Bill of Rights Scenarios

Scenario #1

Sara, a seventeen -year old college student, is arrested for stealing a classmate’s term paper and selling it on the Internet. When she appears before the judge, she asks for a lawyer to help defend her. The judge tells her that if she is smart enough to be in college, she is smart enough to defend herself. Besides, she is not being charged with a felony, so she should not worry to much.

• Violation of 6 Amendment- Guarantee Right to counsel

• Violation of 1st Amendment- Freedom of Press

• Violation of 8 Amendment- Freedom of Cruel and unusual punishment

• Violation of 3 Amendment- no quartering of soldiers

Scenario #2

A neighbor is suing the Joneses because a tree in the Joneses’ yard fell on their roof during a hurricane. The neighbors want the Jones family to pay $850.00 to have their roof repaired. Mr. Jones requests that a jury be present to hear this case. The judge says it is not necessary since the amount of the repairs is so small. The Jones family live in Washington D.C.

• NO Violation - The Bill of Rights protects individual liberties such as freedom of religion from encroachment by the federal state governments, but does not limit the actions of individuals

• Violation of the 7^th

  Amendment – Guarantee of right to a jury trial in civil cases in federal court

• Violation of the 8^th Amendment – Guarantee of freedom from cruel and unusual punishment

• Violation of 2^nd, 4th, & 5^th Amendments Guarantee of the right to keep & bear arms, illegal search and seizure, and a violation of the guarantee of due process

Scenario #3

Carolyn is arrested for shoplifting a candy bar from a grocery store. At trial, she Is found guilty. The judge decides that the right punishment is to cut her hand off so that she will not be able to shoplift again.

• Violation of the 1st Amendment

• Violation of the 8^th Amendment

• Violation of the 14th Amendment

• Violation of the 13th Amendment

Scenario #4

Mr. Reynolds, an avid hunter, opens the door of his home one day to find agents From the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms outside. They inform him that certain provisions of a new federal law allow them to confiscate his rifles so that he will not engage in terrorist activities or plot against the United States government. They have no evidence that his is connected to any such activities.

• Violation of the 1st, 3rd, & 10th Amendments

• Violation of the 2nd, 10th, 13th Amendment

• Violation of the 4th, illegal search and seizure

• Violation of 2^nd, 4th, & 5^th Amendments Guarantee of the right to keep & bear arms, illegal search and seizure, and a violation of the guarantee of due process

Scenario #5

Gennie, a twenty year old college student, is arrested for stealing a relative’s designer sweater and selling it on eBay. When Gennie appears before the judge, she asks for a lawyer to help defend her. The judge tells Gennie that she

it is to expensive to appoint a lawyer for her. He advises her to represent herself because the case is not that important and he would be lenient on her.

• Violation of the 13th Amendment

• Violation of 6^th Amendment

• Violation of the 14th Amendment

• Violation of the 9th Amendment

Scenario #6

Mrs. Garcia saw her friend commit a murder. But she lies in court and says she did not see anything. The friend is found guilty anyway because of the testimony of other witnesses. Mrs. Garcia is arrested for lying under oath and her eyes are cut out for this.

• Violation of the 10th Amendment

• Violation of the 9th Amendment

• Violation of the 3rd Amendment

• Violation of the 8^th Amendment

Scenario #7

Congress wants to find ways to cut costs because of the soaring budget deficit. Congress passes a law to require American citizens to house U.S. soldiers in their homes during peacetime.

• Violation of the 1st Amendment

• Violation of the 3^rd Amendment

• Violation of the 13th Amendment

• Violation of the 14th Amendment

Scenario # 8

A known drug dealer is arrested for suspected connections to an inner city murder. The police do not inform him of his rights and immediately begin to interrogate him. They continue until he admits he knows the victim of the crime and was in the neighborhood where the murder took place.

• Violation of 1st & 3rd Amendment

• Violation of 5^th & 6^th Amendments

• Violation of the 13th & 14th Amendment

• Violation of the 10th Amendment

Scenario #9

A public school principal smells smoke in the hallway and believes it is coming from the girl’s bathroom. She walks into the bathroom and finds Susan standing by the sink. She suspects Susan has been smoking and demands to search her purse for cigarettes or other evidence of smoking

• No violation

• Violation of the 4th Amendment

• Violation of the 1st Amendment

• Violation of the 19th Amendment

Scenario #10

Because of the budget deficit, the United States government is looking for ways to cut costs. They have announced a plan during peacetime to house unmarried soldiers in the homes of American citizens who do not have children.

• Violation of the 5th Amendment

• Violation of the 15th Amendment

• Violation of 3rd Amendment

• Violation of 19th Amendment