The Amendments Ch. 3.4 Bill of Rights; The first 10 amendments to the U. S. Constitution Objective; SWBAT, understand how the amendments to the Constitution show the development of democracy in the United States? Who determines what the Bill of Rights mean? • The Supreme Court makes rulings on the meaning. • The Supreme Court balances the rights of the individual with the needs of society The Bill of Rights (pages 83–87) • These ten amendments originally applied only to the federal government, but through a series of Supreme Court decisions now apply to state governments also. • The 1st Amendment protects individuals’ right to worship, to speak freely, to assemble, and to petition and criticize government. Free Speech Limits • Threaten to blow up airplanes, schools, or the president • Sexual harassment • Create social chaos • Extremely crude language in a public forum • Disrespectful, vulgar language in schools • Hate crimes Freedom of Religion • Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise there of.” • Two clauses: – Establishment clause -Establishment Clause: Government cannot promote religion. – Free Exercise clause - Choose any religion, Lead a prayer in most instances - Ask questions about religions Freedom of the Press: The Press - Can • • • • • • Print any political position Make fun of people, especially politicians Expose wrongs by the government Say things you might not agree with Cannot Libel– intentionally injuring a person’s reputation by false facts - Disclose classified government secrets - Detail how to make a certain weapons Freedom of Assembly • Protest - Parade (with a permit) - Parade chanting hate slogans - Gather in public • Petition the government • You may sue the government for wrongs. • You cannot be punished for exposing wrongs by the government. • The courts decide the wrongs. 2nd 3rd & 4th • The 2nd Amendment ensures citizens’ right to own firearms. • The 3rd Amendment prohibits the government from forcing people to provide shelter for soldiers in their homes. • What is the debate with the right to bear arms – How much can the 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? • Amendments 4-8 Preserve the Rights of the Accused. 4th & 5th • The 4th Amendment protects individuals from unlawful searches and arrests without court warrants. • The 5th Amendment protects people charged with a crime: – a grand jury must indict them before trial – no one found innocent can be retried for the same crime – people cannot be forced to testify against themselves – and no one can be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law 6th 7th & 8th • The 6th Amendment guarantees accused persons the right to know the charges against them, – Defense attorney, – Speedy jury trial, – The right to question all witnesses and compel them to testify • The 7th Amendment provides individuals the right to a trial by jury to settle property disputes, though a judge may try the case if both parties agree. • The 8th Amendment prohibits excessive bail and fines and bars cruel and unusual punishment for crimes. 9th & 10th • The 9th Amendment states that all powers not spelled out in the Constitution are retained by the people. • The 10th Amendment says that all powers not given to the national government or denied to the states belong to the states or the people Other Amendments • The 11th Amendment prohibits a state from being sued in federal court by citizens of another state. • The 12th Amendment provides that the Electoral College shall cast separate ballots for president and vice president. • The 13th , 14th , and 15th Amendments outlawed slavery, prohibited depriving anyone of life, liberty, or property without “due process of law,” and prohibited denying the right to vote based on race. • The later amendments, Sixteen through Twenty-seven, deal with a wide range of topics reflecting changes in modern times.