The Bill of Rightsto the US

Constitution

The Bill of Rights = the first 10 Amendments

added in 17911st Amendment ~ The Freedom AmendmentFreedom of Religion

AssemblyPressPetitionSpeech

or ‘RAPPS”

Religion means that the government can’t tell you what religion to belong to…

Press means the government cannot censor the news as long as it’s true…

Assembly means that the government cannot prevent people from gathering peacefully…

Petition means people have the right to ask the government to change a law or to make a new law…Speech means people are allowed to state their opinions and beliefs…

2nd Amendment ~ the Right to Bear Arms

Americans who meet certain qualifications can own a gun if they want to

3rd Amendment ~ No Quartering of SoldiersPrivate citizens cannot be required to keep soldiers in their houses without their consent

4th Amendment ~ No search and seizure without a warrant or probable causeThe police (government) cannot search your house (car, shed, boat) without a warrant from a judge or probable cause (a reason that can be defended in court).

There are three reasons when a warrant is unnecessary--police call them the 3 E’s:

• escape• endangerment• destruction of evidence

5th Amendment ~ Protection from self-incrimination

(you cannot be required to testify against yourself in court);

Protection from Double Jeopardy (you cannot be tried twice for the same crime);

Right to Due Process (you must receive all the steps in a trial when you are arrested);

Eminent Domain ~ the government may use your property for public use as long as they pay you a fair price

6th Amendment ~ Right to a speedy trial--your trial needs to be timelyRight to a lawyer--you may have a lawyer

in court to help you understand the case against you

Right to a jury trial in a criminal caseRight to question witnesses against you

7th Amendment ~ Jury Trial in a Civil CaseYou may choose to have a jury hear your case if you are sued by another person in a civil case

8th Amendment ~ No cruel or unusual punishment or excessive bail

The government cannot punish you in a cruel way, and bail in court must equal the crime.Some people argue that the death penalty (also called capital punishment) is cruel and unusual and violates the 8th Amendment.

9th Amendment ~ Powers of the People

There are certain unlisted powers the people have (just because they’re not listed, doesn’t mean the people don’t have them…)

10th Amendment ~ Powers of the States

Any powers not given to the federal government or to the people are saved (reserved) for the States.