Bill of Rights

1st 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Amendment I (1st)Freedoms of:

–R: Religion (practice what you want)

–A: Assembly (group of people)

–P: Petition (formally request gov’t action)

–P: Press (write what you want)

–S: Speech (say what you want)

Limits of First Amendment Freedoms

• Limits are for safety and security of Americans

• Speech– Cannot provoke riots– Cannot speak or write in a way that immediately leads to criminal activity or efforts to overthrow the gov’t

• Cannot spread lies to hurt ones reputation– Slander: spoken lies– Libel: printed lies

Amendment II (2nd)

•Right to bear arms: own firearms

•Right to a state militia

Amendment III (3rd)

•No quartering (providing food and shelter) of troops during peacetime, and only with authorization of Congress during war.

Amendment IV (4th)•No illegal search and seizure (the searching and taking of items). Search warrant must be provided.

Amendment V (5th)• Cannot be put on trial for a crime w/o a formal

charge by a grand jury.• Protection from double jeopardy, being put on

trial for the same charge twice.• Right to remain silent (plead the 5th) A person

accused of a crime cannot be forced to perform self-incrimination (testify against themselves)

• May not be denied “life, liberty, or property” w/o due process (following established legal procedures)

• Limits gov’t powers of eminent domain, the right of the gov’t to take private property for public use.

Amendment VI (6th)

• Right to speedy and public trial by jury in a criminal case.

• Right to an attorney.

Amendment VII (7th)

Right to trial by jury in a civil case.

Amendment VIII (8th)

•Prohibits:–Excessive bails and fines–Cruel and unusual punishment

Amendment IX (9th)

•Rights not listed are still protected

•Example: privacy, gov’t interference with our personal lives

Amendment X (10th)

•Powers not listed in the Constitution are reserved for the states.