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Civil Liberties
Civil Rights
Protections against
government
interference in your
life.
Positive government
actions to make
constitutional
guarantees a reality
for everyone.
Freedoms of
speech, press,
religion, etc.
Voting Rights
The English colonists in America
had their own ideas about how
government should be.
They gained these ideas from
English history and several
important documents
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The Bill of Rights was not
included in the original
Constitution
They were introduced by James
Madison in 1789, during the first
Congress
The first ten amendments were
ratified on December 15, 1791
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of the Press
Freedom of
Assembly
5. Right to petition the
government
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“Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of
religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof…”
Two clauses:
• Establishment clause:
•
Government cannot favor one religion
over another
• Free Exercise clause:
•
Government cannot restrict rights to
worship
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In schools, the religion issue is most
prevalent . For example:
If a student raises his hand and says
“teacher, can we say an opening prayer
before this test”
If the teacher says:
“Yes”
It looks like
establishment
of religion
“No”
It is denying a
student free
exercise.
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Teach about
religions in school
Allow voluntary
prayer
Transport
students to a
religious school
Read Bible for
culture or literacy
content
Set a state religion
Government
cannot order a
prayer
Break the law:
(e.g. have more
than one wife - or
husband)
Pay seminary
teachers
Teach creationism
as doctrine
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Choose to believe
any religion
Lead a prayer in
most examples
Ask questions
about religions
Worship
who/where ever
you choose
Break the law and
claim it is religious
belief
Raise children
without education
Deprive children of
basic needs
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“Congress shall make no laws . . .
abridging the freedom of speech”
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Say any political belief
Protest (without
getting out of control)
Say true things about
someone
Burn the flag
Speak racist and hate
slogans
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Threaten to blow up airplanes,
schools or the president
Sexual harassment
Create "too much" social chaos
Extremely crude language in a
public form
Disrespectful, vulgar language in
schools
Hate crimes
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Congress
shall make
no law...
abridging...
the
freedom of
the press.”
13
Print any political
position
Make fun of
people, especially
politicians
Expose wrongs by
the government
Libel: Intentionally
injuring a person’s
reputation through
false written
statements
Disclose defensesecurity secrets
Detail how to
make a certain
weapons
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• Do you think the limits placed on
free speech are a good or bad idea?
Why?
Congress shall make no law…
Abridging … The people to
peaceably assemble”
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Protest
Parade (with a
permit)
Parade chanting
hate slogans
Gang members
can congregate in
public
Protest by
throwing rocks and
breaking windows
Hang out on
private land
against owners will
(loitering)
Teen curfew
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“Congress shall make no law . . .
Abridging . . . the people. . . to
petition the government for a
redress of grievances”
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You may sue the
government for
wrongs
You cannot be
punished for
exposing wrongs
by the
government
The courts
decide
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“A wellregulated
militia, being
necessary to
the security
of a free
state, the
right of the
people to
bear arms
shall not be
infringed.”
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How much should
the government do
keep guns from
criminals and
youth?
In order to keep
guns away from
criminals, should
that limit the right
of law abiding
citizens?
A .50 caliber rifle: The largest
weapon
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Americans may lawfully own without a
special permit.
Thousands of
people die every
year from gun
violence.
Thousands of
crimes are
prevented every
year because of gun
ownership.
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Assessment
• Are you in favor or against the second
Amendment? Why?
• Do you think there should be any
restrictions on the types of weapons
Americans own? Explain why or why not.
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"No Soldier shall, in
time of peace be
quartered in any
house, without the
consent of the Owner,
nor in time of war, but
in a manner to be
prescribed by law."
The Government cannot force you
to shelter soldiers in your home
without your consent in times of
war or peace.
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What
does an
officer of
the law
need in
order to
search
your
home?
Probable cause AND
A warrant given to him
by a judge
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You cannot be tried for the same
crime twice (“Double Jeopardy”)
You do not have to testify against
yourself. “I plead the fifth”
You have due process of law before
you are convicted 
Due Process means the government
must act fairly and in accord with
established rules at all times
The government cannot take your
land unless it pays (eminent domain)
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Right to speedy trial by impartial jury in
criminal trials (does not favor either side)
You must be told of the charges against
you (habeas corpus)
You must be provided a lawyer if you
cannot afford one
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Right to an impartial jury in
federal civil trials
Extends the right to a jury trial to
federal civil cases (car accidents,
disputes between corporations
for breach of contract, or most
discrimination or employment
disputes.)
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"Excessive bail
shall not be
required, nor
excessive fines
imposed, nor
cruel and unusual
punishments
inflicted."
No excessive bail
No cruel &
unusual
punishment
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"The enumeration in the
Constitution, of certain rights, shall
not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the
people. "
We have more rights than just the
Bill of Rights
The framers knew it was impossible
to list all our rights, so they added
the 9th as a safety net.
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"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."
The federal (or national)
government has only those powers
specifically granted by the
Constitution.
All other powers not listed are
reserved for the States
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11 (1789)
States cannot be sued by another State
or foreign country or by citizens of
other States or by its own residents.
12 (1804)
Each elector in the Electoral College
casts two ballots now: one for President
and one for Vice President. (Before, the
person with the 2nd highest number of
votes was elected Vice President)
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The Framers of the
Constitution purposely
left the power to set
suffrage qualifications to
each State.
Both suffrage & franchise
mean the right to vote.
The electorate is all of
the people entitled to
vote in a given election.
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13 (1865)
Abolished slavery
14 (1868)
Citizenship = everyone born or
naturalized in the U.S. and the State
which they live.
States must provide due process before
taking life, liberty or property.
No State shall deny to any person equal
protection of the laws.
Removes the 3/5 clause from Article I
Section II
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1870: The 15th
Amendment was intended
to end race-based voting
requirements.
The First Black Senator and
Representatives, in the 41st and 42nd
Congress of the United States.
Washington: Currier & Ives, 1872.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart5b.html
“The right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged
by the United States or by
any State on account of
race, color, or previous
condition of servitude.”
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Reconstruction: The
period in U.S. History
immediately following
the Civil War (1865 –
1877)
In the South, the 15th
Amendment did not
end discrimination:
http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/photos/html/1010.html
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After Reconstruction,
white supremacists in
the south did everything
possible to prevent
blacks from voting.
These policies were
collectively known as
the "Jim Crow" laws.
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16 (1913)
Gave
Congress
power to tax
personal
income
directly
17 (1913)
The people
elect senators
instead of the
state
legislature
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18 (1919)
Outlawed
"Intoxicating liquors"
21 (1993)
Repealed the liquor
ban
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19 (1920): Prohibited the
denial of the right to vote
based on gender.
“The right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by
the United States or by any
State on account of sex.”
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20 (1932)
Congress begins yearly on Jan. 3,
and the President takes office on
Jan. 20
Known as the "lame duck
amendment"
22 (1951)
Limited President to two terms,
and no more than 10 years
23 (1961)
Provided D.C.
with electoral
votes
25 (1967)
If the President
dies, resigns, or
is unable to do
the job, the VP
becomes
President
27 (1992):
Congress cannot
receive payraises until next
term
The 24th Amendment
(1964) eliminated the poll
tax.
“Do you know I've never
voted in my life, never been
able to exercise my right as a
citizen because of the poll
tax?”
"Mr. Trout.“
Homer L. Pike, interviewer,
Atlanta, Georgia.
American Life Histories, 1936-1940
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18 year olds gain right to
vote
Student protests in
college campuses across
the nation shifted public
opinion
Sent to states from
Congress in March 1971
The required 38 (3/4ths)
of states ratified it in just
107 days!
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