Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights

• Added in order to get Anti-Federalists to agree to ratify the new Constitution.

• The first ten amendments to the Constitution.

• An amendment is an addition to the Constitution.

First Amendment• Protects freedom of religion, speech, the

press, to assemble peacefully.• Protects the freedom for people to petition

(request) the government.

British Actions before the Revolution which caused this to be put into Bill of Rights.

• Limited these rights of the colonists (except religion)

Second Amendment

• Guarantees the right to bear arms.• This means the right to own weapons.

In particular, guns.

British Actions before the Revolution which caused this to be put into Bill of Rights.

• Tried to take colonist’s weapons.

Third Amendment• States that the government cannot

force people to house soldiers in their homes during times of peace.

British Actions before the Revolution which caused this to be put into Bill of Rights.

• Quartering Act

Fourth Amendment• States that people, their homes or their

belongings are protected from unreasonable searches or seizures.

• Search warrants may not be issued without probable cause (good reason).

• British Actions before the Revolution which caused this to be put into Bill of Rights.

• Writs of Assistance

Fifth Amendment• A person accused of a crime is entitled

to Due Process of Law.

• People cannot be forced to testify against themselves.

British Actions before the Revolution which caused this to be put into Bill of Rights.

• British denied colonists due process.

Fifth Amendment• If a person is found not guilty of a

crime, they cannot be put on trial for the same crime again.

• This is called Double Jeopardy.• The government cannot take

private property for public use without giving compensation to the owner.

• This is called Eminent Domain.

Sixth Amendment

• The accused has a right to a lawyer.

• If one cannot be afforded, one will be appointed.

• They have a right to see and to question those people who accused them of the crime.

Sixth Amendment• Guarantees a fair and speedy public trial.

• Trial must be in the state and district where the crime took place.

• The accused has the right to be told what they are accused of.

British Actions before the Revolution which caused this to be put into Bill of Rights.

• Colonists were sent to England for trial.

• Colonists were denied trial by jury. Case was heard by a British judge.

Seventh Amendment

• Guarantees a trial by jury in civil cases.

• These are non criminal cases.

Eighth Amendment

• Guarantees that excessive bail (money paid to be released to ensure appearance in court) or excessive fines will not be imposed.

• Punishment will not be cruel or unusual.

Ninth Amendment

• States that the people have other rights that are not stated in the Constitution.

• Examples: To travel, where you live or work.

Tenth Amendment

• States that the people and the states have all the rights not given to the U.S. government or forbidden to state governments by the Constitution.

• Examples: The existence of state governments. Marriage is not stated in the Constitution.

Amending the Constitution• Amendments are official changes,

corrections or additions to the Constitution.

Amending the ConstitutionProposed by National

Convention calledby Congress at

Request of 2/3 ofstate

legislatures

Proposed by Congress

by 2/3 voteIn each house

Ratified byLegislatures in

¾ of states

Ratified byConventions in

¾ of states

O

R