The U.S. Bill of Rights

Made Easy!

By Amanda Martin

Why Do I Need to Know This?

Most people can agree that the U.S. Constitution is…

l e n g t h y &

boring.

But what you may not have considered…

AFTER high school…YOU will be on your own, making decisions that could affect your future (+positively+) OR (–negatively-)

AM I BEING LEGAL?

• Understanding the freedoms and rights given to you in the Bill of Rights, will provide you with the confidence in the decisions you make.Your actions within these groups can affect your

future.

So you’ll want to know if what you’re doing is legal right?

Getting Involved In Society

• Many students get involved in clubs, organizations, or Greek life once in college.

• In these clubs you could:– stand up for something you support in a public

format.– Petition the government

In Your Nearing Future…

If you join a fraternity or sorority:

1. You will be attending chapter and assemblies to support your house.

2. Some houses are religiously based

3. Some houses allow alcohol consumption

Jewish House

Party House

Okay, Let’s Get Started Already.

NOW you understand why and how the U.S. Constitution applies to you.

Read a little bit and take the quiz at the end to see how much you learned.

It’ll be easy, trust me! You won’t even notice how much you have learned!

So… What Should You Do?

• Read the slides explaining the amendments. – Don’t sigh! It’s worth it. • You’ll definitely ace the exam after this activity(:

• Click on the button that says “Layman’s Terms” after you have read the actual definition of the amendment– this will explain the amendment in an easier

fashion so you can understand.

• Quick fact: Layman’s Terms – comes from the word laity• which means a non clergy man. So, it’s a term for

people who are non experts in the field of terminology.

Cool, huh?

Yeah I'm full of that kind of stuff

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 the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms I

• Freedom to: • Speak your mind publicly• Practice your preferred religion, any type!• From being forced to practice a religion• Assemble with a crowd peacefully • Petition the Government• From the Press

Applying to your life• You wanna tell people about your religion?– You can stand on a box in the middle of New York City ( or

anywhere in America) and proclaim your beliefs if you want…

– Because the 1st Amendment allows you to practice your own religion and speak publicly…

– But what if you’re the average Joe walking by this religious proclamation? You can just walk away, no worries. America says you can do what you want!

Applying to your life (cont)• Also!! • Upset about the lack of funding towards your favorite

cause? OR the restrictions for you to meet with your organization,because the county doesn’t support you?

• Well! the 1st Amendment says you can assemble peacefully and if you feel like this right isn’t being provided, you can write your congressman and tell him to fix the problem!

• This is your way of petitioning the government peacefully.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms II

• Freedom to:

Bear and own arms

You can carry a gun on your person and/or in your home.

Applying to Your Life

• Don’t want to feel unprotected from the criminals that may happen to strike at random?– You can get a weapons permit, if you have a clean

criminal record! – Yet another provision by the United States!

– Fun Fact: While this may be a debatable amendment, the majority of Americans support firearm ownership.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms III

• Freedom from:

Being forced to house soldiers in wartime

Applying to your life• Could you imagine a soldier walking up to your house

expecting lodging, hygiene care and food during a time of war?– UHM! … yeah, that all ended AFTER the American Revolutionary

War in 1780.

Housing Soldiers poses way too many threats toinnocent Americans, especially if the enemy finds thehomes that are holding soldiers.

We are lucky, foreign countries still allow soldiers to takeadvantage of civilians homes.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms IV

• Freedom from:Officials - searching your property without awarrant allowing them the ability.

Officials - actually taking your property without a warrant allowing them the ability.

Applying to Your Life

• Imagine this: • Your name was John Smith and cops wandered

to every house whose name fell under John Smith in the phonebook?

• When they got to these homes, they just tore through every John’s clothes in search for a weapon or illicit drugs?

• Not fair, what if John Smith were 99 years old and immobile?

• Well: the 4th Amendment provides: - Americans with the freedom from this

injustice.• Instead: any government official has to prove

that their search is necessary with the judicial branch.

• Fun Fact: this is all a part of Checks and Balances

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms V

• Freedom From:

Being tried twice for the same crime• Freedom To:

Get an attorney for freeRemain Silent when you get arrested

Applying To Your Life

• Okay, if you’ve gotten to this legal point in life… you’re kind of in the “danger zone.”– It’s important to know that you can hire a free attorney if

you are being accused of a crime, the government will provide one for you!

IF the court rules you not guilty for a crime, they cannot find more evidence and try to accuse you again later. - Once you’ve been tried and found guilty or not guilty. That’s the final ruling.

– ALSO, when A cop reads you your Miranda Rights, you have the right not to testify against yourself!

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms VI

• Freedom of:

• Trial By Jury

Applying to Your Life

• If you are being accused of murder, you have the right to an attorney and a jury to decide the position of your guilt.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms VII

• This one is … simply weird… – but it happens and if you are involved in a federal

civil case involving more than $20 bucks… you have the right to trial by jury

• Helpful Hint: • Amendment VI guarantees trial by jury AND • Amendment VII is the $20 right

… try to remember it that way!

Applying to Real Life

• This basically means:

if you steal a French fry of your friend’s plate, youwon’t be tried with the death penalty.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Layman’s Terms

Laymen’s Terms VIII

• This basically means:

IF you steal a French fry of your friend’s plate,you won’t be tried with the death penalty

!!! You ALSO won’t be charged $1,000 for thatpotato wedge

Amendments IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms

This is the Bill of Rights….

not the ONLY rights that the Unites Statesprovides.

Applying to your Life

• A cop cannot beat you with his night stick for a simple seat belt violation without probably cause. – These are considered laws… not JUST rights.

The amendments are only changes to theConstitution that is full of all sorts of rights andlaws that make you a free American.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Layman’s Terms

Layman’s Terms

There are rights specific to the Federalgovernment

The other rights are to be delegated at the statelevel

Applying to Your Life

• ZBT is a new fraternity to Purdue. This requires them to communicate with otherschools and states that support the fraternity.

This is influenced by state governments not thefederal government.

QUIZ TIME! • You will be given an example of a real life

scenario. • Then, you need to pick the answer that you

think matches the best with the scenario.• You need to score a 100% before I will let you

take the exam.

GOOD LUCK!

Can I carry a gun in my backpack?

• A. Yes, only if the President says so.• B. Nope, never.• C. Yes, if you receive a gun permit.

I want to make a speech in public about Jewish Fraternities, will people throw things at me?

• A. Duh. You can’t force your religion on society.

• B. Yes, Amendment I provides the freedom of speech.

• C. Yes, Amendment IV provides the freedom of speech.

So, the Bill of Rights are my only rights?

• A. You don’t have any rights!• B

. No, the Constitution informs you about all your rights.

• C. Yes, that is why it’s called the Bill of Rights.

What else are the Bill of Rights considered?

• A. Laws• B. Problems• C.

A hefty bill that the government is still paying for with taxes

I want an attorney! Do I have to sell my house to pay for one?

• A. Yes, they are really expensive• B.

The government provides them, if you ask for one

• C. You can get an attorney with a loan if you have good credit history

Where’s my jury?

• A. You can’t get a jury unless you pay.• B. In the bathroom• C. Amendment VI

I just got fined with a court summons for shoplifting!

• A. Good, stop stealing things!• B. Amendment VIII• C. Amendment I

I stole a five dollar pair of earrings, do I get a jury?

• A. If you ask for one.• B.

Yes, you stole the allowed amount to get tried in front of a jury.

• C. It has to be over $20 dollars worth of merchandise.

We had some floods this summer, the National Guard came to help… should I open my home to them?

• A. Support your troops in anyway possible, Amendment III

• B. No, Amendment III says you don’t have to quarter soldiers.

• C. Amendment III says to give soldiers quarters.

Someone told the cops that I am selling marijuana from my home. If a cop comes to my home, do I have to let him in?

• A. Dude, just give them some and they will leave you alone!

• B. If they have a warrant, you better not have any drugs in there!

• C. Yes, you always comply with the Police, even if they don’t have probable cause.

YUP!

WRONGO!