civil liberties and bill of rights

bill of rights

• ratified 2 years after the Constitution, in 1791

• they are the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution

• sets of specific ‘inalienable’ civil liberties

  • reference to Declaration of Indepdence; “life, liberty, property”

amendment 1

freedom of/from religion, speech, from press, peaceably assemble (protest), redress of grievances (pressure groups)

amendment 2

right to bear arms

• DC v Heller 2008- it is now an INDEPENDENT right

• National Rights Association

amendment 4

right against unreasonable search

amendment 5

rights in criminal cases, including protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination

amendment 6

right to trial by jury

amendment 7

right to a jury trial in civil cases, ensuring fairness and a legal process

amendment 8

protection against cruel and unusual punishment, as well as excessive bail

• basis for death penalty

amendment 9

addresses unenumerated rights, stating that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage others retained by the people

amendment 10

reserves powers not delegated to the federal government for states or the people