WorksheetsBill of Rights Scenarios
Total questions: 47
Worksheet time: 24mins
Scenario 1 - Samantha, an eighteen-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 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 the stakes are not very high.
Are her rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
1
3
4
5
6
What 6th amendment right is being taken away?
Accused has right to hear charges
Accused has the right to a lawyer
Defendant has the right to hear and question witnesses
Accused has right to speedy trial
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 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.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
1
4
5
7
8
What 7th amendment right is being taken away?
Accused has right to hear charges
Accused has the right to a lawyer
Defendant has the right to hear and question witnesses
Everyone has right to jury trial in civil cases
Scenario 3 - Carolyn is arrested for shoplifting a candy bar from a neighborhood convenience store. At trial, she is found guilty. The judge decides that the appropriate punishment is to cut off Carolyn’s hands so that she will not be able to shoplift again.
Are her rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
2
6
8
9
What 8th amendment right is being taken away?
Excessive bail and punishment
Protection from cruel or unusual punishment
Protection from unreasonable seizure
Right to a public trial
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 may not engage in terrorist activities or plot against the United States government. They have no evidence that he is connected to any such activities.
Are Mr. Reynolds’ rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
1
2
4
5
6
What 2nd amendment right is being taken away?
Protection from illegal search and seizure
Land taken for public purpose must be paid for
Accused has right to lawyer
Citizens have right to bear arms
Scenario 5 - Your science teacher asks the class to exchange papers to correct last night’s homework. Your friend, Jamie, refuses to do so and is sent to the principal.
Are Jaime’s rights being violated?
Yes
No
Scenario 6 - Sixteen-year old Ryan is the captain of the football team. Before the Friday night game, he and his teammates are required to submit to a drug test. Ryan’s test shows traces of marijuana. He is not allowed to participate in the game and he is suspended from school.
Are his rights being violated?
Yes
No
Scenario 7 - A known drug dealer is arrested for suspected connections to an inner city murder. The police tell him he must answer questions 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.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
4
5
6
7
8
What 5th amendment right is being taken away?
Protection from illegal search and seizure
Protection from self-incrimination
Accused has right to lawyer
Must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable
Scenario 8 - 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.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
1
2
3
4
5
What 3rd amendment right is being taken away?
Protection from illegal search and seizure
Land taken for public purpose must be paid for
People have rights not listed in Constitution
Citizens cannot be forced to house and feed soldiers
Scenario 9 - A driver on I-80 calls police and states that a driver he just passed is smoking drugs. When police pull the driver over they ask if they can search the car. The owner says yes and police search. They find marijuana, a scale, wads of money, and a device used to smoke it. They place the man under arrest. He complains that a warrant was not used to search his car.
Have his rights been violated?
Yes
No
Scenario 10 - Your parents are very religious people, but you are not. Last Sunday your parents went to a service at their place of worship and they expected you to come along. You refused. They made you come anyway and they grounded you for a month.
Have your rights been violated?
Yes
No
Scenario 11 - Because members of Congress are unhappy with students’ standardized test scores in many states, they pass a federal law that abolishes local school boards and requires a standardized national curriculum
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
1
5
8
9
10
What 10th amendment right is being taken away?
People have rights not listed in the Constitution
Grand jury must decide if there is evidence for trial
Judge cannot overturn jury’s decision in civil case
States have all powers not given to national government
Scenario 12 - You are in the security line at the airport. The transportation safety agent requires you to take off your coat, take off your shoes, and empty your pockets. The agent also completes a pat-down search.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Scenario 13 - A Le Claire, Iowa resident is arrested for armed robbery (robbery with a gun). The resident spends 3 years in prison waiting for the trial to begin.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
5
6
7
8
9
What 6th amendment right is being taken away?
We have a right to petition
Accused have the right to a speedy trial
Protection from cruel punishment
Accused person has the right to hear charges against him/her
Scenario 14 - Police officers hear that a resident in Bettendorf is making Meth. When the resident leaves the house police enter through an unlocked door and find meth making products. They arrest the resident outside when he returns home.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
1
2
3
4
5
What 4th amendment right is being taken away?
Accused must be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt
Accused have the right to a speedy trial
Protection from unreasonable search and seizure
Accused person has the right to hear charges against him/her
Scenario 15 - A well-known movie star is accused of killing her husband. The judge is afraid she will not get a fair trial and orders the courtroom closed to the media and the public.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
4
5
6
7
8
What 6th amendment right is being taken away?
Accused must be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt
Accused have the right to a speedy trial
Accused have the right to a trial by jury
Accused have the right to a public trial
Scenario 16 - Miss Howard is an 18 year old in Davenport facing a charge of 1st degree murder. The judge orders that she must take the stand to testify.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
3
4
5
6
7
What 5th amendment right is being taken away?
People do not have to be witnesses against themselves
Accused have the right to a speedy trial
Accused have the right to a trial by jury
Accused have the right to a lawyer
Scenario 17 - Dr. Ben Lloyd of Davenport is being sued for $500,000 by a customer who claims Dr. Lloyd ruined his teeth. Dr. Lloyd is told that a judge will decide the case.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
4
5
6
7
8
What 7th amendment right is being taken away?
People do not have to be witnesses against themselves
Everyone has right to jury trial in civil cases
Accused have right to a speedy trial
Accused have the right to a lawyer
Scenario 18 - A group of teenagers in Moline protest McDonald's hamburger ingredients by peacefully blocking the entrance of McDonalds and holding up posters showing the ingredients McDonalds uses in hamburger patties. Police arrest them.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Scenario 19 - An adult in Rock Island is found guilty of 3 counts of 1st degree murder and is sentenced to death by hanging.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
6
7
8
9
10
What 8th amendment right is being taken away?
Death penalty is considered cruel
Judge cannot set unreasonable bail
We have the right to petition
Guilty person is protected from cruel or unusual punishment
Scenario 20 - Police are informed that a Bettendorf resident owns a closet full of semi-automatic weapons. Police arrive at the house and with permission find the weapons. They take the weapons from the owner.
Are rights being violated?
Yes
No
Which Amendment is being violated?
1
2
3
4
5
