Bill of Rights

By adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution, which concern was being addressed by those opposing the Constitution?

• The Constitution did not limit the power of the states to regulate the behavior of their citizens.

• The rights listed in the original Constitution were too vague to apply to realistic situations.

• There was nothing in the original Constitution to prevent the federal government from infringing on citizens’ rights.

• Some states that had ratified the Constitution had laws limiting freedom of religion.

“No person shall be…. deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law….”

-U.S. Constitution

Amendment V

Which sentence from the Bill of Rights provides an example of the idea described in the excerpt?

• “The enumeration of the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

• “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

• “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.”

• “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.”

The government is NOT allowed to hold a second trial for the same crime after a jury has declared a defendant not guilty. What is this called?

• Double Jeopardy

• Warrant

• Twice Persecuted

• Double Trial

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

-U.S. Constitution

Amendment VIII

This constitutional provision is relevant to which question?

• Can a prisoner appeal a guilty verdict?

• Can a state execute someone convicted of robbery?

• Can a jury ruling of “not guilty” be reversed by a judge?

• Can evidence obtained without a warrant be used against a defendant?

Which phrase describes a protection given in the First Amendment?

• right to bear arms

• right to own property

• freedom of religion

• freedom from excessive fines

President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law in August 1965. The legislation specifically outlaws any government practices “…. Used for the purpose or with the effect of denying or abridging the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.”

Based on this information, which government practices were banned by the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

• literacy tests and poll taxes

• electronic voting and punch-card ballots

• deliberately false TV ads and campaign literature

• age requirements for voting in state and local elections

Juanita was accused of shoplifting in a neighborhood department store. She went to trial and the jury found her to be “not guilty”. However, the storeowner found video footage after the trial, proving that Juanita did shoplift. The owner takes this evidence to the district attorney. How will the district attorney respond?

• With this evidence, Juanita will probably be convicted on her second trial.

• Juanita cannot be convicted because she was not advised of her right to legal counsel.

• Juanita cannot be tried again because this would violate the ban on “double jeopardy”.

• After seeing this evidence, Juanita may admit her wrongdoing and plead guilty to a lesser charge.

The first step to amending the Constitution is:

1.) Two-thirds of each house of

Congress approve a proposed

amendment

What is the second step?

• Two-thirds of the states hold a constitutional convention

• Three-fourths of the state legislatures ratify the amendment

• The President of the U.S. approves the amendment

• Three-fourths of both houses of Congress ratify the amendment

While Alex was at school, police officers broke into his home and took his computer. They did not have a warrant and there was no reason to believe that Alex had broken any laws. Which right did the police officers violate?

• the right to due process of law in the Fourteenth Amendment

• the right to assistance of legal counsel in the Sixth Amendment

• the right to the equal protection of the laws in the Fourteenth Amendment

• the right against unreasonable searches and seizures in the Fourth Amendment

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

-The Eighth Amendment

What is the best definition of “bail” in this amendment?

• money paid as punishment for a crime

• money paid to obtain special privileges for a prison inmate

• money that someone convicted for a crime pays to reduce jail time

• money a defendant pays as security to stay out of jail while waiting for trial