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The Bill of Rights
Overview
Students will gain an understanding of the rights guaranteed to citizens in the Bill of Rights, the modern
controversies that can arise from such rights, as well as the importance and relevance of the Bill of Rights to
every individual by participating in role-plays.
Grade
Middle School
High School
Essential Questions
• What is the primary purpose of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
• Why did several states refuse to ratify the constitution without the addition of the Bill of Rights?
• How did North Carolina Federalists and Anti-Federalists view the United States Constitution in 1788?
• What consequences might we face if we are unaware of the Bill of Rights?
• As effective citizens, what responsibilities do we have (individually and as a community) to ensure our
rights?
Materials
• Rights brainstorm handout, attached
• The Bill of Rights worksheet, attached
• Copy of the Bill of Rights, attached
• Bill of Rights Scenario Examples, attached
• Bill of Rights Political Cartoon, attached
Optional Materials
• Resource person, such as a lawyer or police officer
A resource person with legal knowledge can not only provides valued assistance and expertise in
explaining the material to students and answering their questions, but this also gives your students a
chance to interact with and learn from a law official. If choosing to invite a resource person, it is
recommended that teachers contact the person a few weeks in advance of this lesson to explain the
activity and to ask for assistance in guiding the students regarding various legality issues based on the
Bill of Rights. (It is important this person does not come to give a “speech,” but rather is prepared to
engage with the students as they work on and present the role plays). After making an initial contact,
follow up with an e-mail including the date, time, location, parking arrangements, school procedures
for guests, and a complete set of materials for the activity.
• Bill of Rights Jeopardy Power Point game, available in the Database of K-12 Resources:
https://k12database.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2012/10/BillofRights.pptx
o Email CarolinaK12@unc.edu for an editable copy of the PPT.
• Bill of Rights Hypothetical’s, worksheet and answer key attached
• Bill of Rights Socratic Seminar, attached
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Duration
1 hour
Procedure
Rights?
1. As a warm-up, have students brainstorm the word “rights” in small groups using the attached brainstorm
handout. (This can also be done as an entire class, in which case teachers should note student thoughts on
the board.) Encourage students to explore all aspects of the word that come to mind. Once thoughts have
been expended, instruct groups to create a group definition of the word rights that they will then share
with the remainder of class. (An example of a definition may include: that which is due to anyone by just
claim, moral principles, or law. Further discuss:
• What rights are granted to you as a citizen of the United States?
• Do you feel all people have equal access to these given rights? Explain.
• Describe a time when you felt that one of your rights was violated. Describe your feelings and
response to the situation. Explain ways you could have handled it differently.
• What current events or events in recent history can you think of that relate to rights, or the denial
thereof?
Introduction to the Bill of Rights
2. Explain to students that in this lesson, they will explore the first ten amendments to the United States
Constitution, called the Bill of Rights. Remind students that the United States Constitution was not
immediately approved, due to a group of people called Anti-Federalists, who believed that the central
government had too much power in the new constitution and it lacked a bill of rights protecting the liberty
of individual citizens. While 11 states had approved the new constitution by July of 1788, two states still
rejected it: North Carolina and Rhode Island. Briefly discuss:
• Considering the perspectives during colonial times, why do you think Anti-Federalists felt the way they
did?
• How did the addition of the Bill of Rights convince North Carolina to become the 12
th
state to ratify the
constitution in 1789?
Inform the class that they will research these rights, and then participate in an experiential exercise in
which they learn how this document applies to their own individual lives today, even though it was created
over 200 years ago.
3. Either individually or with a learning partner, students should read a copy of the Bill of Rights (attached),
summarizing each amendment and what rights it grants to citizens on the attached worksheet. Make sure
students are aware that accuracy in their answers is crucial to be able to participate in the next activity.
Upon completion, briefly go over answers as a class to ensure a basic familiarity with the information.
4. In review, project the “Bill of Rights political cartoon” (attached) asking students to discuss:
• What do you see? (Students should simply point out all symbols, characters, objects, text, etc. that
they notice. Try to keep them from jumping to interpretation until all pieces of the cartoon are pointed
out.)
• What do you think? What message is the artist trying to convey? What do the symbols represent?
• What techniques has the artist used and why? (exaggeration, caricatures, humor, sarcasm, etc.)
• Which of the ten amendments does this political cartoon address? Explain.
Role Playing the Bill of Rights
5. Explain that students will be participating in an experiential exercise in which they will learn how the Bill of
Rights applies to their individual lives. The teacher should:
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• Review your expectations for partner work, and group students into pairs or small groups. Give them a
modern day scenario in which a right granted by the Bill of Rights has been violated. You may use the
scenarios provided in the attached “Bill of Rights Scenario Examples”, or you may create your own.
• Instruct students to collaborate with their partner or group to develop the scenario into a theatrical
scene which they will present to the class. Make sure that students understand the goal is to be
realistic and focused in their performance. It is important that they not leave out any details provided
in the scenario.
• If a Resource Person is joining your class for assistance, introduce that person to the class and explain
that he/she will be available for legal advice as students create and present their scenes.
• Teachers should circulate throughout the time allocated for scene preparation to ensure students are
on the right track. Give time warnings so that students can work accordingly.
6. Once all partners/groups are ready to present, the teacher should:
• Review expectations for being a respectful audience member.
• Explain that each scene will be presented, and the classroom’s job as the audience is to pay close
attention and figure out which right they believe has been violated. After each scene is presented, stop
and discuss the scene, allowing students to state their ideas, noting the number of the amendment
that they believe was violated and its description.
• If a resource person is visiting, allow him/her to discuss the reality of the scene and legality issues with
the class. Students should be permitted to ask related questions also.
• Use the various scenes as conversation starters that link to current events or past Supreme Court
cases.
• Once students have discovered the right answer, you can also ask them to think about effective ways
to advocate for the violated right in the scene. Instruct the original actors to replay the scene. As they
do, class members can yell “FREEZE”, at which point the actors stop exactly where they are. The
audience member can then take the place of the victim in the scene and play out options for dealing
with the situation and advocating for their rights. While the teacher should allow for experimentation
with various tactics, it is important to discuss the replay choices students make and whether they are
sound, civically minded choices, or choices that may lead to further consequences. If a resource
person is available he/she will be good to weigh in on this as well.
7. After the presentation and discussion of scenes, students should reflect (these questions can be discussed
as a class or completed as a written response):
• Why is the Bill of Rights important to you as an individual and as a society?
• What consequences might we face if we are unaware of the Bill of Rights?
• What responsibilities do we have (individually and as a community) to ensure our rights are not
violated?
• Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? Why did several states refuse to ratify the
Constitution
without its addition? Do you agree with their refusal? Explain.
• What current events and/or court cases, locally and nationally, can you think of which have involved a
person’s rights or the violation thereof.
8. Optional: Hand out and explain the attached Bill of Rights Hypothetical’s for homework.
Culminating Activities/Assessments
• Participate in the “Bill of Rights Socratic Seminar” (see attached)
• Have students rank the top five amendments they feel are most important. Ask students to write reasons
for each decision and to support their choice by citing current relevant examples. Have students present
their ideas to the class, keeping a tally on how many times each amendment is chosen.
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• Instruct students to write their own Bill of Rights in small groups. Explain that they are to imagine they
have just formed a new democratic country and that they must create at least 10 rights for all citizens of
their country.
o Circulate through groups keeping everyone on task. Groups who finish early can be instructed to
provide further creative details on their country (i.e. country name, flag, etc.)
o Once all groups have completed their Bill of Rights, have them present to class. The teacher should:
Remind students of expectations for respectful class presentations and have each group present
their country’s Bill of Rights.
After each group presents the teacher should solicit positive feedback for the group, then facilitate
a group discussion on whether any of the group’s rights may cause problems, or if any of the rights
should be amended.
• Play Bill of Rights Power Point Jeopardy, available in the Database of K-12 Resources or by e-mailing
CarolinaK12@unc.edu
Resources
• Bill of Rights Institute: http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org
• Constitution Center: http://www.constitutioncenter.org
• Landmark Supreme Court Cases: http://www.landmarkcases.org/
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The Bill of Rights
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear
arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
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.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported
by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be
seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual
service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public
use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of
the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the
witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury
shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States,
than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others
retained by the people.
Amendment X
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.
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Name: ___________________________ The Bill of Rights
Amendment
Summary of rights protected by this amendment
First
Amendment
Second
Amendment
Third
Amendment
Fourth
Amendment
Fifth
Amendment
Sixth
Amendment
Seventh
Amendment
Eighth
Amendment
Ninth
Amendment
Tenth
Amendment
After completing this worksheet and learning about the first 10 Amendments, which do you think is most important
and why?
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Bill of Rights Scenario Examples
These scenarios may be modified and changed. Teachers are encouraged to create alternate scenes themselves or allow
students to do so. Prior to the activity, have these scenarios printed and cut into slips that can be handed to students.
1
st
Amendment: Freedom of the Press
Role A (President): You are the President of the United States. In an interview with a reporter, the reporter has found out
something illegal that you have done in your personal life. The reporter plans to print it in the paper. When you learn of
this, you set up a private meeting with the report and demand that he/she NOT print the information. You tell him/her
that as President, you WILL find a way to get him/her fired if anything negative is printed about you, whether it is true or
not.
Role B (Reporter): You are a reporter that has been called to the White House for a private meeting with the President.
You have a feeling that this meeting has something to do with some information you are getting ready to print in the next
edition of your paper. This information involves the President doing something illegal. When you meet with the
President, he/she threatens your job if you print the truth. Afraid of being fired, you finally agree that you’ll keep the
information quiet.
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st
Amendment: Freedom of Religion
Role A (Student): You are a student at a new public school. You are Jewish. As the Principal meets with you the first day to
show you around, he/she asks you if you are religious. When you explain that you are Jewish, he/she makes a comment
that you should consider the faith of a Baptist, a better religion. According to him/her, you won’t fit in at your new school
otherwise.
Role B (Principal): You are the Principal of a school. Today you are meeting with a new student. While you are showing
him/her around and chatting, you ask the student if he/she is religious. You feel it is your responsibility to “save all the
souls” of your students, after all. You discover the student is Jewish and you believe this religion is wrong. You tell the
student that he/she should be Baptist like you if he/she really wants to fit in at this school and “go to heaven.”
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nd
Amendment: Right to Bear Arms
Role A (Hunter): You are a hunter and are carrying a rifle in a designated hunting area. A park ranger approaches you and
hassles you about your weapon. You explain that you have a gun permit, your identification, as well as a hunting permit.
You show all of this documentation to him/her. He/she threatens to call the police and have you arrested if you do not
hand over the gun. Out of fear of being thrown in jail, you reluctantly give the ranger your gun, unsure of what you’ve
done wrong.
Role B (Park Ranger): You are a park ranger monitoring a designated hunting area when you come across yet another evil
hunter. You don’t personally believe in killing animals, so you want to do anything you can to get him/her to stop. You ask
to see his/her permits and ID. You are disappointed when he/she shows you all the proper documentation. Even thought
he/she is in a designated area for hunting, you threaten to have him removed and arrested if he/she does not give you his
gun. You believe this is the only way you’ll be able to save all the innocent deer in the area.
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3
rd
Amendment: Quartering of Soldiers
Role A (Soldier): You are traveling home to Fort Bragg having just left Iraq. When your flight is delayed overnight in the
Atlanta airport, you don’t feel like spending money on a hotel. You take a cab to the closest upper-class neighborhood
and knock on the door. When the person answers, you explain that you are a soldier and since you have been fighting for
this country, you expect a nice free bed to sleep in and a home cooked meal. When the person refuses, you get heated
and demand to be let in for a night’s rest. You tell the person that as a soldier of the Untied States Army, it is law that you
are given a place to sleep for free!
Role B (Citizen): You are at your Atlanta home when a soldier knocks on your door. He/she explains that he/she was on
the way home to North Carolina, having served several years in Iraq, when his/her flight was delayed. The soldier explains
that since he/she has been fighting to keep you safe and secure, you owe him/her a free place to sleep for the night and a
home cooked meal. When you refuse, he/she gets angry and says you are required to do so by law. This makes you
nervous – you don’t want to end up in jail or Guantanamo Bay for breaking military law, so you let him/her in.
4
th
Amendment: Searches and Seizures
Role A (Citizen): You are at home when there is a knock on your door. A police officer is at the door and says he/she
wants to search your home because it is suspected that your brother stole some things. You do not want to let the officer
in, and you say tell the officer that you are sure your brother hasn’t done anything wrong. The officer tells you that he/she
can come in regardless of what you say, since he/she is an officer of the law. He/she says it will be better for your brother
this way. While you are thinking about it, the police officer pushes past you and begins to search your home. You don’t
know what to do, so you sit on the sofa frustrated.
Role B (Policeman): You are a police officer and show up to a house where you think a thief has hidden some stolen
goods. You are just taking a guess that this might be where the goods are, since this is the home of the alleged thief’s
sibling. You don’t feel you have time to get a warrant. This criminal has eluded you several times, and this time you are
going to catch him, regardless of what it takes. You knock on the door and when a person answers, you demand to be let
in. You intimidate the homeowner to the point that when his/her guard is down, you push past him/her into the home to
search it. You are the LAW, after all – you can do what you want!
4
th
Amendment: Searches and Seizures
Role A (Judge): You are a judge, and your best friend since elementary school who is a detective appears before you
asking for a warrant to search his/her ex-fiancés home. You know that the ex-fiancé hasn’t done anything wrong legally,
but the ex-fiancé broke off the engagement with your best friend, a terrible thing to do. You know your friend really
wants a reason to get in there and snoop around, so you approve the warrant.
Role B (Detective): You are a detective and your fiancé recently called off your wedding. Having heard that he/she is
seeing someone else, you really want to go into his/her home and snoop around a little. But, you don’t want to go into
his/her house without a warrant, because that would be breaking and entering and you could get into a lot of trouble.
You have a friend who is a judge, so you go to him/ her and ask for a warrant to search for “stolen goods.” Since you and
the judge have been friends since elementary school, you get the warrant.
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5
th
Amendment: Rights of Those Accused
Role A (Police Officer): You are interrogating a detainee accused of kidnapping. You feel the person did the crime. You
can see the guilt in his/her eyes and you don’t want to waste any time with a long, drawn out investigation. You hand the
accused a typed confession and tell him/her if they want to make things easy they should sign the confession. You could
care less that the person doesn’t seem to be able to read…what they don’t know can only help you get a conviction.
Role B (Accused Citizen): You have been arrested for kidnapping, but you don’t understand what is going on. The police
officer who arrested you didn’t say anything during the arrest. Now, you are being interrogated by yourself and the officer
is telling you if you want to get out of trouble that you have to sign a piece of paper. You are scared and worried. You
aren’t a great reader and you can’t understand what the piece of paper says. You don’t want to make the officer mad, so
out of fear and confusion, you sign the paper thinking that compliance is the best way to show that you are innocent. All
you want to do is be able to go home.
5
th
Amendment: Double Jeopardy
Role A (accused): You are home watching TV when there is a knock on your door. There is a police officer who asks if you
are <<insert your name>>. When you say that you are, he/she says that you are under arrest for the murder of Jack
Jeffries. You tell him/her that he/she must be mistaken, because you were tried and acquitted of that exact crime last
year. You try to explain that a jury already found you innocent of the murder of Jack Jeffries. He/she tells you that the DA
believes the jury made a bad decision that you need to be put on trial again, with a more competent jury that can see you
for who you really are...a murderer.
Role B (police officer): You have been given an arrest warrant for <<insert your partner’s name>>, who is accused of the
murder of Jack Jeffries. You remember that he/she stood trial last year for this same murder - it was all over the papers
and the accused was acquitted by a jury. However, the DA has told you that he/she thinks the decision the jury made was
ridiculous, so the DA has decided to try the accused again with “smarter” jury members. You go to the person’s house,
knock on the door, and ask “Are you <<insert name>>?” When the person says yes, you arrest him/her for the murder of
Jack Jeffries. When the person protests you explain that the DA is going to make sure a guilty verdict is handed down this
time. You read him/her their Miranda Rights and head to the police station.
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th
Amendment: Right to a speedy trial
Role A (Inmate): You are waiting in jail for a trial. You do not know why you are on trial, and you are very angry because
you have been waiting for 7 months in jail! You beg the guard to tell you why you are on trial, and also beg him/her to
speed up the process. Seven months is too long to sit in a cell, especially when you are clueless as to why!
Role B (Guard): You are a jail guard. One of your inmates is really getting on your nerves. He/she keeps begging you to tell
him/her why they are in jail. You figure, tough luck…the crook should know what they did already. The inmate also keeps
complaining about having been in jail seven months waiting on a trial. You tell him/her it serves them right!
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7
th
Amendment: Civil Suits
Role A (Home owner): You are attending a court hearing based on a suit you are filing against your neighbor due to
trouble you are having over his/her dog. Recently, you left your garage door open and came home to find many of your
belongings, which were stored inside, chewed up and ruined by the mutt. The damage is around $3,000. You explain all
of this to the judge and request a civil trial by jury. You feel that a jury will be sympathetic to your frustration with your
neighbor, will understand it was your neighbor’s dog that ruined your property, and will thus rule that your neighbor must
pay for the damages.
Role B (Judge): You are a judge presiding over a civil suit in which a person is suing his/her neighbor for $3,000. The
homeowner has explained to you that his/her garage was vandalized…by a dog. In listening to the homeowner, you
realize he/she does not want to allow you to rule on this case. He/she is requesting a trial by jury. You feel there is
nothing for a jury to decide and that a jury will only prolong what could be a quick trial. You tell the homeowner that you
refuse to allow this civil case to go in front of a jury and that you will be presiding over the case yourself.
8
th
Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Role A (Convicted Felon): You are attending your sentencing hearing in court. When the judge asks you to rise and
recounts your crimes, he/she sentences you to death by starvation. You yell that this is unfair, but the judge does not
relent.
Role B (Judge): You are a judge and you are responsible for convicting a criminal that you think should really suffer for
what he/she has done. Thus, you sentence him/her to death by starvation.
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th
Amendment: Other Rights (i.e. right to privacy)
Role A (construction job applicant): You are applying for a construction job. At the interview, the manager explains that
he/she is interested in hiring you, but worries you can handle the heavy lifting and strenuous work that goes along with
the job. He/she explains they only want to hire the healthiest of people. You say that you are healthy and that you can
certainly handle any physical requirements of the job. Later, after the interview, you learn that the construction company
somehow gained access to your medical records and refuse to hire you due to a back injury you had four years ago.
Role B (construction manager): You are interviewing a person for a job in your construction company. The interview goes
well, but the last person you hired was a wimp and ended up throwing out his back on the job and costing the company
time and money. You explain to him/her that anyone hired must be in top notch health since the job is very physically
strenuous. He/she assures you that they can handle whatever you throw at them. However, you aren’t taking any
chances. When the applicant leaves, you call your friend at the local hospital and ask him to check out the applicant’s
medical records. He tells you that the applicant threw out his/her back four years ago. You decide not to hire him/her
because of this.
Tenth Amendment: Reserved Powers
Role A (President): As President of the United States of America, you have decided to use your power to eradicate one of
your biggest pet peeves…second hand smoke. You meet with your Vice President and explain to him/her that cigarette
smoke drives you crazy and that you think it is a bad habit for any American to have. You tell him/her that the national
government is going to make all bars and restaurants across America smoke free effective immediately. The Vice
President, as always, agrees with everything you say and says that as the President, you can tell the states to do anything
you choose.
Role B (Vice President): The President calls you in for a meeting regarding his/her annoyance with cigarette smoking in
America. He/she tells you that the national government should immediately mandate that all bars and restaurants
immediately become smoke free. You want to stay on the Presidents good side, so as always you tell him/her that you
completely agree.
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Name: _______________________
Bill of Rights Scenarios
Directions: Read the following hypothetical situations and decide whether each one contains a violation of the
Bill of Rights. For each, circle violation or no violation and then write the number of the amendment and the
appropriate phrases from the amendment that relate to the situation.
1. A 20 year old college student starts his own newspaper, which often prints articles making fun of the local
mayor. The mayor is angry and gets his aides to take the papers off the stand before they can be distributed.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
2. A woman is being tried for murder. The prosecuting attorney forces her to take the stand and testify.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
3. A student wears a button to school urging people to vote for a certain candidate for President of the United
States. Some other students don't like the candidate and ask the principal to force the student to take off the
button. The principle refuses to tell the student to remove the button.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
4. A dentist is being sued for $500,000. He wants a jury to hear the case but the judge refuses his request.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
5. A young woman is being tried for treason. She is accused of selling plans for building a nuclear weapon to
Iran. The judge believes it would be dangerous to let the public hear her ideas. He refuses to allow anyone to
view the trial.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
6. A group of teenagers gather quietly on a street corner. Neighbors complain and ask the police to arrest
them for getting together as a group. The police refuse.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
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7. A town needs more land to build a new elementary school. A woman's property is needed but she wants to
keep it. The town forces her to sell and gives her twice the property's actual value. She sues to get her land
back.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
8. The government tries a man for murder and loses the case. A jury says he is innocent. The district attorney
who prosecuted the case is mad and promises to keep trying him until they get a jury to convict him. The
defendant thinks this is unfair.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
9. The Postmaster General of the United States has a cross and a nativity scene installed at all Post Offices
throughout the country during Christmas time. Government funds are being used to purchase the cross and
nativity scene. The mayor of a predominantly Jewish town demands that the cross and nativity scene be
removed from her town.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
10. A man living on a quiet residential street erects a giant billboard on his front lawn. The billboard has neon
lights advertising a new breakfast cereal that the man invented. The city has zoning laws against this type of
sign in a residential neighborhood and demands that it be removed.
Violation
No
violation
Amendment support:
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Rights Hypothetical’s ANSWER KEY
1. IS a violation of the student’s First Amendment right to free press.
2. IS a violation of the woman’s Fifth Amendment right protecting herself from self-
incrimination.
3. IS NOT a violation. The principal behaved in a constitutional manner by refusing to violate the
student’s First Amendment right of speech (wearing a political button is considered political
speech protected by the First Amendment). If the principal believed the button could cause a
riot or seriously disrupt the school, the principal could prevent the student from wearing the
button.
4. IS a violation. The seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial if requested in civil
cases where the value in controversy exceeds $20.00.
5. IS a violation. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a public trial.
6. IS NOT a violation. The police were upholding the teenagers First Amendment right to
assemble when they refused to arrest the teenagers for standing on the street corner.
However, if the group was blocking access to a store or house, police have the right to remove
them.
7. IS NOT a violation. The fifth Amendment allows the government to take private property for
public use, as long as the owner receives a fair price (called compensation of property).
8. IS a violation. The Fifth Amendment prohibits a person from being tried twice for the same
crime.
9. IS a violation of the First Amendment which forbids the government from establishing a
religion.
10. IS NOT a violation of the First Amendment. This type of zoning law is constitutional. Local
governments have the right to enact reasonable zoning ordinances.
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Bill of Rights Socratic Seminar
Possible Opening Questions:
• Think of a time when you believe that one of your rights was violated. How did you feel?
• What word or phrase comes to mind when you hear the word “rights”?
• If you could write a “Bill of Rights” for students, name one right that you would include.
Possible Core Questions:
• Which of the amendments in the Bill of Rights do you consider the most important and why?
Which amendment do you feel is least important and why?
• What changes should be made to the Bill of Rights? If you could add another amendment, what
would it be and why?
• Why do you think certain Founding Fathers insisted on a Bill of Rights when the first Constitution
was created? Infer why these particular amendments were chosen by them.
• Let’s focus on the First Amendment (have a student read it). Are there times when you feel you
do not have these freedoms granted by the First Amendment? Explain.
• Evaluate our current society in upholding the Bill of Rights. Do you feel most people are treated
fairly and able to exercise their rights? In what ways are people’s rights sometimes violated and
why? What paths of recourse do we have when our rights are violated?
• (Gather current event topics involving the violation or upholding of the Bill of Rights and create
relevant questions to connect).
*Evaluate the Patriot Act. How does it violate or protect our rights?
*Should the Bill of Rights apply to prisoners of war? Why/why not? (connect to events at Abu
Ghraib Prison)
Possible Closing Questions:
• How is the Bill of Rights important or applicable to you as an individual?
• What responsibilities do we have as citizens to ensure our rights are upheld?
