The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

Chapter 4 NotesChapter 4 Notes

The First AmendmentThe First Amendment

Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion

*Intolerance of different beliefs is what *Intolerance of different beliefs is what drove many of the early settlers to move to drove many of the early settlers to move to AmericaAmerica

*Congress cannot establish an official *Congress cannot establish an official religionreligion

*The government may not treat people *The government may not treat people differently because of their beliefsdifferently because of their beliefs

First Amendment cont.First Amendment cont.

Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech

*Guarantees that Americans can say *Guarantees that Americans can say what's on their minds in private or public what's on their minds in private or public without fear of punishmentwithout fear of punishment

*Includes Internet communications, art, *Includes Internet communications, art, and music.and music.

First Amendment cont.First Amendment cont.

Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

*Includes radio, television, and computer *Includes radio, television, and computer networksnetworks

*Ensures the American people are *Ensures the American people are exposed to different viewpointsexposed to different viewpoints

*Prohibits censorship- cannot ban printed *Prohibits censorship- cannot ban printed materials or movies because they don’t materials or movies because they don’t like them.like them.

First Amendment cont.First Amendment cont.

Freedom of AssemblyFreedom of Assembly

*Protects Americans right to gather in *Protects Americans right to gather in groups as long as it is peaceful.groups as long as it is peaceful.

*Government can make rules about when *Government can make rules about when and where the assemblies can he held.and where the assemblies can he held.

*Must obtain permits*Must obtain permits

First Amendment cont.First Amendment cont.

Freedom to PetitionFreedom to Petition

*A petition is a formal request*A petition is a formal request

*This allows Americans to express their *This allows Americans to express their ideas to the governmentideas to the government

First Amendment cont.First Amendment cont.

LimitationsLimitations*You may not endanger the government or *You may not endanger the government or

other Americans.other Americans.

*You may not spread lies to harm another *You may not spread lies to harm another persons reputation.persons reputation.

*Slander- spreading lies that are spoken*Slander- spreading lies that are spoken

*Libel- is spreading lies that are printed in *Libel- is spreading lies that are printed in newspaper or magazines, etc.newspaper or magazines, etc.

Second AmendmentSecond Amendment

The right to keep and bear armsThe right to keep and bear arms

*This means private citizens may obtain a *This means private citizens may obtain a license to keep a firearm. There are many license to keep a firearm. There are many restrictions though.restrictions though.

Third AmendmentThird Amendment

No quartering of TroopsNo quartering of Troops

*During the American Revolution, British *During the American Revolution, British soldiers were allowed to demand quarter. soldiers were allowed to demand quarter. This means they could stay in your house This means they could stay in your house whether you liked it or not. whether you liked it or not.

*This amendment prohibits that from *This amendment prohibits that from happening today.happening today.

Fourth AmendmentFourth Amendment

No unreasonable search or seizureNo unreasonable search or seizure

*Meaning no soldier, police officer, or *Meaning no soldier, police officer, or government agent can search your home government agent can search your home with good cause.with good cause.

*They must first obtain a search warrant *They must first obtain a search warrant from a judge.from a judge.

*UNLESS they have “just cause”. *UNLESS they have “just cause”.

Fifth AmendmentFifth Amendment

Rights of the AccusedRights of the Accused*Cannot be put on trial without an *Cannot be put on trial without an indictmentindictment*Protects against double jeopardy – *Protects against double jeopardy – cannot try you for the same crime twicecannot try you for the same crime twice*The right to remain silent*The right to remain silent*The right to due process- cannot hold you *The right to due process- cannot hold you more than 72 hours without charging you, more than 72 hours without charging you, etc.etc.

Sixth AmendmentSixth Amendment

Rights for TrialsRights for Trials

*Right to a trial by Jury*Right to a trial by Jury

*Right to a speedy trial*Right to a speedy trial

*The accused has the right to an attorney*The accused has the right to an attorney

*Right to hear and question all witnesses *Right to hear and question all witnesses called against youcalled against you

Seventh AmendmentSeventh Amendment

Civil trial by juryCivil trial by jury

*Concerned with civil cases- lawsuits *Concerned with civil cases- lawsuits about disagreements between people about disagreements between people instead of crimes.instead of crimes.

Eighth AmendmentEighth Amendment

No cruel and unusual punishmentNo cruel and unusual punishment

*you cannot be tortured*you cannot be tortured

No excessive bailNo excessive bail

*If you steal something worth $20, they *If you steal something worth $20, they cannot hold you on $100,000 bailcannot hold you on $100,000 bail

Ninth AmendmentNinth Amendment

Protection of rights not specifically Protection of rights not specifically mentionedmentioned

*Right to privacy (medical and financial *Right to privacy (medical and financial records)records)

Tenth AmendmentTenth Amendment

Powers of States and PeoplePowers of States and People

*Any power the Constitution does not *Any power the Constitution does not specifically grant to the National specifically grant to the National government can be decided by the State government can be decided by the State or peopleor people