Bill of Rights Poster Project
Due Date: February ______, 2014
The United States Constitution has endured for over two hundred years as the supreme law of our land. It is
a living document that is central to American life. The language of the Constitution is not overly restrictive,
thus its words have transcended time. The Bill of Rights endured the passage of the Constitution. Ratified
in 1791, the Bill of Rights contains ten amendments that work to protect Americans’ personal liberties that
many feared would be weakened under the new Constitution. Today, these amendments continue to protect
Americans’ personal liberties. They are part of the living Constitution that is constantly interpreted in an
effort to maintain framers’ principles in an ever-changing society.
The Bill of Rights
1st Amendment- Freedom of Expression
6th Amendment- Right to a Fair Trial
2nd Amendment- Right to Bear Arms
7th Amendment- Trial by Jury
3rd Amendment- Quartering of Troops
8th Amendment- Cruel and Unusual Punishment
4th Amendment- Unreasonable Search and Seizures
9th Amendment – Unenumerated Rights
5th Amendment- Due Process of Law
10th Amendment- States’ Rights
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
You will create a poster describing one of the first ten amendments to the Constitution to inform your
classmates about its meaning and importance in early America and today. Your poster should be no larger
than a single sheet of poster board (2ftx3ft), but may be no smaller than a sheet of poster board (1ft x 1. ft).
YOUR POSTER MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
• _The
name of the amendment in big, bold letters
• _The
text of the amendment
• _A
description of the history and meaning of the amendment
• _A
description of one Supreme Court case involving the amendment
• _A
drawing, photograph, or collage showing the amendment in action
BILL OF RIGHTS POSTER RUBRIC
Amendment Basics
_Name of amendment is at the top of the poster in big, bold words.
(4 points)
_Text of the amendment is included in the poster.
Description of the Amendment
_Explains the historical background of the amendment and why its
provisions were included in the constitution
(10 points)
_Analyzes the meaning of the amendment and the phrases and words
within it.
_Makes the amendment easy to understand.
Supreme Court Case
_Includes a Supreme Court case that challenged the meaning of the
amendment or its application in modern society.
(10 points)
_Includes name and year of the case.
_Briefly explains the background of the case.
_Briefly explains the Court’s decision and its rationale.
Images/Pictures
_Illustrates the amendment in action or important ideas and concepts to
the amendment.
(10 points)
_Picture is easy to interpret.
Neatness and Mechanics
_W_r_i_t_i_n_g_ _i_s_ _n_e_a_t_ _a_n_d_ _e_a_s_y_ _t_o_ _r_e_a_d_.
(6 points)
_Poster is well-organize.
_Poster is aesthetically pleasing (looks good).
_Includes proper mechanics, grammar, and spelling.
Class Presentation
_Student able to give basic points of amendment to peers in a way that
they can both take notes and understand the importance of the amendment
(10 points)
_Students know the amendment (they do NOT read poster to their peers)
_Students give presentation in a professional manner (take it seriously,
make eye contact, do not fidget, etc.)