the bill of rights

bill of rights

• intended as restrictions to the national govt not the states

• felt basic rights needed to be added to the constitution

1st amendment

• allows for freedom of the press, religion, speech, assemble, and to petition

• assemble allows for protest & petition means right to complain about the govt without fear of punishment

2nd amendments

• provides the right to bear arms

militia

a military force raised from civilians in order to support the armed forces in a time of emergency

3rd amendment

• forbids having to “quarter” (provide housing) for a soldier without consent

• written after the revolutionary war when citizens were forced to house British soldiers

4th amendment

• makes search and seizure without a warrant or probable cause illegal

• does not apply in a school setting , in order to maintain safety

5th amendment

• allows for a witness to decline to answer a question that might incriminate them in a crime

• “pleading the 5th”

• also holds “double jeopardy” that prohibits someone from being tried twice if crime previously acquitted

6th amendment

• allows the right to a speedy trial and to be judges by an impartial jury, to be confronted by witnesses, and present witness to support your court case

7th

• allows for trial by jury in a civil case

• any amount over 20

• civil case deals with $$$

8th amendment

• protects from cruel and unusual punishment as well as prohibits excessive bail or fines ( not 500mill $$$ )

• bail usually determines by judge

9th amendment

• protects rights not exactly spelled out in the constitution - can be fairly liberally interpreted

10th amendment

• powers not given to the national govt nor prohibited are given tot he states or to the people