The Bill of Rights

First 10 Amendments

Reason…

• States would not ratify Constitution until individual & states’ rights were guaranteed

• Limit power of government

• Protect civil liberties of individuals

* Rights are NOT ABSOLUTE…limited by the rights of other individuals.

First Amendment• Freedom of…

– Religion

– Speech

– The press

– Peaceable assembly

– Petition the government

• Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom was a forerunner to the 1st Amendment’s right to religious choice

• Separation of church & state– Secular vs. Religious

– Tax exemption of religious organizations

Second Amendment

• Keep and bear arms & state militias

Third Amendment

• No quartering of soldiers without consent of homeowner

Fourth Amendment

• No unreasonable search & seizure

– warrant

– probable cause

– specific place to be searched & person or things to be seized.

Fifth Amendment

• Rights of the accused in criminal cases– Can’t be held without grand jury indictment for

specific crime– No “double jeopardy”– No witness against oneself (remain silent)

(protects against self-incrimination…“I claim the 5th”).

– Can’t deprive life, liberty or property without due process of law

– Gov’t can’t take private property without paying fair price

Sixth Amendment• Speedy, public trial in criminal cases

• Accused must be told the charges against him/her

• Must be allowed a lawyer

Seventh Amendment

• Preserves right to a trial by jury in civil cases where the complaint exceeds $20.00

Eighth Amendment

• Prohibits excessive bail or fines

• No cruel & unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment

• Gives rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution to the people

(So gov’t can’t say people only have rights listed in the Bill of Rights)

Tenth Amendment

• Reserves non-delegated powers to the states

(balance between national & state power)

U.S. Supreme Court

Judicial Review & set precedents

You be the judge…

• Which of the first 10 Amendments do you think is the most important; why? (Ranking on W.S.)

• Which one do you think impacts you the most? The least? Why?

• 10 Guilty go free or 1 innocent in prison?

Supreme Court Cases

1. Tinker v. Des Moines

2. Engel v. Vitale

3. Plessy v. Ferguson

4. Brown v. Board of Ed. of Topeka Kansas

**Precedent setting cases

5. Gideon v. Wainwright

6. Miranda v. Arizona

7. Brandenburg v. Ohio

**landmarkcases.org

Directions…1.) Silently read & highlight your research

2.) Recorder is going to copy the information from the directions page onto the notebook paper. (Be sure to use all of the labels like– Name of case: and Summary of background leading to the case: )

3.) Some of the sentence frames will need to be adjusted depending on your case.

(They do not need to be EXACTLY like the directions).

4.) Complete up to “This case still applies…” today & finish the remainder next class.

5.) Reporter needs to be prepared to share and explain your case during our next class.

 Last name, first 

Last name, first

Period

U.S. Supreme Court Landmark Case

Name of Case: Date:

Summary of background leading to the case: (1-2 sentences)

Constitutional Issue: (Amendment # & or Const issue)

Court’s Decision:

In the case of ____________v. __________________, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in favor of ___________________

which means that they (upheld / overturned) ____________ ______________________________________. )