First 10 amendments to the Constitution

Bill of Rights

First AmendmentFree exercise of Religion

Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Press

Freedom of Assembly and Petition

Also Called RAPPS

JOHN PETER ZENGER

John Peter Zenger was a German-born U.S. journalist in New York City.

Created a newspaper to voice opposition to the difficult policies of newly appointed Colonial Governor William Cosby.

His case was an important contributing factors to the

development of freedom of the press in America.

He was acquitted during his trial…

SECOND AMENDMENT

The Right to Bare Arms

Third Amendment

No Quartering of Troops

Fourth Amendment

No Unreason-

able Searches

and Seizures

Fifth AmendmentGuarantee of Grand Jury

No Double Jeopardy (can’t be tried for the same crime twice)

No Self-Incrimination (Plead the fifth)

Guarantee of Due Process (everyone gets treated the same)

To taking of Property without Just Compensation ($) (eminent Domain)

O.J. Simpson cannot be charged for the same crime twice under the Fifth Amendment.

SIXTH AMENDMENTRight to Speedy, Public Trial

Right to Trial by JuryRight to be informed of Charge

Right to Confront WitnessesRight to obtain Witnesses

Right to Counsel (Attorney)

SEVENTH AMENDMENTTrial by Jury in Civil Cases over $20

In the 1700’s twenty dollars was a lot more money than it is today.

Now, for any dispute involving less than $1500.00, small claims court will handle the case without a jury.

Eighth Amendment

No Excessive Bail or Fines

No Cruel or Unusual Punishment

An early electric chair “Dunking” no longer used

8th Amendment ContinuedNumber of states that use which method of

execution:Firing Squad - 3 Hanging - 4 Lethal Gas - 7 Electric Chair - 11 Lethal Injection - 33

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1976 that the death penalty was constitutional

First 8 amendments spell out personal liberties

Ninth AmendmentUnenumerated Rights not Denied to the

People

People still have rights that they are entitled to that may not be expressed directly in the

Constitution.

This always goes back to Natural Rights…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Includes the right to privacy

Tenth AmendmentUndelegated Powers reserved for the States

The tenth amendment sets up the basic principle of federalism

The governmental powers not listed in the Constitution for the national government are powers that the states, or the people of those states, can have.

10th Amendment ExamplesThe states determine the rules for:

marriages divorces driving licenses voting state taxes job and school requirements rules for police fire departments

What the Bill of Rights PresentedProtection against a strong central

government

Protection of Individual liberties

Protection through a trial by jury

James Madison takes on the responsibility of submitting 12 possible amendments out of 80 submitted by the states to Congress…only 10 were chosen.

HOMEWORKYou will have to write a one page essay detailing which amendment is most important to you and why.

You can use any amendment (beyond the first 10)

This assignment is due tomorrow. It can be typed or written legibly…please

CLASS ASSIGNMENTThe class will divided into ten groups. Each

group will be assigned one of the amendments from the bill of rights.

Your group’s job is to create a poster that explains your amendment in your own words and has an illustration that supports the amendment.