Chapter 4

Rights and Responsibilities

Section 1:The Bill of Rights

Section 2:Guaranteeing Other Rights

Section 3:Citizens’ Duties and Responsibilities

The Main Idea

The freedoms spelled out in the Bill of Rights—the freedoms of religion, speech, the press, and petition,

and the right to a speedy and fair trial—are essential to our democratic system.

Reading Focus• Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?• How does the First Amendment protect personal

freedoms?• What other rights does the Bill of Rights guarantee?

Section 1: The Bill of RightsSection 1: The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights• Americans wanted their rights written into

the Constitution.

• Several states recommended that a bill of rights be drafted upon ratification of the Constitution.

• 1791—The Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution.

Section 1: The Bill of RightsSection 1: The Bill of Rights

Americans' Rights: Our Freedoms: The Bill of Rights [02:38]

The Bill of Rights [01:44]

The First Amendment protects personal freedoms.• Freedom of religion

• Freedom of speech

• Freedom of the press

• Freedom of assembly

• Freedom of petition

Section 1: The Bill of RightsSection 1: The Bill of Rights

Other rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights include:

• Second—Right to bear arms• Fourth—Protection from unreasonable search and seizure

of private property• Fifth—Right to a fair trial and due process of law; right to

own property• Sixth—Right of the accused to a have a lawyer• Eighth—Forbids cruel and unusual punishment• Ninth—States that not all rights are listed in the

Constitution

Section 1: The Bill of RightsSection 1: The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights

Separation of church and state

The inclusion of rights not specifically listed in the

Constitution

Freedom of the press Freedom of speech

Freedom of petition Freedom of assembly

No quartering of soldiers The right to bear arms

Protection for those accused

Protection from unreasonable search and seizure

Question: What rights are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?

Section 1Section 1

The Main Idea

Other amendments to the Constitution expanded the civil rights of Americans.

Reading Focus• How did the Thirteenth and Fourteenth

Amendments extend civil rights?• Which amendments extended Americans’

voting rights?

Section 2:Section 2: Guaranteeing Other RightsGuaranteeing Other Rights

Civil Rights

• The Thirteenth Amendment outlawed slavery in the United States in1865.

• The Fourteenth Amendment granted full citizenship to African Americans in 1868 and protected citizens against unfair actions by state governments.

Section 2:Section 2: Guaranteeing Other RightsGuaranteeing Other Rights

Voting Rights

• 1870 – The Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to African American men.

• 1913 – The Seventeenth Amendment gave voters power to elect their senators.

• 1920 – The Nineteenth Amendment granted suffrage to women.

Section 2:Section 2: Guaranteeing Other RightsGuaranteeing Other Rights

Voting Rights (continued)• 1961 – The Twenty-third Amendment gave

citizens of Washington, D.C., the right to vote for president and vice president.

• 1964 – The Twenty-fourth Amendment forbade poll taxes.

• 1971 – The Twenty-sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.

Section 2:Section 2: Guaranteeing Other RightsGuaranteeing Other Rights

Section 2Section 2

Question: Which amendments extended Americans’ voting rights?

Fifteenth Amendment

Seventeenth Amendment

Nineteenth Amendment

Twenty-third Amendment

Twenty-fourth Amendment

Twenty-sixth Amendment

Amendments that Extended Voting Rights

Amendments that Extended Voting Rights

The Separation of Church & State [01:40]

The Main IdeaAlong with the rights and freedoms of U.S.

citizenship come important duties and responsibilities.

Reading Focus• What are the duties of citizenship?• What are the responsibilities of citizenship?

Section 3:Section 3: Citizens’ Duties and ResponsibilitiesCitizens’ Duties and Responsibilities

Citizens Have Responsibilities [01:55]

Duties of citizenship:• Obeying the law

• Attending school

• Paying taxes

• Serving in the armed forces

• Appearing in court

Section 3:Section 3: Citizens’ Duties and ResponsibilitiesCitizens’ Duties and Responsibilities

Rights and Responsibilities [04:25]

Responsibilities of Citizenship

• Voting

• Being informed

• Taking part in government

• Helping your community

• Respecting and protecting others’ rights

Section 3:Section 3: Citizens’ Duties and ResponsibilitiesCitizens’ Duties and Responsibilities

Question: What are the responsibilities of citizenship?

Section 3Section 3

Responsibilities of

Citizenship

being informed

taking part in government

voting

respecting others’ rights

helping the community

Chapter 4 Wrap-Up1. Which amendments focus on the rights of people

accused of crimes? What rights do these amendments guarantee?

2. Why was the Ninth Amendment included in the Bill of Rights?

3. How did the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments extend the civil rights of Americans?

4. How have voting rights been expanded through constitutional amendments?

5. What are the duties of citizenship?6. What are the responsibilities of citizenship?

1. Which amendments focus on the rights of people accused of crimes? What rights do these amendments guarantee?

2. Why was the Ninth Amendment included in the Bill of Rights?

3. How did the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments extend the civil rights of Americans?

4. How have voting rights been expanded through constitutional amendments?

5. What are the duties of citizenship?6. What are the responsibilities of citizenship?