Bill of Rights (Unit 4, Lesson 1)

Question 1

When did the Bill of Rights come into effect?

Answer 1

On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights came into force as the first ten amendments (additions) to the Constitution

Question 2

Who wrote the Bill of Rights amendments?

Answer 2

James Madison

Question 3

What are the five freedoms protected in the First Amendment?

Answer 3

Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition the government to right wrongs

Question 4

What is freedom of religion?

Answer 4

The government may not force you to accept one set of religious beliefs nor may it interfere with the way you worship

Question 5

What is freedom of speech?

Answer 5

American citizens can say what they think, as long as they do not intentionally hurt someone else’s reputation by making false accusations or make statements harmful to others

Question 6

What is freedom of the press?

Answer 6

Allows Americans to keep informed about what is going on in government.
Reporters and editors can criticize the government without the risk of punishment, as long as they do not deliberately tell lies.

Question 7

What is freedom of assembly?

Answer 7

Americans can join clubs or political parties, even if those groups represent unpopular views.

Question 8

What is freedom to petition?

Answer 8

Allows people to tell the government what they think is needed. They can try to prevent the government from acting in a certain way. They can complain to the government without fear of penalty when things aren’t going the way they should.

Question 9

What does the 2nd Amendment say?

Answer 9

The Second Amendment guarantees individual states the right to maintain “a well regulated militia,” and citizens the right to “keep and bear arms.”

Question 10

What does the 3rd Amendment say?

Answer 10

In peacetime, citizens will never have to keep soldiers in their homes without consenting.

Question 11

What does the 4th Amendment say?

Answer 11

Protects citizens from improper searches of their bodies, possessions, or homes.

Question 12

What is a warrant?

Answer 12

Issued by a judge, it details what and who is to be searched. Requires evidence or a good reason.

Question 13

What does the 5th Amendment say about guilt?

Answer 13

People are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

Question 14

What is a grand jury?

Answer 14

When a person is accused of a crime for which the punishment could be death, the Fifth Amendment requires that a ‘grand jury’ look at the charges before that person can be brought trial. A grand jury is a group of citizens who decide if there is enough evidence to try a person.

Question 15

What is double jeopardy in the 5th Amendment?

Answer 15

Person cannot be tried twice for the same crime

Question 16

What does it mean to plead the 5th?

Answer 16

People cannot be forced to testify in court against themselves.

Question 17

What does this phrase in the 5th Amendment mean: “no one can be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.”

Answer 17

The government must follow certain legal procedures before deciding on a penalty.

Question 18

What is eminent domain?

Answer 18

Requires the government to pay citizens when it takes over their property for a public use.

Question 19

What does the 6th Amendment say about trials, witnesses and lawyers?

Answer 19

It guarantees a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury in the area where the crime was committed. The defendant must be able to question the accusers and to force favorable witnesses to testify. The accused has a right to a lawyer.

Question 20

What does the 7th Amendment say?

Answer 20

Americans will receive a jury trial in civil (as opposed to criminal) cases involving property worth more than $20.

Question 21

What does the 8th Amendment say?

Answer 21

No cruel or unusual punishment, no excessive bail or fines

Question 22

What does the 9th Amendment say?

Answer 22

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights do not define all of the rights people have. Such rights exist whether or not they are defined.

Question 23

What does the 10th Amendment say?

Answer 23

The Tenth Amendment says that the states and the people have powers that are set aside and not listed item by item. These powers are called ‘reserved powers’.

Question 24

How does the Bill of Rights safeguard and limit individual liberty?

Answer 24

A bill of rights supports public understanding and knowledge of individual liberty. They still call upon us to study them for the sake of knowing our liberties and defending them from all those who would trample them. Liberties are limited, though. We cannot do anything we like, such as make up false accusations against others, or yell “Fire!” falsely in a theater.

Question 25

What might happen if the Bill of Rights was taken away?

Answer 25

Without the liberties and freedoms in the Bill of Rights, we would be subject to government control and censorship. Those accused of crimes might be tortured or forced to incriminate themselves, or might not have a jury trial. People might be considered guilty until they prove themselves innocent. Newspapers might not be able to tell the truth about the government. The government might require people to worship in a certain way. Or people might not have the right to ask the government for changes when needed.