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Name: ____________________________________

The First Amendment: Part 1 and 2

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to peti-
tion the government for a redress of grievances.

1. Why was the First Amendment created?

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2. The first part of the First Amendment allows religious freedom. Why are religious freedoms important?
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3. Describe arguments for and against allowing prayer in public schools.

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4. What are some things that freedom of speech protects?

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5. In some places, it’s illegal to make fun of important politicians. Protesting against the government could
result in fees, jail time, or even death. Why is this part of freedom of speech significant to the First Amend-
ment?
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6. Freedom of speech does have some backlash and problems, as it allows hate speech as long as it does
not promote immediate danger. Discuss pros and cons of this.
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7. What can you NOT do under freedom of speech in the First Amendment?
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Name: ____________________________________

The First Amendment: Part 3

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to peti-
tion the government for a redress of grievances.

1. What does censorship mean?

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2. Do you think schools banning books is ever appropriate? Why or why not?
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3. How has technology muddied the ground of free speech?

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4. What is the Son of Sam law? Do you think criminals should be able to profit from the stories of their
crimes?
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Name: ____________________________________

The Second Amendment

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.

1. Why was the Second Amendment created?

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2. What are some arguments against gun control?

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3. What are some arguments for gun control?

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4. What are some of the ways that the Second Amendment is ambiguous?
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5. Does violent music, video games, movies, or television glamorize the use of guns or violence? Explain your
answer.
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Name: ____________________________________

The Third Amendment

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of
war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

1. Why was the Third Amendment created?

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2. Under what circumstances could the Third Amendment be helpful?

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3. Is the Third Amendment necessary today?

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Name: ____________________________________

The Fourth Amendment

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

1. Why was the Fourth Amendment created?

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2. List pros and cons of schools being able to conduct random searches on students.
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3. Do you think items like metal detectors (to check for weapons) or schools accessing web browsing histo-
ry on school computers is appropriate and fair? Defend your answer.
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4. Why do most people show little resistance to TSA (Transportation Security Administration) in airports?
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5. Who is Edward Snowden?

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6. Some countries, such as France or Russia, have much harsher seize and search laws. In Russia, these strict
rules have led to a lot of corruption, people unjustly imprisoned, and in some of Russia’s darkest moments
of history, the death of millions. However, when police find evidence of a crime (sometimes a violent crime)
without a warrant, often they cannot use this evidence in court. Does the Fourth Amendment provide bal-
ance between privacy and national security? Explain your answer.
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Name: ____________________________________

The Fifth Amendment

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indict-
ment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service
in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy
of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without
just compensation.

1. Why was the Fifth Amendment created?

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2. What is a grand jury hearing? Why was protecting the innocent important to early Americans?
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3. What is Double Jeopardy? Why was it created?

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4. What was Miranda v. Arizona, that led to the Miranda rights?

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5. In many countries, the police use torture or coercion (lies) to receive confessions. Because the Bill of
Rights was meant to protect the innocent, sometimes the guilty may get away with their crimes. However,
this prevents random, innocent people from getting charged unfairly with crimes. Do you think this is fair?
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Name: ____________________________________

The sixth Amendment

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury
of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the wit-
nesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance
of counsel for his defense.

1. Why was the Sixth Amendment created?

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2. How does a “speedy and public trial” help those who have been accused of crimes?
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3. What are some challenges of finding an unbiased jury?

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4. What major change did Gideon v. Wainwright bring to the Sixth Amendment?
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Name: ____________________________________

The Seventh Amendment

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury
shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States,
than according to the rules of the common law.

1. Why was the Seventh Amendment created?

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2. What were some of the ways that disputes were settled before the Seventh Amendment?
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3. What is a civil trial? What are some examples of civil trials?

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4. Why does the Seventh Amendment effect so many Americans, even more so than the Fifth or Sixth
Amendment?
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Name: ____________________________________

The EIGHTH Amendment

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

1. Why was the Eighth Amendment created?

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2. Do you think the term “cruel and unusual punishment” is intentionally vague?
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3. Why is excessive bail not allowed?

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4. Describe arguments for and against the death penalty.

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Name: ____________________________________

The ninth Amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others re-
tained by the people.

1. Why was the Ninth Amendment created?

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2. Why is the Ninth Amendment important?

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3. Why did the Supreme Court ignore the Ninth Amendment until the past few decades?
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4. What are some topics that the Ninth Amendment might cover?
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Name: ____________________________________

The Tenth Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved
to the states respectively, or to the people.

1. Why was the Tenth Amendment created?

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2. How does the Tenth Amendment create balance and give power back to the people?
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3. What is the difference between the Ninth and Tenth Amendments?

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4. What are some examples of laws that states cover, not federal government?
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 bill of rights Answer key 1
FIRST AMENDMENT: PART 1 AND 2
1. This amendment was added to the constitution in
order to protect the right for people to express them-
selves without government interference, namely in the
form of free speech.
2. Answers may vary
3. Answers may vary
4. Answers may vary / unpopular opinions, making fun
of important people, protests
5. Answers may vary / it protects people from speaking
out about their opinions and allows them not to fear
persecution
6. Answers may vary
7. Answers may vary / lie about others, cause panic or
a clear and present danger, make speeches, do some-
thing obscene, etc.
FIRST AMENDMENT: PART 3
1. Censorship is banning things you don’t agree with or
don’t like.
2. Answers may vary
3. Answers may vary / While the Internet should be an
area of free speech, the Supreme Courts have ruled
back and forth whether or not they are constitutional.
4. The Son of Sam law prohibited criminals from prof-
iting off of their crimes, through books, movies, etc. /
Answers may vary
SECOND AMENDMENT
1. During the time of the Revolutionary war, many citi-
zens saw the army as a group authorized by the govern-
ment to further oppress them. By allowing people to
form a militia of ordinary men, the Second Amendment
gave Americans the freedom to protect themselves.
2. Laws cannot stop criminals from getting guns,
self-protection against criminals, government, or dicta-
tors, etc.
3. The Second Amendment is more about armed mili-
tias, not individual people owning guns, number of gun
deaths in America, etc.
4. The definition of words like “militia,” “the right of the
people,” and “keep and bear arms” have bee widely
debated.
5. Answers may vary
THIRD AMENDMENT
1. This amendment states that soldiers will not be forci-
bly housed in private homes. This was added to the Bill
of Right after people were forced to quarter troops in
their homes, a very unpopular action that led to a war
between the colonies and Great Britain.
2. If there is a war on U.S. soil, the Third Amendment
may be relevant again.
3. Not necessarily, since Americans haven’t needed to
house soldiers since the 1700s. However, it is a good
amendment to keep to protect future Americans, in
case the need arises.
FOURTH AMENDMENT
1. This amendment protects people from having their
property being taken or searched without a probable
cause. This was added to the Bill of Rights in 1791 in
order to protect those who might be wrongly accused
of a crime.
2. Answers may vary / School officials may find evi-
dence of drugs or illegal activities, but Fourth Amend-
ment rights for individual students may be violated if
they are randomly searched without probable cause.
3. Answers may vary
4. After the attacks on September 11, most Americans
would rather be slightly inconvenienced by the search
rather than be on a blame with a bomb or other weap-
on.
5. Edward Snowden was a senior analyst at the NSA.
He leaked documents describing how the American
government was spying on its people.
6. Answers may vary
FIFTH AMENDMENT
1. The Fifth Amendment says that if a person is sus-
pected of criminal wrongdoing, a grand jury must
decide if there is sufficient evidence to send the case
to trial. It also says that a person will not be required to
testify against themselves. This came against a prac-
tice common in British courts of law that forced the
accused to answer every question put to him.
2. A grand jury determines if a crime took place. This
happens before a trial. At a time when many people
were unfairly charged with crimes, early Americans
wanted a person’s innocence to be upheld unless prov-
en otherwise.
3. Double Jeopardy means you cannot be charged for
the same crime twice. This prevents the government
from charging you over and over again until they get a
guilty verdict.
4. A man, Ernesto Miranda, confessed to a kidnap-
 bill of rights Answer key 2
ping and rape. His lawyer argued that Miranda was not
made aware of his rights.
5. Answers may vary
SIXTH AMENDMENT
1. This amendment was added in order to allow people
accused of a crime a speedy, public trial with an impar-
tial jury. This was added to the Bill of Rights in order to
guarantee a more fair and equal justice system.
2. A speedy and public trial helps prevent the police
from making a person wait years in prison before being
put on trial. A public trial offers more accountability for
the government than a secretive trial would.
3. If the case is popular, finding an unbiased jury who
hasn’t heard of the case before can be difficult.
4. People accused of crimes didn’t just have the right
to ask for a lawyer, the courts had to provide them a
lawyer.
THE SEVENTH AMENDMENT
1. This amendment gives people accused of a crime
the right to a jury in civil court cases. It was added
to the Bill of Rights to prevent the government from
gaining too much power. In the past, judges had sided
with the king instead of making fair decisions, and the
writers of this amendment wanted to prevent that
from happening.
2. Answers may vary / Revenge was a common theme,
water/drowning, fire, having one judge make the whole
decision of your guilt or innocence
3. A civil trial is a trial with noncriminal cases. / Answers
may vary, people in accidents with insurance disagree-
ments, property arguments, workers suing employers
for unsafe working conditions, etc.
4. While most people won’t have to testify in court or
commit a crime, anyone can be picked for jury duty.
some offensives are especially violent
THE NINTH AMENDMENT
1. This amendment says that people’s rights are not
limited to the ones listed above in the other amend-
ments. It was added to prevent the government from
using the Bill of Rights as a limit to what freedoms
people would be able to exercise.
2. The Ninth Amendment prevents government abuse
in areas not mentioned in the constitution.
3. The Ninth Amendment is purposefully vague and is
open for debate and arguments.
4. Answers may vary / the right to choose friendships,
the right to a job, the right to a clean environment, etc.
THE TENTH AMENDMENT
1. This amendment says that any powers not given to
the federal government are powers that are granted to
the individual states. This was added in order to keep
the federal government from gaining too much power
and protected the freedom of each state to make their
own laws and decisions.
2. The Tenth Amendment prevents government
3. The Ninth Amendment focuses more on rights, the
Tenth Amendment focuses more on power shifting to
the states.
4. Divorce, voting requirements, local business law, etc.

EIGHTH AMENDMENT
1. This amendment keeps the courts from requiring
excessive bail and from using excessive punishments.
It was added because the writers of the Bill of Rights
wanted average citizens to be participants in their
justice system, rather than giving the government too
much power.
2. Answers may vary
3. Excessive bail would be equal to having no bail.
4. Answers may vary / it’s expensive, it’s permanent
(could be a pro or con), prisons are overcrowded,