Transcript Amendments
To the U.S. Constitution
The Bill of Rights
Amendments 1 through 10
How do you expect to be treated?
Introductory Video
Background Information
Written by James Madison after a call from several
states for individual protections from the
government
Remember the arguments between the Federalists
and Anti-Federalists—Madison was an AntiFederalist
He was influenced by George Mason, author of The
Virginia Declaration of Rights
This Bill of Rights LIMITS the powers of our
government
The
st
1
Amendment
Guarantees the freedom of religion, speech, press, and
peaceable assembly
Religion: we can practice or not practice any beliefs
Speech: we can share what we think about the
government (but we cannot tell lies or incite panic)
Press: we can print what we think about the
government
Peaceable Assembly: we can hold demonstrations if
we go through the right steps
Petition: we have the right to express our views and
ask for change
Religion
What should we do when “the
enemy” is represented in America?
Speech
Where should we draw
the line? Should there
be a line?
Peaceable
Assembly
What are you
willing to protest?
What steps should
we have to go
through to be
protected by this
amendment?
Press
Involves much more today
that ever expected!
What do we really need to
know?
Right to Petition
Have you ever been asked to
sign a petition?
• We can try to change laws
ourselves through
petition…
• Create a law
• Acquire enough
signatures
• Place it on the ballot
for citizens to decide
The
nd
2
Amendment
Guarantees the right to bear arms
The actual wording: Amendment II: A well
regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a
free State, the right of the people to keep and bear
Arms, shall not be infringed.
Today, we have so much controversy about what
this means
A state Army
Weapons for hunting
The ability to defend ourselves
Simple versus high powered guns
Some of the Issues
Should people have weapons at all?
Are any weapons unacceptable?
Should there be rules about who can have them?
Should there be rules about how we acquire them?
Should people be able to carry them around?
Is it alright to conceal weapons?
Do legal and illegal weapons contribute to crime?
Who should make these rules?
Should we own guns?
For
Against
The
rd
3
Amendment
Not really an issue now, but was quite common in
Colonial America
The
th
4
Freedom from
unreasonable search
and seizure
Police need a warrant
to search your
property, but if they
have a good enough
reason they can search
you
Amendment
Things to consider
Stop and frisk
Searching a home
Searching a car
Phone taps
Looking through
garbage on the curb
Social media
The
th
5
Amendment
Due Process: there has to be some serious evidence to
even accuse a person of a crime; grand juries will
make this decision
Plead the Fifth: we don’t have to incriminate
ourselves
No Double Jeopardy:
we can’t be tried for the
same crime twice
Consider These:
The Patriot Act: passed by Congress and signed by
President Bush in 2001
Allowed the government to detain immigrants, listen
in on phone conversations, and search homes and
businesses; was a response to the 9/11 attacks
The National Defense Authorization Act: passed by
Congress and signed by President Obama each year
Newest provision allows for indefinite incarceration
Are these violations of the 5th Amendment?
The
th
6
Amendment
If you’re accused of a crime,
what rights do you have?
A speedy trial
A public trial
An impartial jury
A court appointed attorney
The right to
confront/question witnesses
and the accuser
th
7
Amendment
Regarding civil cases—where one person sues
another person
If it involves more than $1500 (the Constitution says
$20), it has to be held before a jury; otherwise it’s
settled in small claims court
A person cannot go to jail because of a civil case
th
8
Amendment
We need to have an
appropriate bail
No cruel or unusual
punishment
Is Capital Punishment
Constitutional?
The
th
9
Amendment
It reads: The enumeration in the
Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others
retained by the people.
Some call this the Silent Amendment
because there is some power in it’s lack of
words
In 1958, Supreme Court Justice Robert H.
Jackson wrote that the rights protected by
the Ninth Amendment "are still a
mystery."
The
th
10
Amendment
Powers not granted to the Federal Government are
left up to the individual states.
What are some issues that could be involved?
This is where we stand right now with same-sex
marriage.
Video: hand trick ?
Bill of Rights in 30 Seconds
You can do a better job than that! Write a script and
act it out.
Include all 10 amendments
Aim for less than a minute
Worth 15 points
Present or share a video for 15 bonus points
Reconstructive Era
Amendments
Amendments 13 through 15
Civil War Separation
What is the Reconstructive Era?
Refers to the period following the Civil War; the
United States had been divided and needed to be
reconstructed.
Questions that existed:
How would the Confederate states be readmitted?
What about emancipation for slaves?
Do all the black men have the same status as white
men?
What about Confederate leaders? Are they traitors?
The
th
13
Amendment
Ended slavery within the
United States and
anywhere within its
jurisdiction
Congress will pass laws
necessary to enforce this
Amendment
Pass and ratified in 1865
The
th
14
Everyone born in the
United States or
naturalized is a citizen
of the U.S. and of the
state where he/she
resides
All citizens, regardless
of color, have the same
rights
Pass in 1866 and
ratified in 1868
Amendment
Should this be amended?
The
th
15
Amendment
The right to vote cannot be denied to a citizen,
regardless of color, race, or previous condition of
servitude
Meaning: African Americans (including former
slaves) can vote
Passed in 1869
and ratified in 1870
Progressive Era
Amendments
Amendments 16 through 19
What is the
Progressive Era?
Covers the time period
from 1890 to 1920
An umbrella label for a
wide range of economic,
political, social, and
moral reforms
Was a result of the
industrial revolution and
the growth of cities
The
th
16
Amendment
Congress can collect taxes on
incomes, from whatever source
derived, without apportionment
among the several States, and
without regard to any census or
enumeration
If you’re going to have social
services, someone has to pay for
them!
Passed in 1909 and ratified in
1913
The Tax Controversy
There are citizens that
refuse to pay taxes—
and tax fraud is a
federal offense
Some cite earlier
amendments as
offering protection
Some claim this
amendment was never
legally ratified
The
th
17
Amendment
Under the Constitution,
Senators were elected by
individual state
legislatures
This Amendment gave
citizens the right to elect
the Senators that represent
their state
Passed in 1912 and ratified
in 1913
The
th
18
Amendment
Our Amendment for
Prohibition
Within one year of
ratification—no more
alcohol
Ratified in 1917 and
passed in 1919
Roots for Prohibition
By 1830, the average
American over 15
years old consumed
nearly seven gallons of
pure alcohol a year –
three times as much as
we drink today.
Alcohol abuse (primarily
by men) was wreaking
havoc on the lives of
many, particularly in an
age when women had few
legal rights and were
utterly dependent on their
husbands for sustenance
and support.
Supporting the Ban
Against the Ban
History of Prohibition
The 19th Amendment
The right to vote will not be restricted by gender…
women have the right to vote
Passed in 1919 and ratified in 1920
Extensions of Suffrage
Amendments 15, 19, 23, 24, and 26
The
th
15
Amendment
Remember, this Amendment extended voting
privileges to African American men
The
th
19
Remember, this
Amendment
extended voting
privileges to
women
Amendment
The
rd
23
Amendment
Extended the right to vote for president to the
residents of Washington, D.C.; prior to this, they
were unable to vote for President!
Cannot have more electoral votes than the fewest
assigned to a state
Passed in 1960 and ratified in 1961
The
th
24
Amendment
Eliminated poll taxes
At this time, five states were still charging taxes to
vote! They were: Virginia, Alabama, Texas,
Arkansas, and Mississippi.
No one has to pay for the right to vote!
Passed in 1962 and ratified in 1964.
The
th
26
Amendment
Lowered the voting age to 18 from
21
Discussion first began during
WWII when the draft age was
lowered to 18
Passed and ratified in 1971—
the fastest amendment to be
ratified
The Presidency
Amendments 12, 20, 22, and 25
The
th
12
Amendment
Provisions for electing a President and a Vice
President
Prior to this amendment, the Electoral College would
vote for who they thought should be president; the
person with the most votes became President, the
second most became Vice President—even if they
were from different political parties
The VP must be Constitutionally eligible to be
President
Passed in 1803 and ratified in 1804
The
th
20
Amendment
Set the terms for the
President and Congress
A Presidential term
begins at noon on
January 20th
Each Congressional term
begins at noon on
January 3rd—and they’re
required to meet
Passed in 1932 and ratified
in 1933
The
nd
22
Amendment
Limits a President to two four-year terms in
office
Trend to serve two terms started with
Washington
FDR ignored this trend and was elected
FOUR times during the Depression and
World War II
If a VP finishes more than two years of a
presidential term, it counts as a full term
Passed in 1947 and ratified in 1951
The
th
25
Amendment
What happens to the Presidency if the president is
Impaired, disabled, or unable to perform his duties?
1. VP automatically becomes President if the current
President dies, resigns, or is removed from office
2. The President can choose a new VP if something
happens (must be approved by Congress)
3. VP can become Acting President temporarily with a
written declaration to begin and end this time
4. The VP and Congress can act in an emergency to say
the President is unfit to serve
The first three provisions have been used, the fourth
hasn’t
Proposed in 1965 and ratified in 1967.
Unique Historical
Circumstances
Amendments 11, 21, and 27
The
th
11
Amendment
Declares the state governments
sovereign—meaning they are exempt
from criminal or civil lawsuit
As a citizen of Ohio, if I sue California it
must go to the U.S. Supreme Court
Was seen as a protection for the states
from the Judicial Branch
Proposed in 1794 and ratified in 1795
The
st
21
Amendment
The repeal of Prohibition
Proposed and ratified in 1933
The
th
27
Amendment
Congressional salaries will not
change until AFTER the election of
Representatives to the House.
Proposed in 1789 , but not ratified
until 1992!
This had been a part of the proposed
amendments that became the Bill of
Rights
Review the
Amendments
Supreme Court Cases
and The Amendments
Work alone or with a small group—chose an
amendment for each person
Find at least two U.S. Supreme Court cases that dealt
with the Amendment(s)
Word the Amendment(s) in your own words
Summarize the court cases
Explain how these cases strengthened the
protection of the Amendment(s) for the American
people
Potential Future
Amendments
Why add an Amendment?
Remember, an Amendment is a CHANGE to the
Constitution
Why would we change this important document?
Proposed by Congress or State Legislatures; voted
on by State Legislatures or State Conventions
We’ve had Amendments dealing with civil rights,
suffrage, and citizenship
Legalization of Marijuana
Green = legal
Black = illegal
Blue = medicinal use
Gold = medicinal use
and decriminalized
Tan = decriminalized
Same Sex Marriage
Gold
=
No
Rights
Purple
=
Full
Rights
Immigration Reform
Your Assignment!
Write a persuasive paper addressing a future
potential amendment or a change in a current
amendment.
Include personal reasons to support passage of this
amendment, but also look up some research that
supports it.
Craft a well-written five paragraph paper that
Introduces your amendment
Includes at least three separate reasons/supports
A conclusion that calls for action