Speech: Individuals can…
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Say any political belief
Protest (without getting out of control)
Say things about someone that are true
Burn the flag
Say racist and hate
slogans
Free speech means
someone might say
something you
disagree with.
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Freedom of Religion
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“Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise there of.”
Two clauses:
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Establishment clause
Free Exercise clause
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Establishment and free exercise
clause often conflict with each other.
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In schools, the
religion issue is
most prevalent.
A student may raise
her hand and say,
“Teacher, can we
say an opening
prayer before this
test?”
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If the teacher says:
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“Yes,” it looks like
establishment of
religion.
“No,” it is denying a
student free exercise.
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Establishment Clause:
Government
cannot
promote
religion.
The separation of
church and state is a
basic principle of the
US Constitution.
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Establishment Clause:
Government
Cans
Cannot
Teach about religions
in school
Allow voluntary
prayer in many
instances
Transport students to
a religious school
Read Bible for culture
or literacy content
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Set a state religion
Cannot order prayer
Teach religious
doctrine in the school
Pay seminary or
religious school
teachers
Teach creationism
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Free Exercise:
People
Can
Cannot
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Choose any religion
Lead a prayer in most
instances
Ask questions about
religions
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Break the law and
claim it is religious
belief
Raise children
without education
Deprive children of
basic needs
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Freedom of the Press

Congress shall make no
law . . . abridging . . . the
freedom of the press.”
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Freedom of the Press:
The Press
Can
Cannot
Print any political
position
Make fun of people,
especially politicians
Expose wrongs by the
government
Say things you might
not agree with
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Libel– intentionally
injuring a person’s
reputation by false
facts
Disclose classified
government secrets
Detail how to make a
certain weapons
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Freedom of Assembly
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Congress shall make no law . . . Abridging .
. . The people to peaceably assemble.”
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Freedom of Assembly:
People
Can
Cannot
Protest
Parade (with a
permit)
Parade chanting
hate slogans
Gather in public
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Protest by
throwing rocks and
breaking windows
Hang out (loiter)
on private land
without owner’s
permission
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Petition the Government
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“Congress shall make no law . . . Abridging
. . . the people. . . to petition the
government for a redress of grievances.”
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Petition the government
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You may sue the government for wrongs.
You cannot be punished for exposing
wrongs by the government.
The courts decide the wrongs.
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2nd Amendment:
Right To Bear Arms
“A well-regulated militia, being necessary
to the security of a free state, the right of
the people to bear arms shall not be
infringed.”
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What is the debate with the right
to bear arms?
 How much can the
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government do to
keep guns from
criminals and youth?
In order to keep guns
away from criminals,
does that limit the
right of law abiding
citizens?
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Gun Debate Continued…
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Thousands of people
die every year
because of guns.
Thousands of crimes
are prevented because
of guns.
Shoes representing gun deaths.
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3rd Amendment
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The Government
cannot force you to
shelter soldiers in
your home without
your consent in
time of war or
peace.
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Amendments 4-8
Preserve the
Rights of the
Accused.
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4th Amendment

What does the
government need
in order to search
your home?
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Probable cause
A warrant given
by a judge
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You cannot be tried for the same crime twice; that
is called “double jeopardy.”
You do not have to testify against your self.
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5th Amendment
“I plead the Fifth!”
You must have due process
of law before you are convicted.
The government cannot take
your land unless it pays.
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6th Amendment: Speedy Trial and Lawyer
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You have the right to
speedy trial by an
impartial jury (not
favoring either side).
You must be told of
charges.
You must be provided
a lawyer if you cannot
afford one.
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7th Amendment: Civil Trial by Jury
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“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.”
The $20 in the amendment doesn’t seem significant now.
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8th Amendment: Bail and Punishment
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No
excessive
bail
No cruel and
unusual
punishment
Prisoner kissing his mom in prison
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9th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the States
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“The enumeration in the Constitution,
of certain rights, shall not be construed
to deny or disparage others retained by
the people.”
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Allows states to grant more rights than
given under the Constitution
Issues such as
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Gay marriage
Drinking age
Driving age
Abortion limitations
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10th Amendment: Rights Reserved to the People
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“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.”
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If the federal and state governments do not prohibit
something, than the people are allowed to do it.
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