Bill of Rights Project

Introduction

For my Bill of Rights project, I decided to give each amendment a slide with included links and videos.

Intro

Each slide will contain what the amendment is, a related supreme court case, an example of how it affects me, a contemporary issue, and images relating to the amendment itself.

1st Amendment

This amendment guarantees the freedom of press, speech, religion, assembly and petition. Citizens can peacefully congregate and non-violently speak out against their government.

This amendment affects me because if I wanted to protest/rally (say Pro-Choice Rallies or go to a Pride Parade), I could do so without government interference.

Court Case: Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942)

The First Amendment did not protect words that could cause injury or cause an immediate breach of peace. Conviction was overturned.

Contemporary Issue- Abortion Protests

Newspaper Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/us/politics/supreme-court-social-media-texas.html

Video Link:

https://youtu.be/ZWHqQiFuhyA

2nd Amendment

2nd Amendment

This amendment protects the right to bear and keep arms. People are able to buy ans have guns for hunting or self defense with a proper permit/license/etc.

This amendment affects me because children as young as my brothers (8-13) are being shot and killed with guns that the 2nd amendment "guarantees" to people.

Court Case- District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

Dick Heller sued the District of Columbia over its ban on handguns in the home. The court ruled in Heller’s favor, affirming an individual right to keep handguns in the home for self-defense.

Contemporary Issue- Gun Control and School Shootings

Video Link: https://www.cc.com/video/roiafv/key-peele-the-second-amendment

Article Link: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/amendment-ii/interps/99

3rd Amendment

3rd Amendment

This amendment states that no soldier can be quartered in your house without the consent of the owner. This also includes during war times.

This affects me because if there was ever a war, I would not want a freaky, gross war man sleeping in my bed and wearing my clothes.

Court Case- Engblom v. Carey (1982)

It was questioned whether or not National Guardsmen were considered soldiers in regards to this amendment. It was ruled that they would.

Contemporary Issue- Really None Present Day

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksHhbHc9IPA

Article Link: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/could-third-amendment-protect-against-infection/616791/

4th Amendment

4th Amendment

This amendment protects you and your belongings. There is no unreasonable search and seizure. Probable cause has to be present in order for this to occur.

This affects me because a police officer can not just stop and frisk me on the street because they feel like it.

Court Case- Katz v. United States (1967)

An eavesdropping device was placed on a phone booth Katz used. Recordings were used against him in a later offense. Court ruled in his favor.

Contemporary Issue- Possession of Marijuana and Police Interference

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNM6TrHRUp8

Article Link:

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/could-better-technology-lead-stronger-4th-amendment-privacy-protections

5th Amendment

5th Amendment

This amendment guarantees that the government can not force someone to incriminate themselves. These rights include your Miranda Rights.

This affects me because if I were ever arrested, I would like to not be guilty due to forced information.

Court Case- Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Ruled that an arrested individual is entitled to rights against self incrimination and a lawyer.

Contemporary Issue- Unjust Arrest of African Americans

Video Link: https://constitutionus.com/constitution/amendments/the-5th-amendment-to-the-united-states-constitution-explained/

Article Link: https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-12-17/stone-says-he-invoked-5th-amendment-at-jan-6-deposition

6th Amendment

6th Amendment

This amenment guarantees a speedys and public trial by an impartial jury. They also have the right to a lawyer, and the right to know who the accusers are.

This affects me becuase if I was ever arrested and had to go to trial, I would know that it would not be unneccesarily long.

Court Case-Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires U.S. states to provide attorneys to criminal defendants who are unable to afford their own.

Comtemporary Issue- Recent trials for murderers in mass shootings

Video Link- https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/educational-activities/sixth-amendment-activities

Article Link- https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2020/09/14/coronavirus-and-the-sixth-amendment/?slreturn=20220508052454

7th Amendment

7th Amendment

This amendment extends the right to a jury trial to federal civil cases such as car accidents, disputes between corporations for breach of contract, or most discrimination or employment disputes.

This affects me because if I ever had a problem at work that was serious enough to go to court, I could have a jury to help settle the dispute.

Court Case- Apodaca v. Oregon (1972)

Apodaca and two other defendants were convicted of assault, burglary, and grand larceny before three separate juries, all of which returned verdicts which were less than unanimous. Two of the cases were 11-1 and the other was 10-2 in favor of conviction.

Contemporary Issue- Descrimination in the Workplace

Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3wwk_E3Alg

Article- https://www.ipwatchdog.com/2022/01/11/high-court-asks-us-government-input-petition-accusing-cafc-violating-seventh-amendment/id=142710/

8th Amendment

8th Amendment

This amendment says that excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

This affects me because if I were ever arrested,I would want to know that I would not be tortured or something while detained.

Court Case- Alabama v. Pugh(1979)

The District Court issued an injunction prescribing measures to eradicate cruel and unusual punishment in the Alabama prison system.

Contemporary Issue- Death Penalty

Article Link: https://theconversation.com/us/topics/eighth-amendment-49268

Video Link: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=8th+amendment&&view=detail&mid=A1A4938E246EAA41E77AA1A4938E246EAA41E77A&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D8th%2Bamendment%26FORM%3DHDRSC4

9th Amendment

This amendment states that the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

This affects me because even though the constitution may not directly state something, some rights I know to be true.

Court Case- Roe v. Wade(1973)

It was ruled that under the Ninth Amendment that women have privacy rights over their bodies. This made abortion legal in America.

Contemporary Issue- Abortion Rights

Video Link- https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=9th+amendment+video&&view=detail&mid=A879F4EDF26FEEAD4B48A879F4EDF26FEEAD4B48&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D9th%2Bamendment%2Bvideo%26FORM%3DHDRSC4

Article Link: https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/11/constitution-ninth-amendment-protects-rights-not-listed-in-bill-of-rights/

10th Amendment

10th Amendment

This amendment states that 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.

This affects me because maybe something is illegal in the state that I live in, but is not illegal somewhere else.

Court Case- United States v. Sprague (1931)

The Supreme Court reminded the federal government that their powers were limited strictly to only what was contained in the U.S. Constitution. Anything further violated the 10th Amendment.

Contemporary Issue- Abortion laws varying state to state

Video Link: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=10th+amendment+political+cartoon&&view=detail&mid=E2E3AF51A869753A8657E2E3AF51A869753A8657&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D10th%2Bamendment%2Bpolitical%2Bcartoon%26FORM%3DHDRSC4

Article Link: https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-tenth-amendment-out-of-the-shadows-and-into-the-spotlight

Conclusion

Overall this project helped me explore in depth what each amendment was about and how it affects my everyday life.

I also learned about how important these amendments are historically and the impacts certain court cases had on them today.

Conclusion