“Know Your Rights!”Competition

Each group will be given a list of selected Constitutional Amendments to refer to.

I will display a series of scenarios where someone’s constitutional rights are being violated.

For each scenario, you will have 3 minutes to figure out which constitutional amendment(s) are being violated.

The winning team will be given a prize.

Sara, an eighteen-year old college student, is arrested for stealing a classmate’s term paper and selling it on the Internet. When she appears before the judge, she asks for a lawyer to help defend her. The judge tells her if she is smart enough to be in college, she is smart enough to defend herself. Besides, she is not being charged with a felony, so the stakes are not very high. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Carolyn is arrested for shoplifting a candy bar from a neighborhood convenience store. At trial, she is found guilty. The judge decides that the appropriate punishment is to cut off Carolyn’s hands so that she will not be able to shoplift again. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Mr. Reynolds, an avid hunter, opens the door of his home one day to find agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms outside. They inform him that certain provisions of a new federal law allow them to confiscate his rifles so that he may not engage in terrorist activities or plot against the United States government. They have no evidence that he is connected to any such activities. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Jacob posts a blog criticizing the U.S. Government for their policy on Middle Eastern affairs. The blog is removed from the internet by the Government. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Isabelle is a writer for the “New York Times” newspaper. She writes an editorial that criticizes President Barack Obama. Several White House officials call Isabelle’s editor and get her fired. Then, the Department of Homeland Security goes through her house to check for evidence of terrorism. She is arrested and denied a trial. The judge orders that she should be burned alive. What constitutional rights are being violated?

An Islamic minister wants to build a mosque (place of worship for people of the Islamic faith) near Ground Zero in New York City. The Mayor shuts down the operation. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Your parents are very religious people, but you are not. Today , your parents are going to a service at their place of worship and they expect you to come along. You refuse. They make you come anyway and they ground you for the following month. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Because of the budget deficit, the United States government is looking for ways to cut costs. They have announced a plan during peacetime to house unmarried soldiers in the homes of American citizens who do not have children. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Troy loans Jalen $10 with the understanding that it needs to be paid back in a week. Jalen does not pay back the $10, so Troy kidnaps him and orders him to do his homework and his chores around the house until he gets paid. What constitutional amendments are being violated?

Kobe is 18 years old and wants to cast his vote for governor. When he arrives at his voting precinct, someone tells him he has to pay $50 in order to vote. Kobe doesn’t have any money on him, and is told to leave. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Sam walks into a movie theater and screams “FIRE!!!” Sam lied because he knew there wasn’t any fire. A few people were injured when they ran towards the exit. He is arrested for causing a disturbance. What constitutional amendments are being violated?

A known drug dealer is arrested for the murder of a rival dealer. A jury finds him Not Guilty due to a lack of evidence. A year goes by and police find a new witness who says they saw the drug dealer commit the murder of the rival dealer mentioned before. He is arrested for Murder and put on trial.

Cody pays a local TV station to run a political advertisement supporting his choice for President. The Governor of Florida disagrees with his choice and forces the TV station to stop airing the advertisement. Cody claims his 1st amendment rights are being violated, but the Governor argues that the Bill of Rights only guarantees protection from the federal government. What constitutional rights are being violated?

A neighbor is suing the Smith family because a tree in the Smith’s yard fell on their roof during a hurricane. The neighbors want the Smith family to pay $850 to have their roof repaired. Mr. Smith requests that a jury be present to hear this case. The judge says it is not necessary since the amount of the repairs is so small. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Rob was accused of robbing a pawnshop. The cops arrested him within two days after the incident. Since he was unemployed and had no job, he could not afford a lawyer to prove his innocence. He claimed the cops falsely arrested him because he was at home when the crime occurred. A storeowner claimed Rob was the man who committed the criminal act.  Rob cannot afford a lawyer to prove his innocence and will go to trial and defend himself. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Miriam is 25 years old and goes to the polls to vote for President of the United States. A man stops her before she gets goes into the booth to fill out her ballot. He says, “instead of filling out this ballot, you should go do ballet. Get out of here lady!” What constitutional rights are being violated?

John is a 40 year old African-American male who goes to cast his vote for President. He waits in line next to an Asian-American male and a white male, both over 18. John and the Asian-American man are told to leave before they vote. What constitutional rights are being violated?

You are in the security line at the airport. The transportation safety agent requires you to take off your coat, take off your shoes, and empty your pockets. The agent also completes a pat-down search. What constitutional rights are being violated?

Gabriel is 18 and goes to the polls to vote for politicians running for local office. A County Elections official asks him if he has graduated from high school. Gabriel says, “No.” The official tells him he must leave and come back to vote only when he graduates. What constitutional amendments are being violated?