Bill of Rights Amendments 1 10 Why is

Bill of Rights Amendments 1 -10 Why is a Bill of Rights Necessary?

Amendment Definition: A formal change to the Constitution, which requires 3/4 vote by all states in order to be inacted.

Bill of Rights n n n 1 st Amendment - Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, petition. 2 nd Amendment - State Militias and right to bear arms shall not be infringed. 3 rd Amendment - No quartering of soldiers in private homes during a time of peace. 4 th Amendment - Protection against illegal searches and seizures. 5 th Amendment - Right to remain silent, right to due process, protection against double jeopardy.

n n n 6 th Amendment - Right to a speedy and public trial. . . Right to face his/hers accuser. . . Right to counsel or defense attorney. 7 th Amendment - Civil suits. . . Right to sue for $$$ damages. 8 th Amendment - No excessive bail. . . No cruel and unusual punishment. 9 th Amendment - People have certain rights not listed in the Constitution. (enumerated rights) 10 th Amendment - States have power to create own laws if not listed in the Constitution.

1 st Amendment n Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, and Assembly. • The 1 st Amendment protects the civil liberties of individuals in the United States. The Amendment freedoms are not absolute. They are limited by the rights of other individuals.

2 nd Amendment n Right to Bear Arms • The purpose of this amendment is to guarantee states the right to keep militia.

3 rd Amendment n Quartering of troops • This amendment is based on the idea that people have a right to privacy in their own homes. • This amendment reflects the anger that colonists had against the British government for housing troops during the American Revolution.

4 th Amendment n Searches and Seizures • This also reflects the anger colonists had against the British government. Britain used writs of assistance to seek out smuggled goods. • Americans wanted to make sure that searches and seizures would be conducted only when a judge felt that there was “reasonable cause”

5 th Amendment n Rights of Accused Persons • No Double Jeopardy -A person may not be tried for the same crime more than once. • Soldiers - A member of the military is subject to military law and is tried in a court martial. • Right to Remain Silent - You may not be forced in any criminal case to be a witness against yourself. You may refuse to answer questions on the grounds that the answers may incriminate you.

6 th Amendment n Right to a Speedy, Fair Trial • Speedy Trial - ensures that an accused person will not be held in jail for a lengthy period of time as a means of punishing the accused without a trial • Fair Trial - a trial must be conducted in front of an impartial jury and evidence must be presented on both sides before a verdict is given. • Counsel - Legal counsel must be provided for a defendant.

7 th Amendment n Civil $uits • In civil suits where one person sues another for more than $20, a jury trial is provided. • This allows people to sue another for money.

8 th Amendment Bail - Is money that an accused person pays to the court as a guarantee that he or she will be present for trial. n This amendment ensures that neither bail nor punishment is cruel and unusual. n

9 th Amendment n Powers Reserved to the People • People’s rights are not limited to those listed in the Constitution. – example - we have the right to socialize, go to restaurants, listen to CDs, read our history book, tune Mrs. Jennings out.

10 th Amendment n Rights Reserved to the States • This amendment protects the states and the people from an all-powerful government. • The states retain all the powers except those denied them or those specifically granted to the federal government.

Why is a Bill of Rights Necessary? The Bill of Rights. . . • Protects our individual rights and liberties against unfair actions from the government. • It offers citizens equal treatment under the law. • It allows us our basic freedoms.

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