Unit 12 The Bill of Rights
(This unit is based o n Anfiendments I - X.)
When the Constitution was completed in 1787, it
was sent to the states for their approval.
Ratification by nine states was needed before the
Constitution could go into effect. At the state
conventions
called to
vote on the
new
Constitution, however, many of the delegates were
unwilling to approve it.
The Need for a Bill R i g h t s . One of the major
objections to the new Constitution was the fact
that there was nothing in it to protect the rights of
the people.
Accordingly, supporters of the
Constitution promised that if the Constitution were
ratified, they would work to have a bill of rights
adopted.
As a result, the Constitution was ratified. As
soon as the first Congress met, it proposed twelve
amendments dealing with the rights of the people,
ten of theses were approved by the states and
have come to be known as the Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment. The First Amendment
prevents Congress from passing any law which
denies to the people their basic rights. These
rights include freedom of religion, freedom of
speech, and freedom of the press. Also listed in
the First Amendment are the freedoms to
assemble
peaceably
and
to
petition
the
government.
In other words, the First Amendment guarantees
that the government may not force the people to
support a national church or to attend a particular
church.
Nor may people be prevented from
attending the church of their choice.
One of the basic rights guaranteed to the people in the Bill of
Rights is freedom of the press.
Furthermore, the people are free to speak out in
public or to print what they choose. Of course,
what is spoken or printed must be the truth.
Finally, Americans are free to meet together, to
criticize their government, and to request that
Congress change old laws or make new ones.
Privacy
and
Protection.
The
Second
Amendment gives to the people the right to bear
arms in their state militias. The Third Amendment
prevents the government from forcing private
citizens to feed and house soldiers, as the English
government did before the Revolution.
The
people's right to privacy is protected by the Fourth
Amendment. This states that no home may be
searched without cause and without a warrant, or
written permission from a court of law.
Legal R i g h t s . The next four amendments deal
with legal rights - the rights of a person accused of
a crime. The Fifth Amendment says that no one
may be tried for a serious crime unless he has first
been indicted, or charged with the crime, by a
grand jury. In addition, a person who has been
tried and found not guilty may not be tried again for
the same crime. Finally, the Fifth Amendment
states that an accused may not be forced to testify
against himself.
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a
speedy trial by jury and to the assistance of a
lawyer. According to the Seventh Amendment,
however, suits involving sums under $20 may not
be heard by a jury.
The Eighth Amendment says that excessive bail
may not be required. Bail is money left with the
court in exchange for an accused's freedom before
trial. It is supposed to guarantee that the accused
will appear for his trial. The Eight Amendment also
forbids "cruel and unusual punishments."
Other R i g h t s . The last two amendments in the
Bill of Rights deal with additional rights of the
people. The Ninth Amendment states that the
rights listed in the Constitution are not the only
ones that the people have. The tenth Amendment
says that the federal government has only those
powers specifically listed in the Constitution. All
other rights which are not forbidden to the states
are reserved to the states and to the people.
Name
Hour
Date
ACTIVITY PAGE
A. True or False
In the space
at the left, write T if the statement
is true or F if it is
false.
1. The Bill of Rights is part of the original Constitution.
2. Congress may not interfere with the form of worship chosen by any citizen.
3. The Bill of Rights does not guarantee freedom of speech.
4. Freedom of speech gives an individual the right to say anything he chooses.
5. A person being sued for $15 is entitled to a jury trial.
6. Once a person is found not guilty, he may not be tried again for the same offense.
7. Any home may be searched by a federal officer without a warrant.
B. Words to Know
In the space at the left, write the letter of the term that best fits the definition.
1. guarantees freedom of speech and religion
a. the Bill of Rights
2. the first ten amendments to the Constitution
b. warrant
. 3. the rights of a person accused of a crime
c. indicted
4. protects individuals against self-incrimination
d bail
5. charged with a crime
e legal rights
6. written permission granted by a court of law to search a
person's home
f. First Amendment
7. money left with the court in exchange for freedom before trial
g. Fifth Amendment
C.
Facts to Remember
Fill in the blanks with the word or phrase that best completes
the
sentence.
1.
Many Americans objected to the original Constitution because it did not contain
2.
The Third Amendment prevents the government from forcing citizens to feed and house
3. According the Fourth Amendment, no home may be searched without a
4.
The Fifth Amendment says that no man may be tried for a serious crime unless he has first been
by a grand jury.
5. All persons accused of a crime have the right to a speedy trial by
6.
.
The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive
.
as well as cruel and unusual
7. According to the Tenth Amendment, all powers not granted to the federal government or forbidden
to the states are reserved to the
or the
.
D. Things to Do
After consulting an almanac or encyclopedia,
answer the following questions.
1. Prepare a talk explaining why freedom of speech does not give an individual the right to shout in a
crowded theater.
2. After consulting a history text or encyclopedia, write a paragraph explaining the reasons that the Tenth
Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights.