Becky

First 5 Amendments




 * ==Congress shall make respecting or prohibiting an establishment of religion (Separation of Church & State, Freedom of Religion)==
 * ==Congress shall make no laws abridging the freedom of speech or press==
 * ==Congress shall make no laws prohibiting the right to peacefully assemble==
 * ==Congress shall make no laws prohibiting the right to petition the government in addressing grievances==

== "America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the 'land of the free.'" ==






 * ==The right to a well-regulated militia and==
 * ==The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed==

== This is a controversial amendment. The controversy stems from a debate in the intention of our founding fathers - are the people who are allowed to bear and keep arms the militia or the common man. This was also not an amendment written in a time when automatic assault weapons were in existence. There have been laws added to "shape" this amendment, such as the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. However, this leaves some feeling that their rights have been infringed upon. A famous actor, who was the spokesperson for the NRA (National Rifle Association), spoke to this controversy. ==

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 * ==Protection from quartering of troops==

== While this amendment doesn't seem very relevant today, it was very important to our Americans of the era that the Bill of Rights were written in. During colonial times, colonists had to allow British soldiers to stay in their homes and eat their food. This was upsetting to the colonists, who made sure that this could not happen in the future. ==






 * ==Protection from unreasonable search and seizure==

== There are certain exceptions that have been added to the books limiting this right as recently as the past decade. If there is reasonable cause or societal need is great, then search is legal. If this is not so cut and dry, the law enforcement agency can seek a warrant from a judge to allow for a search. The newest law that has affected the right afforded under the 4th amendment is the Patriot Act of 2001, passed in response to the terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001. This law is controversial because it was passed in 45 days with minimal debate in quick response to an event that created extreme emotions in our country. This video discusses the Patriot Act and the pros and cons to the bill. ==

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 * ==Right to due process (legal fairness)==
 * ==Protection from double jeopardy (you cannot be tried twice for the same crime)==
 * ==Protection from self-incrimination (the infamous right to remain silent - you cannot be forced to be a witness against yourself)==
 * ==Protection from eminent domain (your property cannot be taken from you without fair compensation)==

== This amendment protects a citizen from its government in the legal arena. You have heard people saying they "Plead the 5th" when they don't want to say something that may give up too much information. On T.V. and in movies, you hear police recite the "Miranda Warning," reminding a citizen of their rights protected under the law (this also includes many elements of the 6th amendment). It is required that an officer recite this upon taking a citizen into police custody. ==



Amendments Six to Ten

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