THE BILL OF RIGHTS

General Information• First 10 Amendments to the Constitution

• Ratified in 1791

• Essential component of LIMITED GOVERNMENT in the United States. (Takes power from the government and gives it to the people)

• Who would want a bill of rights added to the constitution?

The FIRST Amendment

• Protects 5 basic freedomso Freedom of RELIGIONo Freedom of SPEECHo Freedom of the PRESSo Freedom of ASSEMBLYo Freedom to PETITION the government

The SECOND Amendment

• Guarantees the right to BEAR ARMS

The THIRD Amendment

• The National Government can never ask Americans to QUARTER soldiers

The FOURTH Amendment

• Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures

The FIFTH Amendment

• deals with the rights of accused criminals by providing for due process of law, forbidding double jeopardy, and preventing self-incrimination. (right to remain silent)

The SIXTH Amendment• Guarantees additional rights to people

accused of crimes, including the rights to:o Be told the charges against youo A speedy and public trial by a juryo Confront your accuserso Call witnesses in your behalfo Have a lawyer

The SEVENTH Amendment• Guarantees the right to a jury trial in

civil cases

The EIGHTH Amendment• Forbids “excessive” bail and “CRUEL

AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS”

The NINTH Amendment• Rights not mentioned in the

constitution belong to the people.

The TENTH Amendment• Maintains that powers not specifically

given to the federal government are reserved for the states

• Scenario – All order and no freedom.

• Imagine a society in which everything you do – from how you dress to what you eat to who you hang out with – is determined by the state. Police are everywhere, and there is essentially no crime. But individual expression does not exist.

• What are the chief advantages and disadvantages of this type of social arrangement?