Bills of Rights and 'George Mason, the Man'

Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights

Comprise of the first 12 amendments of the United States Constitution. Created to ensure the protection of individual liberties and justice and to limit the power of the government.

Preamble

Explains the purpose of the Bill of Rights.

States that the amendments are intended to prevent misconstruction or abuse of government.

First Amendment

Guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assemby, and the rifht to petition.

Prohibits Congress from promoting one religions over other and restricting an individual’s religious practices.

Protects freedom of speech and the press.

Ensure the right to assemble peacefully and dto petition the government.

Second Amendment

Protects the right ot keep and bear arms.

States the necessity of well-regulated militia for the security of a free state.

Third Amendment

Prohibits the quartering of solders in private hommes without the owner’s consent during peacetime.

Fifth Amendment

Sets out rights related to criminal prosecutions

Includes protection againist double jeopardy, self- incrimination, and mandates due process of law.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees the right ot a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases.

Ensures the right to be informed of charges, cofront witnesses, and have legal representation.

Seventh Amendment

Preserves the right to a jury trial in civil cases involving claims of more than twenty dollars.

Prevents courts from overturning a jury’s findings of fact.

Eighth Amenment

Prohibits excessive bail and fines, as well as cruel and unusual punishment.

Ninth Amendment

Clarifies that the enumberation of certain rights in the Constitution does not undermind other rights retained by the people.

Tenth Amenddment

Affirm the powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people.

Eleventh Amendment

Limit the jurisdiction of fedeal courts incases where a state is sued by an individual from another state or country.

Establish the principle of state soverign immunity, prevent states from being sued in federal court by citizens of another states or country without consent.

Twelfth Amendment

Specifically, if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes for President, the House of Representatives chooses the president from, the top three candidates.

Streamline the electoral process and reduce the likelihood of an electoral deadlock.

Gerge Massion Born

1725

George Manson known for

Drafting the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution

George Manson known for

Drafting the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution

George Manson Nickname

Forgotten Founder

Virginia Declaration of Rights

Emphasized natural rights and individual liberties

Asserted the principle of popular sovereignty

Served as a model for other state constitutions

Virginia Constitution

• Oldest state constitution in the United States

• Influenced the U.S. Constitution

• Outlines the structure of Virginia's government

• Guarantees individual rights and freedoms

George Mason’s Role in the Constitutional Convention

Attended the 1787 Constituional Convention but refused to sign the U.S Constitution, believing it have too much power to the central government and lacked sufficent protections for individual liberties.

Vovcal advocate for inclusion of a bill of rights.

George Mason’s Stance on Slavery

Mason owned slave, he opposed the instituion and criticized the Constitutional Convention for not adressing it more firmly.

George Mason’s Stance on Slavery

Mason owned slave, he opposed the instituion and criticized the Constitutional Convention for not adressing it more firmly.

George Manson’s Recognition

George Masion Univerity and its Antonin Scalia Law School are named in his honor.

Ensure that his contribution to the American Liberyu and law are remembered.

What friend did George Mason lose because he did not signed the Declaration?

George Washington

Where is George Mason University located?

Virginia

How many Amendment was written?

12 Amendment

How many Amendment were ratified?

10 Amendments

How many of the states legislatures needed to ratified the Bills of Rights?

Three-fourths

What city was the congress convened in for the Bill’s of Right?

New York City

What fraction of the chamber is needed to pass the amendment?

Two-third

Whixh amendment uses the phrase “separation of church and state”

none

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Requires warrants to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause.