Chapter 4 – The Amendments Chapter 4 – The Amendments to the US Constitutionto the US Constitution

The “Bill of Rights”The “Bill of Rights”

The “Bill of Rights”The “Bill of Rights” Added in 1791, the first

10 amendments are known as the “Bill of Rights”.

The purpose is to limit the power of the federal government

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““Civil Liberties”Civil Liberties” The Bill of Rights

guarantees “Civil liberties” - freedoms we have to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair treatment.

The Amendments place strict limits on how the federal government treats the people.

““Civil Liberties”Civil Liberties” “Civil liberties”,

however, do not allow American citizens to do things like break the law.

“Your rights end where someone else’s begin”…

Your rights are balanced against the rights of others and the good of the community.

““R.A.S.S.D.A.T. E.P.S.”R.A.S.S.D.A.T. E.P.S.”

““R.A.S.S.D.A.T. E.P.S.”R.A.S.S.D.A.T. E.P.S.”

R.A.S.S.D.A.T. E.P.S is an easy way to remember the “Bill of Rights”.

““R.A.S.S.D.A.T. E.P.S.”R.A.S.S.D.A.T. E.P.S.” R = Religion, Assembly, Speech, Press, Petition A = Arms S = Soldier Quartering S = Search & Seizure (privacy amendment) D = Double Jeopardy, Due process, eminent Domain and you

Don’t have to testify against yourself (rights of the accused) A = Attorney & fair and speedy trial T = Trial by Jury E = Excessive Bail P = People’s Rights S = States Rights

““The First Amendment”The First Amendment”

““R.A.S.P.P.”R.A.S.P.P.” “R.A.S.P.P” is a good

acronym to remember the major elements of the First Amendment.

This amendment protects the 5 basic freedoms that are essential to the American way of life.

1. “R” = Religion1. “R” = Religion Freedom of Religion prohibits

Congress from establishing any official or “state” religion in the U.S.

It also guarantees Americans the right to worship or practice any religion they choose (or to not worship at all).

Americans special value on freedom of religion since many people moved here to escape religious persecution.

2. “A” = Assembly2. “A” = Assembly Freedom of Assembly

protects our right to assemble in groups for any reason as long as these assemblies are peaceful in nature.

This also allows us to join whatever groups we choose to join…

3. “S” = Speech3. “S” = Speech Freedom of Speech protects our right to

say what is on your mind, in public or private, without fear of punishment by the government.

Face to face discussions, telephone conversations, TV, lectures, and even “unspoken expressions” are all protected.

It does not allow for speech that is harmful to people or that threatens the government.– Slander: spoken lies– Libel: maliciously printing lies

3. “S” = Speech3. “S” = Speech Freedom of Speech also

does NOT protect our citizens from committing “slander” (spoken lies) or “libel” (written lies) towards another citizen.

It also does NOT allow for harmful speech towards others or that threatens our government

Landmark Supreme Court Landmark Supreme Court CasesCases

Tinker v. Des Moines During Vietnam War Era School banned protests of any

kind Students wore black armbands to

silently protests the war and were expelled

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Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Students were in charge of writing

school newspaper and drafted two articles about pregnancy and divorce.

Principal deleted the articles from the school newspaper before printing in fear that students may be identified who were pregnant or from divorced families

Is this is a 1st Amendment Violation?

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4. “P” = Press4. “P” = Press Freedom of the press

protects our rights to express ourselves in published information and allows us to read what others have published (without “censorship”).

This freedom is also limited (as speech)

5. “P” = Petition5. “P” = Petition

Freedom of petition guarantees all Americans the right to petition (a formal request) the government.

This allows us to express our views to the government.

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