Amending the Constitution

4-1

• 27 Amendments

• 1st ten amend. - Bill of Rights

• Difficult process - must have support of the the people

• 2 ways to make amendments

First Method

• Only one ever used

• 1. Proposal - vote of 2/3 of members of both houses

• 2. Ratification - approved by 3/4 of the 50 state legislatures

• 3. New amendment

Second Method

• Never used

• 1. Proposal - by national convention called at the request of 2/3 of 50 state legislatures

• 2. Ratification - approved by 3/4 of ratifying conventions held in 50 states

• 3. New amendment

The Amendment Process

What does the boy in the cartoon represent? The train? What is the cartoonist saying about the amendment process? Why does the amendment process take so long? What are the advantages and

disadvantages of such a long process? According to our discussion of the term “amendment” would either of the

amendments waiting for passage in this cartoon fit our definition? Why or why not?

• Bill of Rights 1-10

• Civil War Amendments 13-15

• The later amendments 16-27

The First Amendment

• Protects civil liberties - freedoms we do not have to fear will be taken away

• In your notebook mark the place that indicates your opinion:

• The First Amendment is important in my life. • __________________________________________________ • Strongly Disagree Agree Strongly• Disagree Agree

What Students Think About the First Amendment

(100,000 American High School students, teachers and administrators were surveyed for this report)

1. High school students tend to express li ttle appreciation for the First Amendment. Nearly three-fourths (73 percent) either says they don’ t know how they feel about the First Amendment, or they take it for granted.

• What do you know about the first Amendment?

Amendment I

Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.

• Now revisit your continuum line and evaluate whether your response has changed?

What rights does the First Amendment guarantee to American citizens?

Why do you think the framers of the Constitution placed freedom of religion as the first guaranteed right?

1. Freedom of Religion

• No official religion

• Cannot favor one religion over others

2. Freedom of Speech

• Can criticize gov.

• Tinker v. Des Moines

3. Freedom of the Press

• All means of mass production

• censorship

4. Freedom of Assembly

• Any peaceful assembly

• Clubs, etc.

5. Freedom to petition

• To express ideas to the gov.

Limits to 1st Amendment Freedoms

• Speech - cannot endanger gov. or other people– Overthrow the gov.– Violent or criminal behavior– Cannot spread lies

• Slander - spoken lies• Libel - written lies