Bill of Rights Hypotheticals

A 20-year-old college student starts his own newspaper which often prints articles making fun of the local mayor. The mayor is angry and gets his aides to the papers off the stand before they can be distributed.

• Violation

• Not a Violation

A woman is being tried for murder. The prosecuting attorney forces her to take the stand and testify.

• Violation

• Not A Violation

A student wears a button to school urging people the vote for a certain candidate for President of the United States. The button is causing a disruption to the school day so the principal tells the student to take it off or be suspended.

• Violation

• Not a Violation

A dentist is being sued for $500,000. He wants a jury to hear the case but the judge refuses his request.

• Violation

• Not a Violation

A young woman is being tried for treason. She is accused of selling plans for building a nuclear warhead to Iran. The judge believes it would be dangerous to let the public hear her ideas. He refuses to allow anyone to view the trial.

• Violation

• Not a Violation

A group of teenagers gather quietly on a street corner. Neighbors complain and ask the police to arrest them for getting together as a group. The police refuse.

• Violation

• Not a Violation

A town needs more land to build a new elementary school. A woman's property is needed but he wants to keep it. The town forces her to sell and gives her twice the property's actual value. She sues to get her land back.

• Violation

• Not a Violation

The government tries a man for murder and loses the case. A jury says he is innocent. The district attorney who prosecuted the case is mad and promises to keep trying him until they get a jury to convict him. The defendant thinks this is unfair.

• Violation

• Not A Violation

The Postmaster General of the United States has a cross and a nativity scene installed at all Post Offices throughout the country during Christmas time. Government funds are being used to purchase the cross and nativity scene.

• Violation

• Not a Violation

A man living on a quiet residential street erects a giant billboard on his front lawn. The billboard has neon lights advertising a new breakfast cereal that the man invented. The city has zoning laws against this type of sign in a residential neighborhood and demands that it be removed.

• Violation

• Not a Violation