Weekly Civics Lesson 4

Rights and Liberties: The Bill of Rights

LEARNING OBJECTIVES.

1.  Recite the protections guaranteed by each of the first ten amendments

2.  Explain the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause

3.  Understand the limits of First Amendment protections

Overview.

The first ten amendments to the Constitution — the Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791 — protect individual liberties from government interference. They were a condition of ratification in several key states, whose founders worried the new federal government would become as tyrannical as the British crown.

The Ten Amendments.

•     1st Amendment — Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

•     2nd Amendment — Right to keep and bear arms

•     3rd Amendment — Protection against quartering soldiers in private homes

•     4th Amendment — Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures

•     5th Amendment — Rights in criminal cases: due process, no self-incrimination, no double jeopardy

•     6th Amendment — Right to speedy trial, jury, and attorney in criminal prosecutions

•     7th Amendment — Right to jury trial in civil cases exceeding $20

•     8th Amendment — Protection against cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail

•     9th Amendment — Rights not listed in the Constitution are still retained by the people

•     10th Amendment — Powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people

Key First Amendment Concepts.

•     Free Speech — Broad protection, but not unlimited. Speech that incites imminent lawless action or constitutes a true threat is not protected.

•     Establishment Clause — Government cannot establish an official religion or favor one religion over another.

•     Free Exercise Clause — Government cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion.

•     Freedom of the Press — Government cannot engage in "prior restraint" — censoring publications before they are released.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

1. Which amendment protects freedom of speech and religion?

A) 1st Amendment

B) 4th Amendment

C) 5th Amendment

D) 14th Amendment

Answer: (A) 1st Amendment

Explanation: The 1st Amendment protects freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government.

2. The 10th Amendment reserves powers not given to the federal government to:

A) The President

B) The Supreme Court

C) States or the people

D) Congress

Answer: (C) States or the people

Explanation: The 10th Amendment establishes federalism's foundation: powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or to the people.

How well did you do with the questions this week?

Next Week’s Lesson:

Rights and Liberties: Civil Rights & Equal Protection.