The First 10 Amendments to the Constitution

Name: ______

The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution

“Bill of Rights”

- The Bill of Rights was added to protect the People from the Powers of Government. Many states refused to ratify the original version of the Constitution until a “Bill of People’s Rights” was added. James Madison promised the states that if the constitution was ratified, then a “Bill of Rights” would be added.

- The U.S. Constitution (articles I-VII) was ratified 1788

- The “Bill of Rights” (amendments 1-10) was ratified as a group in 1791

- The “Bill of Rights” refers to the 1st ten of the 27 amendments…. All 27 ARE part of the Constitution. – Jelly Bean Jar!

1st Amendment

- Freedom of:

- Religion

- Press

- Assembly

- Speech

- Petition

2nd Amendment

- The right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

- No quartering of troops in private homes during peacetime

4th Amendment

- No searches or seizures of property without a valid warrant

describing the place to be searched and the object to be seized

5th Amendment

- Must be indicted (grand jury) - formally accused of a crime

- No double jeopardy- cannot be tried twice for the same crime

- Cannot be forced to incriminate yourself (give evidence that will

point to your guilt).

6th Amendment

- Right to a fair and speedy trial:

- Told the charges against themselves

- Impartial jury

- Trial held in district of crime

- Confront witnesses against themselves

- Subpoena witnesses for themselves

- Have an attorney

7th Amendment

- The right to have a jury in a civil trial

8th Amendment

- Bail and/or punishment cannot be cruel or unusual

9th Amendment

- The first eight amendments to the Constitution are not the only rights

that the people have. There are many rights that are not listed.

10th Amendment

- All power not delegated (given) to the Federal government is

reserved (saved) for the state governments.