FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION

Bill of Rights

Goal of the Bill of Rights:

The Bill of Rights protects us from the government.

It limits the power of government and these rights/liberties cannot be taken away from us.

1st Amendment

Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peacefully assemble and to petition the government.

2nd Amendment

States can have militias and individuals have the right to own weapons.

Now we don’t have militias but we have the Guard- Indiana Guard.

3rd Amendment

We do not have to house soldiers in our homes in times of peace without our permission

(This was created in response from the Quartering Act from the Revolution era)

4th Amendment

We have the right to feel safe and secure in our own homes (No searches and seizures of ourselves or property without a warrant)

Officers must get a warrant from a judge and the officer must have probable cause to get the warrant.

Remember Writs of Assistances?

5th Amendment

(Rights of the Accused)Right to a grand jury, no double jeopardy,

cannot be a witness to oneselfLife, liberty and property cannot be taken

from you without due process of law.Just compensation (fair payment)must be

given if your private property is taken from you by the government and used for the public good (building of roads or parks etc.)

6th Amendment

Speedy and public trialImpartial jury (unbiased jury)Trial must take place in the state/district where

crime was committed.You must be informed of the crime that you are

being accused of. You will be told who the witnesses are against youYou have the right to get witnesses in support of

youLawyer/attorney will be provided for you if you

cannot afford one (public defender)

7th Amendment

You have the right to a jury trial if dispute over property is more than $20.00.

This was created because of how the colonists were being treated by the British government…Vice-Admiralty courts.

8th Amendment

No excessive bail, no extreme fines and no cruel and unusual punishment.

(Think of the idea that the punishment must fit the crime)

9th Amendment

People have more rights then what is listed in the Bill of Rights!

Example: Right to privacy

10th Amendment

Called the “States Rights Amendment”If a power is not given to the Federal

government in the Constitution, nor is it denied to the states in the Constitution then, that power belongs to the states or people.

Example: Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that the Federal government has the power to make marriage and divorce laws nor does it say that states cannot make these laws…therefore the states have this power to make marriage and divorce laws.

Lastly

The Bill of Rights was ratified and added to the Constitution in 1791.