The first day of class
1). How a bill becomes a law
It all starts off with an idea, that is written down and is announced by the person that wants it to become law. The announcer tells the Congress here are some key points on this bill. Congress discusses the bill and they have to come to an agreement. If Congress says no, the bill is rejected. If Congress says yes to the bill, it goes to the Committee where they discuss, argue, and mark up this bill. Everyone in this Committee has to agree with what the bill states. When it is satisfied it then goes to the House of Representatives were they vote yes or no. If they vote no the bill dies. For a vote of yes, the bill has to go to the Senate and they also have to make a vote. If the Senate votes yes, it then goes to the president where he can sign or veto the bill. If the president signs the bill it becomes a law. If the president vetoes the bill, then Congress can have a 2/3 of a vote to make it a bill. If 2/3 are not met then Congress can restart over the arguments or the bill can just die.
-For more in depth information about this topic, there is a video at the bottom of this page explaining how a bill becomes a law.
2). Why does the constitution hold the first ten amendments?
-The constitution has the first ten amendments because "for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties, the Bill of Rights lists specific prohibitions on governmental power"1. Back in the 1700s, all powers were separated and each state had their own laws to go by, and America was not yet a nation. America was not united until the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1765. The powers of every state are now controlled by the government and the United States were slowly becoming one nation.
3). The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments.
Below I have listed what the first ten amendments are. Some will have examples or explanations or maybe even both.
The First Ten Amendments
1st amendment: Freedom of speech, protest, petition, assemble, and religion the government.
-Everyone is entitled to write, speak, or practice their own religion. For example a person can write to their Governor of State, expressing how they feel on certain things and what needs to be done; they cannot say in the letter they will kill them or find a way to track the Governor down.
2nd amendment: The right of the people to bear arms and keep militia.
-An example of the right to bear arms is to protect yourself from a burglar, rapist, serial killer, or a dangerous animal in the neighborhood such as an animal that has rabies.
3rd amendment: Protection from quartering of troops.
- Back in the 1800's, the government forced citizens to shelter soldiers with clothes, food, and a place to sleep. The soldiers would take advantage of this situation. Once the amendment was established, the government could not force Americans to keep the soldiers in their household. A good example of this is the video from the introduction with Snow White telling the 7 Dwarfs to leave the house (starting at 57 seconds).
4th amendment: Protection from unreasonable search and seizures.
-The police cannot trespass a private (house or property) without a legal search warrant signed by a judge. The police has to have probable cause to enter your house with the warrant. This warrant also has to state specific areas were they can search in your house. If not the evidence they have collected against you cannot be used in court unless it is in plain sight. For example if the police came knocking on your door with a legal search warrant (signed by a judge) and states to look in bedrooms, in draws, or any small places to find anything illegal police can do this. While trying to find drugs, they see in plain sight on the bed there is a gun that has blood all over. They can arrest you. The gun was not hidden it was out on the bed they can use it in the court. They can't use this evidence in court if the gun was hidden.
5th amendment: The due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, private property.
- The 5th amendment was based on the court case Miranda v. Arizona. The policeman have to say your rights which are you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can be used against you in the court of law, you have a right to have an attorney, if you can't afford one, one will be provided for you. An example of this amendment when citizens will say I plead the 5th. It just means they don't want to say anything that could hurt them from winning the case. Miranda v. Arizona.
6th amendment: The right to a speedy and fair trial.
-Everyone has the right to a speedy trial and representation. A good court case to refer to is Gideon v. Wainwright.
7th amendment: A right to a trail and jury.
- No matter what type of crime a criminal has committed such as misdemeanor crime (stealing or drugs) to committing a felony ( murder), they have to have a trial and a jury. Sometimes criminals don't ever do the crime and they are waiting for a trial or are just at the wrong place at the wrong time. The evidence always tells the story if the person is innocent or guilty.
8th amendment: No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment.
- For example if a minor (under the age of 18) committed a crime and was charged with a felony, the sentence cannot be harsh such as the death penalty, whipping, or electrocution. A case that is similar to this is Tyler Hadley. Hadley had committed the crime of killing his parents at 17. He could not be charged as an adult because of his age. He did get the maximum punishment of the crime he committed which is two counts of first degree murder and no bail.
9th amendment: Protection of rights not specifically listed enumerated to the Bill of Rights.
- U.S. citizens have rights and in the 9th amendments the federal government cannot deny or take away our rights. Those are our individual rights. It is listed in the first eight amendments. They only time they can take this right away are in times of war. An example during war time someone in America decides to burn the Quran, we might think they are a terrorist and want to take over America. A court case to refer to is Griswold v. Connecticut (read sentences 1-3, 5 and the last sentence. It sums up the case).
10th amendment: Powers of state and people
Powers that are not listed in the constitution are reserved for the state and people. An example every state has their own laws on how to run their state. Each state has their own law to run the police, gun control, and education. A court case to refer to is Barron v. Baltimore.
We will be doing an activity on the Bill of Rights testing your knowledge to see how well you know them. Ms. Jallouk is going to assign each of you a partner or a small group to work with. Each of you will get a piece of paper out write your names on it and choose a group name. Next one group at a time will come up and pick out an amendment from the hat. For homework, everyone of you should start brainstorming some ideas for a charade scene. If no ideas pop up go to iCivics and start playing that game called "Bill of Rights Edition" to see what ideas will pop up. Don't forget to post in the discussion forums on iCivics to your partners to collaborate with them on ideas.
1. "Bill of Rights Institute: Bill of Rights." 2012. 1 Apr. 2014 <http://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bill-of-rights/>
1). How a bill becomes a law
It all starts off with an idea, that is written down and is announced by the person that wants it to become law. The announcer tells the Congress here are some key points on this bill. Congress discusses the bill and they have to come to an agreement. If Congress says no, the bill is rejected. If Congress says yes to the bill, it goes to the Committee where they discuss, argue, and mark up this bill. Everyone in this Committee has to agree with what the bill states. When it is satisfied it then goes to the House of Representatives were they vote yes or no. If they vote no the bill dies. For a vote of yes, the bill has to go to the Senate and they also have to make a vote. If the Senate votes yes, it then goes to the president where he can sign or veto the bill. If the president signs the bill it becomes a law. If the president vetoes the bill, then Congress can have a 2/3 of a vote to make it a bill. If 2/3 are not met then Congress can restart over the arguments or the bill can just die.
-For more in depth information about this topic, there is a video at the bottom of this page explaining how a bill becomes a law.
2). Why does the constitution hold the first ten amendments?
-The constitution has the first ten amendments because "for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties, the Bill of Rights lists specific prohibitions on governmental power"1. Back in the 1700s, all powers were separated and each state had their own laws to go by, and America was not yet a nation. America was not united until the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1765. The powers of every state are now controlled by the government and the United States were slowly becoming one nation.
3). The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments.
Below I have listed what the first ten amendments are. Some will have examples or explanations or maybe even both.
The First Ten Amendments
1st amendment: Freedom of speech, protest, petition, assemble, and religion the government.
-Everyone is entitled to write, speak, or practice their own religion. For example a person can write to their Governor of State, expressing how they feel on certain things and what needs to be done; they cannot say in the letter they will kill them or find a way to track the Governor down.
2nd amendment: The right of the people to bear arms and keep militia.
-An example of the right to bear arms is to protect yourself from a burglar, rapist, serial killer, or a dangerous animal in the neighborhood such as an animal that has rabies.
3rd amendment: Protection from quartering of troops.
- Back in the 1800's, the government forced citizens to shelter soldiers with clothes, food, and a place to sleep. The soldiers would take advantage of this situation. Once the amendment was established, the government could not force Americans to keep the soldiers in their household. A good example of this is the video from the introduction with Snow White telling the 7 Dwarfs to leave the house (starting at 57 seconds).
4th amendment: Protection from unreasonable search and seizures.
-The police cannot trespass a private (house or property) without a legal search warrant signed by a judge. The police has to have probable cause to enter your house with the warrant. This warrant also has to state specific areas were they can search in your house. If not the evidence they have collected against you cannot be used in court unless it is in plain sight. For example if the police came knocking on your door with a legal search warrant (signed by a judge) and states to look in bedrooms, in draws, or any small places to find anything illegal police can do this. While trying to find drugs, they see in plain sight on the bed there is a gun that has blood all over. They can arrest you. The gun was not hidden it was out on the bed they can use it in the court. They can't use this evidence in court if the gun was hidden.
5th amendment: The due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, private property.
- The 5th amendment was based on the court case Miranda v. Arizona. The policeman have to say your rights which are you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can be used against you in the court of law, you have a right to have an attorney, if you can't afford one, one will be provided for you. An example of this amendment when citizens will say I plead the 5th. It just means they don't want to say anything that could hurt them from winning the case. Miranda v. Arizona.
6th amendment: The right to a speedy and fair trial.
-Everyone has the right to a speedy trial and representation. A good court case to refer to is Gideon v. Wainwright.
7th amendment: A right to a trail and jury.
- No matter what type of crime a criminal has committed such as misdemeanor crime (stealing or drugs) to committing a felony ( murder), they have to have a trial and a jury. Sometimes criminals don't ever do the crime and they are waiting for a trial or are just at the wrong place at the wrong time. The evidence always tells the story if the person is innocent or guilty.
8th amendment: No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment.
- For example if a minor (under the age of 18) committed a crime and was charged with a felony, the sentence cannot be harsh such as the death penalty, whipping, or electrocution. A case that is similar to this is Tyler Hadley. Hadley had committed the crime of killing his parents at 17. He could not be charged as an adult because of his age. He did get the maximum punishment of the crime he committed which is two counts of first degree murder and no bail.
9th amendment: Protection of rights not specifically listed enumerated to the Bill of Rights.
- U.S. citizens have rights and in the 9th amendments the federal government cannot deny or take away our rights. Those are our individual rights. It is listed in the first eight amendments. They only time they can take this right away are in times of war. An example during war time someone in America decides to burn the Quran, we might think they are a terrorist and want to take over America. A court case to refer to is Griswold v. Connecticut (read sentences 1-3, 5 and the last sentence. It sums up the case).
10th amendment: Powers of state and people
Powers that are not listed in the constitution are reserved for the state and people. An example every state has their own laws on how to run their state. Each state has their own law to run the police, gun control, and education. A court case to refer to is Barron v. Baltimore.
We will be doing an activity on the Bill of Rights testing your knowledge to see how well you know them. Ms. Jallouk is going to assign each of you a partner or a small group to work with. Each of you will get a piece of paper out write your names on it and choose a group name. Next one group at a time will come up and pick out an amendment from the hat. For homework, everyone of you should start brainstorming some ideas for a charade scene. If no ideas pop up go to iCivics and start playing that game called "Bill of Rights Edition" to see what ideas will pop up. Don't forget to post in the discussion forums on iCivics to your partners to collaborate with them on ideas.
1. "Bill of Rights Institute: Bill of Rights." 2012. 1 Apr. 2014 <http://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bill-of-rights/>