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100
It costs the government a whole lot of money to build barracks and army bases for our troops—why can’t we just say that every family with an extra bedroom in their house (or a spare couch) has to let a soldier stay?
3rd Amendment
100
When the Judge tried to make Rob Banks take the stand and testify at his own larceny trial, he refused, and there was nothing the Judge could do to force him to testify. Why not?
5th Amendment
100
Dirty Harry goes to Judge Dredd and demands a warrant to search the home of Bob Law. He says he’s got a hunch Bob’s up to no good. Judge Dredd tells Dirty Harry he’ll need a lot more than that to get a warrant – why?
4th Amendment
100
A group of people built a statute of Elvis look like it’s weeping blood, and this statue has developed quite a following. A lot of people even think the statue is holy, and the group has been collecting donations from people who want to visit the statue and pray. The cops want to bring down this whole weeping-Elvis scheme, but the group claims protection—under which Amendment?
1st Amendment
100
Which Amendment allows special interest groups to hassle Congress people into agreeing with their cause?
1st Amendment
200
The President of Iran, visiting Washington, can’t believe how insulting political cartoonists are to the president! He asks the president why he allows such insubordination, and the president shrugs, and points to which Amendment?
1st Amendment
200
Slow Joe is the world’s slowest trial lawyer. He takes so long to get through a case, that his clients wait years on average to go to trial. Client Chris doesn’t think this is constitutional? Why?
6th Amendment
200
Everyone knows that Serial Killer Sam is guilty of a lot of stuff. If G.I. Joe goes home for the holidays and finds Serial Killer Sam camping out in his backyard in Illinois, how come he has to call the cops—and why can’t the cops just shoot Osama on the spot?
5th Amendment
200
Insatiable Industries sues Tidbit Technologies for stealing their delicious recipes for canned catfish stew. They don’t want any money damages, though, just an apology, and a court order saying that Tidbit will keep their nose out of Insatiable’s stew from this point forward. The judge rules in favor of Insatiable, and Tidbit complains that this violates their right to a jury trial. The judge tells Tidbit to get stuffed. Why?
7th Amendment
200
What Amendment do people most frequently use to argue that the death penalty should not be allowed in America?
8th Amendment
300
Which Amendment allows people to wear a T-Shirt that has swear words on it when they go to the DMV?
1st Amendment
300
It really annoys me when cyclists – part of this “critical mass” movement – group up and block the road, causing a huge traffic jam. Why is this allowed?
1st Amendment
300
Although minors are not allowed to have guns, and felons are not allowed to have guns, no state can make a law saying that guns are illegal. Why?
2nd Amendment
300

In 2033, the U.S. Government decides that the people have become too dangerous. They decide to make all weapons illegal. Larry Lawyer, head of the Department of Justice, gently reminds Congress they can’t do this. Why not?

2nd Amendment

300

In June 2002, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional. What Amendment do you think they relied on?

1st Amendment

400

Nothing in the bill of rights mentions a woman’s right to choose, but the Supreme Court decided that women nonetheless have a Constitutionally-protected right to abortion. Why does this right get protection even though abortion wasn’t mentioned by our Founding Fathers?

9th Amendment

400
Dirty Harry comes back with an anonymous tip, delivered via the police department’s anonymous-tip-telephone-line. The tip says, “Bob Law is up to no good.” The Judge shrugs, and writes out a warrant. It says “Warrant – Search Bob Law’s House – for illegal stuff.” Why isn’t this good enough?
4th Amendment
400

This Amendment protects people from being tried again for the same crime after a jury finds them not guilty.

5th Amendment

400

Reginald Rose gets called to jury duty. He hates jury duty. He tries to get out of it, but gets assigned to a complicated civil suit about a the patent of a medical device—one company says another company copied their invention, and is suing for millions and millions of dollars. Reginald is so confused by the scientific evidence, and so bored he can barely stay awake. He wonders to himself, why do I have to be here, anyway? Couldn’t a judge just decide this by himself? Or an expert or something? Why does Reginald have to be there?

7th Amendment

400

Old Lady Jones doesn’t want to sell her little house, but the government official tells her that she has no choice—the government will pay her a fair price, but her home stands in the way of a new highway, and she has no choice but to sell out and move on. What Amendment makes this possible?

5th Amendment

500
Steve McQueen gets a speeding ticket. When he goes to pay it, he’s told that the fine is $1 million. Steve is outraged, and claims that such a fine is unconstitutional. Why?
8th Amendment
500
States get to make the rules about drivers licenses – some states give learner’s permits to 14-year-olds, some say you have to be 16 to get behind the wheel. How come the Federal Government can’t swipe this power away and make a standard for the whole country?
10th Amendment
500
Ru Paul is arrested for disturbing the peace in Los Angeles. Sneaky Pete, the prosecutor, wants to have the trial moved to Alabama, where he’s sure he can get a conviction on Ru Paul’s looks alone. The judge rolls his eyes and tells Sneaky Pete the constitution won’t allow such a move. Why not?
6th Amendment
500
The U.S. Government can’t torture people to death, no matter how heinous their crime. Why not?
8th Amendment
500
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that it was unconstitutional to give a man a life sentence for the petty theft of about $100 in video tapes from a local K-Mart. Why?
8th Amendment