Bill of Rights Amendments 1–3
A student is suspended for writing an article in the school newspaper criticizing a government policy. The school says the student is not allowed to criticize government leaders.
The student could defend their actions with this amendment.
What is the First Amendment?
A person accused of stealing a car is pressured by police to confess. The person refuses to answer questions because their answers could be used as evidence against them.
The accused person's decision not to answer is protected under this amendment.
What is the Fifth Amendment?
The federal government tries to take over a responsibility that the Constitution does not give it. The Constitution does not prohibit the states from handling that responsibility.
This amendment helps explain why this power may belong to the states/the people.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
This branch is led by the President and is responsible for enforcing laws.
What is the Executive Branch?
Congress passes a law that violates the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment. The Supreme Court reviews the law and determines that it _______.
What is unconstitutional?
Congress passes a law requiring every American to attend the same church. People who practice other religions are punished.
The law violates this amendment.
What is the First Amendment?
Police enter a person's home and search through their belongings without permission, a warrant, or a valid legal reason.
The homeowner could challenge the search with this amendment.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
A judge orders a person convicted of shoplifting to pay a $1 million fine, even though the stolen item was worth $20.
The person could challenge the fine under this amendment.
What is the Eighth Amendment?
The House of Representatives and the Senate together make up this branch.
What is the Legislative Branch?
The President rejects a bill passed by Congress. This is an example of this presidential power.
What is the veto?
During peacetime, soldiers arrive at a family's home and demand to live there. The family refuses, but the soldiers insist they have the right to stay.
This amendment protects the family.
What is the Third Amendment?
A person is arrested and charged with a crime. Months pass, but the government refuses to bring the person to trial or allow them to have a lawyer.
The accused person's rights are protected by this amendment.
What is the Sixth Amendment?
Two businesses have a disagreement over a contract and take the case to federal court. One business asks for a jury to decide the case, but the judge says that jury trials are only available in criminal cases.
This amendment supports the business's request for a jury.
What is the Seventh Amendment?
This branch includes the Supreme Court and decides whether laws and presidential actions are constitutional.
What is the Judicial Branch?
Congress believes the President has abused the power of the office. This power allows Congress to remove the President from office.
What is impeachment (to impeach)?
A state passes a law banning citizens from owning firearms. A citizen challenges the law, arguing that the Constitution protects their ability to own a gun.
This citizen could challenge the law with this amendment.
What is the Second Amendment?
A man is found not guilty of robbing a store. The prosecutor is unhappy with the result and decides to put the man on trial again for the exact same robbery.
The man is protected from being tried again for the same offense by this amendment.
What is the Fifth Amendment?
A government official claims that Americans do not have a particular freedom because that freedom is not specifically written in the Constitution.
Which amendment challenges the official's argument?
What is the Ninth Amendment?
The United States wants to create a treaty with another country to establish a new agreement about trade and cooperation. This branch has the power to negotiate this agreement.
What is the Executive Branch?
The Supreme Court makes a decision based on the Constitution that Congress disagrees with. Members of Congress want to change the Constitution with an __________.
What is an amendment?
A newspaper publishes a story exposing corruption by government officials. Congress passes a law making it illegal for newspapers to publish stories that embarrass the government.
Newspaper publishers could use this constitutional protection under the First Amendment to challenge the law.
What is freedom of the press?
Police search a woman's home without a warrant or probable cause and find evidence of a crime.
The woman could challenge the home search with this constitutional protection under the Fourth Amendment.
What is protection against unreasonable searches and seizures?
The Constitution does not give the federal government the power to make a particular decision, and it does not prohibit the states from making that decision.
This constitutional protection under the Tenth Amendment explains who has this power.
What is "powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people"?
The President decides to forgive someone convicted of a federal crime and remove the punishment for that crime using this Executive Power.
What is a Pardon?
The President wants to spend more money on a new government program, but the funding must be approved by _______.
What is Congress (or the Legislative Branch)?