Bill of rights2

The Bill of Rights

United States of America

Citizens’ Rights and Obligations

Who determines what the Bill of Rights mean?

The Supreme Court decides the meaning

A balances the rights of the individual citizen with the needs of society

Individual?? Society??

The First amendment…Five Rights Are Mentioned

Freedom of Speech Freedom of Religion Freedom of the Press Freedom of Assembly Right to petition the

government

Freedom of Religion“Congress shall make no law

respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free

exercise there of…”

Religion and GovernmentCans Cannot

Teach about religions in school

Allow voluntary prayer in many examples

Transport students to a religious school

Read Bible for culture or literacy content

Set a state religion Government cannot

order a prayer Teach religious

doctrine in the school Pay seminary

teachers Teach creationism

Freedom of speech

“Congress shall make no laws . . . abridging the freedom of speech”

Free speech– The individual can:

Say any political belief Protest (without getting out of control) Say things about someone that are true Burn the flag Free speech means someone might say

something you disagree with

Free speech—limits on the person

Threaten to blow up airplanes, schools or the president

Sexual harassment Disrespectful, vulgar language in

schools or in a public form Hate crimes

Freedom of the press

Congress shall make no law . . . abridging . . . the freedom of the press.”

Freedom of the press-the pressCan Cannot

Print any political position

Make fun of people, especially politicians

Expose wrongs by the government

Say things you might not agree with

Libel– intentionally injuring a person’s reputation by false facts

Disclose defense-security secrets

Detail how to make a certain weapons

Freedom of Assembly

Congress shall make no law . . . Abridging . . . The people to peaceably assemble”

Freedom of Assembly--IndividualCan Cannot

Protest Parade (with a

permit) Can congregate

in public

Protest with violence

Hang out on private land against owners wishes

Violate Teen curfew

Petition the Government

“Congress shall make no law . . . Abridging . . . the people. . . to petition the government for a redress of grievances”

Petition the government

You may sue the government for wrongs

You cannot be punished for exposing wrongs by the government

The courts decide the wrongs

Second Amendment

“A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Third Amendment

The Government cannot force you to shelter soldiers in your home without your consent in time of war or peace.

Fourth Amendment

A warrant given to him by a judge or magistrate, supported by Probable cause

• What does a policeman need in order to search your home?

Fifth Amendment No person shall … 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

Fifth Amendment You cannot be tried for the same crime

twice—called “Double Jeopardy” You do not have to testify against your

self. “I plead the fifth” You must have due process of law before

you are convicted The government cannot take your land

unless it pays.

Sixth Amendment

Right to speedy trial by impartial jury—meaning not favoring either side

You must be told of charges You must be provided a lawyer if you

cannot afford one

Seventh Amendment“In Suits at common law, where the value controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved...”

In civil cases over $20, citizen has the right to a trial by impartial jury

Eighth Amendment

No excessive bail

No cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment

When the Bill of Rights was first proposed, the major argument against it was that by specifying some rights that the government was not free to violate, there would be the implication that the government was free to violate any rights not specifically protected in the Constitution.

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

Tenth Amendment

States Rights

“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.

Role of a Citizen in the USARole of a Citizen in the USA

Citizens of the US play a role in government. Elements of citizenship can be broken into two categories:

– Obligations- things you must do and if you don’t, there is a punishment.

– Responsibilities- things you should do, but there is no punishment.

Responsibility or Obligation?Responsibility or Obligation?

Voting• 26th Amendment-18 years old• 14th Amendment- voting rights to all• By NOT voting, you allow a minority to make decisions for you

– 50-60% of people vote in most Presidential elections– 40-50% vote in Congressional elections– 30-40% vote in state/local elections



Obey LawsObey Laws• 14th Amendment guarantees equal protection under the law• No one is so important that they are above the law, and no one is so insignificant that they can’t look to the law for protection.



Jury Duty• 6th Amendment-gives people some control over justice• “Dodging jury duty erodes the foundations we have against injustice”



Paying TaxesPaying Taxes• “It is human nature to resent the government taking its share of your income. But, it’s also human nature to demand the conveniences, improvements, and protection our taxes provide”• Our country attempted to work without collecting taxes…it failed to be successful. (Articles of Confederation)



Respecting OthersRespecting Others• Tolerance is not only “putting up with” other people who are different from ourselves. It’s the spirit of trying to understand them.• The American ideal is equality of all men. – Civil War– Women’s Suffrage– Civil Rights Movement



Community ServiceCommunity Service• Working together accomplishes much more that one could hope to acieve on his/her own.• Community service is more about giving your time and abilities rather than money• Our country needs its people to get involved and stay involved, to invest their lives into their communities, to give their hearts to their neighbors, and to not expect someone else to bear the burden.



Honoring the PastHonoring the Past• Citizens must know and understand the history of this country to truly appreciate the freedoms and rights we take for granted.•“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” – George Santayana • “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” – David McCullough



Questions?

Bill of rights2

Education

Transcript of Bill of rights2