The First Scare
Many years ago the people who lived where we live today experienced what they viewed as a very serious scare… The first 10 Amendments [or changes]
to the United States Constitution. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording
Congress shall make no law Government cannot… respecting an establishment of › …try to get you to support a religion, or prohibiting the free religion, or exercise thereof; or abridging › …stop you from being a part the freedom of speech, or of of a religion that you the press, or the right of the choose, or people peaceably to › …keep you from expressing assemble, and to petition the or publishing your ideas (like Government for a redress of in a newspaper or a book). grievances. And Congress cannot › …stop you from meeting peacefully for a demonstration to ask the government to change something. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording A well regulated Militia, being Congress can't stop necessary to the people from buying security of a free and owning State, the right of the weapons so that people to keep and they can defend the bear Arms, shall not country. be infringed. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording
No Soldier shall, in time The government of peace be cannot force people quartered in any to keep soldiers in their house, without the houses, except if a war consent of the Owner; breaks out, and even nor in time of war, but then only if Congress in a manner to be has passes a special prescribed by law. law to allow it. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording
The right of the people to Government cannot be secure in their persons, search you or your private houses, papers, and property (e.g. your house, effects, against papers) unless they can unreasonable searches convince a judge that they and seizures, shall not be have a reasonable amount violated, and no Warrants of evidence linking you to shall issue, but upon a crime. probable cause, supported In most situations, the by Oath or affirmation, and search cannot take place particularly describing the unless the judge gives the place to be searched, and officer a search warrant. the persons or things to be seized. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording
No person shall be held to answer Government cannot… for a capital, or otherwise › …put you on trial for a serious infamous crime, unless on a crime without a special jury presentment or indictment of a concluding that there is enough Grand Jury, except in cases evidence to justify a trial. arising in the land or naval forces, › …try you again for the exact or in the Militia, when in actual same crime if one jury has service in time of War or public already found you to be not danger; nor shall any person be guilty; subject for the same offence to › …force you to testify against be twice put in jeopardy of life or yourself if you have been limb; nor shall be compelled in accused of a crime. any criminal case to be a witness › ...take away your life, freedom, against himself; nor be deprived or property in an unfair manner. of life, liberty, or property, without › …take your private property due process of law; nor shall unless the government pays you private property be taken for fairly for it. public use without just compensation. Student Friendly Wording
Original Wording People who are accused of committing crimes in the United States… In all criminal prosecutions, the › must be tried within a reasonable accused shall enjoy the right amount of time so that they are not to a speedy and public trial, sitting in jail for a long time without ever by an impartial jury of the having been found guilty. State and district wherein the › have a right to a trial that is open to the crime shall have been public so that they can make sure that committed; which district shall the trial is fair. have been previously › have the right to have a jury (not the government) decide whether they are ascertained by law, and to be guilty or not. informed of the nature and › have the right to know what crime or cause of the accusation; to crimes they are accused of. be confronted with the › have a right to see, hear, and challenge witnesses against him; to have the people who are witnesses against compulsory process for them. obtaining witnesses in his › have the right to have the government favor; and to have the help them get witnesses who may help assistance of counsel for his defend them, › have the right to a lawyer who defence. understands the law and can defend them effectively. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording
In Suits at common law, People who are not where the value in accused of crimes but controversy shall exceed are being sued also twenty dollars, the right have the right to a trial of trial by jury shall be by jury if the amount preserved, and no fact involved in the dispute is tried by a jury shall be high (used to be $20 but otherwise reexamined in much higher now). any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of common law. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording
The government Excessive bail cannot make a shall not be person pay a required, nor ridiculous amount excessive fines of money as a imposed, nor punishment (fines) or to get out of jail cruel and unusual until their trial punishments comes up (bail). inflicted. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording
The enumeration The Bill of Rights lists in the what people Constitution of considered to be certain rights shall our most important not be construed rights. to deny or This amendment emphasizes that disparage others you may have retained by the other rights as well. people. Original Wording Student Friendly Wording
The powers not Powers not granted delegated to the to the national United States by government the Constitution, belong to the nor prohibited by states. it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Free Speech (shout fire?)
??? Assembly Can you think of Scope (block traffic?) others? Rights
Free Press (print lies about people?)
The “Zero Memorandum”
Executive Zero Executive Zero
S.C.A.R.E.
Contego Faction – is most interested in defense…defending the nation from enemies both inside, and outside, of the country.
Justitia Faction – is most interested in justice…making sure that those who are accused of crimes are treated fairly.
Libertas Faction – is most interested in freedom…protecting your fellow citizens’ freedoms.
Substantia Faction – is most interested in property…protecting your fellow citizens’ private property. Libertas freedom. Libertas Contego freedom. defense. Libertas Contego freedom. defense.
Justicia justice. Libertas Contego freedom. defense.
Justicia Substantia justice. property.
The Factions take Actions! S.C.A.R.E. is a covert group inside the executive branch of our government. No one knows how many people are involved or how high up their activities go.
Some members of Congress – our legislative branch – have gotten wind of S.C.A.R.E. and they know that the responsibilities of the legislative branch in which they work include investigating national threats and checking the actions of the executive and judicial branches. So, Congress has formed a Special Committee on Individual Rights and has scheduled a committee hearing to investigate S.C.A.R.E. and its alleged plot. Emergent factions have been subpoenaed to testify. Prepare a presentation to a Special Committee of Congress investigating S.C.A.R.E. and the executive branch. Focus your presentations on the following questions:
› What do you know about S.C.A.R.E. and how do you know it?
› What specifically is SCARE doing that is against the laws of this country? The committee wants to know specific policies and which specific rights Time Limit: 3 minutes. S.C.A.R.E. is threatening.
› What should Congress do? S.C.A.R.E. Strikes Back!
Libertas Faction’s Assignment [Amendment 1] The first Amendment states that people have a right to free speech. Should people be allowed to say really bad things about our Directions: S.C.A.R.E. argues that the President? Why? If this is a right and people keep Emergent factions really do not saying bad things, the people will stop respecting understand either the Bill of Rights or the President and he or she will lose all respect the dangers that they represent. The and authority. Special Committee on Individual Rights has asked for your responses in writing. Contego Faction’s Assignment [Amendment 2] The first Amendment states that people Work cooperatively with those in your have a right to “bear arms.” Does everyone have the right to own and carry weapons? Even our factions to develop written responses enemies or other dangerous people? Why? to the following questions. Put your answers in writing so that they can be submitted to the Special Committee for Justicia Faction’s Assignment [Amendments 6 & 7] review. Amendments 6 & 7 describe rights of people accused of committing crimes. Should our government have to use our tax dollars to provide Note that each faction has been asked to every person accused of committing very serious address 1-2 questions based on your crime like murder or terrorism with a trial, a jury, a expertise on the Bill of Rights. You only lawyer, witnesses etc.? Why? have to write responses for the questions listed under your faction’s name. Substantia Faction’s Assignment [Amendments 5] Amendment 5 states that a person’s property cannot be taken away without “just compensation.” The Slaveowners used to consider slaves to be their property. Do we now have to compensate the relatives of former slaveowners because their “property” was taken away? Do we have to pay armed robbers for their guns if police officers take them away? Why? A Victory for Freedom For Immediate Release: The Special Committee on Individual Rights has reviewed and weighed the information presented by S.C.A.R.E. and the Emergent factions and now calls for the immediate end to S.C.A.R.E. and its policies. Furthermore, we call for the immediate resignations of Executive Zero and members of S.C.A.R.E. The Committee expresses its deepest gratitude to those of you who have taken time to understand and defend the Bill of Rights. In doing so, you have helped preserve the freedoms that this country enjoys.
1 – 20. 2 – 24. 3 – 8. 4 – 8. 5 – 39. 6 – 5. 7 – 46. 8 – 13. 9 – 8. 10 - 19 [p]20. Can you crack the code that is written into the Bill of Rights?