Bill of Rights
A group of citizens who decide on a court case
What is a jury
Guarantees a right to a jury trial in civil cases (involving amounts more than $20.00)
What is the 7th Amendment
List one of the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment?
What is speech, assembly, petition, press, religion?
How many amendments are there now?
What is 27.
Gives you the right to know of charges against you, face your accusers, and also to have jury in CRIMINAL cases.
What is the 6th Amendment
This allows people to formally change something in the government with signatures.
What is freedom of petition
The Bill of Rights was inspired by this country's similar document established in 1689.
What is England
What month was the Constitution ratified?
What is September?
You cannot be put on trial twice for the same crime. The fifth amendment protects you from _______ _______
What is double jeopardy
The government decides to put a special tax ONLY on newspapers and magazines that criticize the government. No other newspapers have to pay this tax. What Bill of Rights protection would strike down this law, and why?
The First Amendment (freedom of the press). This is called a "tax on freedom." The government is punishing speech it doesn't like, which violates free press protections. The Founders saw this as a way to silence criticism.
During a trial, a lawyer wants to cross-examine the person accusing his client of a crime, but the judge says, "No, you can't question them." Does this violate the Bill of Rights? Which amendment, and why does this right matter for a fair trial?
The Sixth Amendment (right to confront witnesses). A defendant has the right to face and question the people accusing him so he can challenge whether they're telling the truth. Without this right, someone could accuse you of anything and you'd have no chance to defend yourself.
Someone is suspected of committing a murder, but police have no hard evidence—just a hunch. Can they search his house anyway? Which amendment says they cannot, and what must police do instead?
What is the fourth amendment? Get a warrant.
A 16-year-old is arrested for spray-painting a building. Police want to interrogate him without calling his parents. Is this constitutional? Which amendments are relevant to this situation?
The Sixth Amendment (right to counsel) and the Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination). While the scenario is complex, juveniles generally have the right to have a parent or lawyer present during questioning, and they have the right to remain silent. Without these protections, a teenager might say things he doesn't fully understand and that could hurt his case.
Congress passes a law that says, "Anyone who writes a letter criticizing Congress will be arrested and jailed." A journalist sues. Which amendment clearly protects against this law? Does the government ever have a right to punish speech?
The First Amendment (freedom of speech). Generally, the government cannot punish you just for criticizing it—that's a core purpose of the First Amendment. The Founders believed criticism of the government is ESSENTIAL in a democracy.