The Bill of Rights

Amendments 1-10

Amendment (n.) – a change or addition to the Constitution

Bill of Rights

Before the anti-federalists would ratify the Constitution, they insisted that it be amended to include a list of basic fundamental liberties for all American citizens. So in 1791 a group of men led by James Madison created the first 10 amendments, called the Bill of Rights.

1st Amendment

The 1st amendment has 5 parts and protects the 5 basic liberties of all American citizens

Freedom of Religion

This freedom protects a person’s right to worship any religion he or she chooses (within limits)

Freedom of Speech

This freedom protects a person’s right to speak either for or against anything in society(within limits)

Freedom of the Press

This freedom protects a person’s right to write and publish anything (within limits)

Freedom of Assembly

This freedom protects a person’s right to peacefully gather and protest for a cause or a change (within limits)

Freedom of Petition

This freedom allows a person to write a petition, have others who agree sign it, and have the signed petition voted upon by the general population

2nd Amendment

The right to bear arms (own a gun)

3rd Amendment

In peace time, citizens do not have to allow soldiers to live in their homes

4th Amendment

Search or seizure of property without a warrant or probable cause is illegal

5th Amendment

No person can be arrested unless charged with a crime

No person can be tried twice for the same crime

All are entitled to due process of law

People have the right to remain silent

5th Amendment cont.

The military will have their own trials

Eminent Domain-If the government ever needs to "take" your property for a public use it must pay you a reasonable amount for the property

6th Amendment The right to a fair

and speedy trial: Told the charges

against themselves Impartial jury Trial held in district of

crime The right to an

attorney Confront witnesses

against themselves Subpoena witnesses

for themselves

7th Amendment

The right to a trial by a jury of ones peers

8th Amendment

Bail and/or punishment cannot be cruel or unusual

9th Amendment

Every citizen has rights that are not listed in the Constitution

10th Amendment

Each state can create its own laws as long as they don’t go against the Constitution(States Rights)

This keeps the state

and federal government’s powers balanced