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• Check in at the front
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Lesson 6

Rights and Amendments

Lesson 5 Quiz Answer Key

1. The judicial branch reviews laws/explains laws/resolves disputes/decides if a law goes against the Constitution.

2. The highest court in the United States is the Supreme Court.

3. There are 9 justices on the Supreme Court.

4. John Roberts is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

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Lesson 5 Quiz Answer Key

5. Independence day is the nation's birthday.

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6. Memorial day celebrates soldiers who have died.

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7. Veterans day celebrates people who have served in the military.

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8. "E pluribus Unum" means we all become one

Amendments to the Constitution

Amending the Constitution

• We change the constitution by making amendments
• For an amendment to be added to the Constitution, it must be voted on by Congress and state legislatures
• There are 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

The Bill of Rights

What is the Bill of Rights?

• The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights
• These amendments were ratified (approved) by ¾ of the state legislatures by 1791, soon after the Constitution was ratified in 1788

History of the Bill of Rights

• Many states were worried that the Constitution did not limit the power of the federal government enough
• This made them hesitant to approve the Constitution
• So, James Madison wrote the Bill of Rights to protect the fundamental rights of the people

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The First Amendment

• The First Amendment prevents government from establishing a national religion
• It also protects freedom of expression, which includes:
• Freedom of religion, which means you can choose to practice any religion or not practice a religion
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of the press
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom to petition the government

The Second Amendment

• The Second Amendment protects the right to “keep and bear arms”
• This means that individuals can own weapons like guns (with certain limitations)

The Third Amendment

• Prohibits the government from forcing civilians to allow soldiers to live in their homes
• Response to British soldiers staying in American homes without their permission during the Revolutionary war
• Now outdated and mostly irrelevant

The Fourth Amendment

• The government can’t arrest or search people, their homes, or their property without a warrant and “probable cause” (a valid reason)
• Interpreted by the courts to protect privacy over many things, like cars, cell phones, digital documents, etc

The Fifth & Sixth Amendments

• These amendments grant certain rights to people who have been accused of crimes
• Some of these include:
• Right to remain silent when questioned by the government
• Right to fair treatment before the government imprisons you, executes you, or takes your property
• Right to be repaid if the government takes your property
• Right to a quick and public trial by an impartial jury
• Right to a lawyer (even if you can’t afford one)

The Seventh & Eighth Amendments

• These also protect rights relating to the legal system
• Seventh Amendment guarantees a jury in federal civil trials
• Eighth Amendment protects people accused or convicted of a crime from:
• Excessive bail
• Excessive fines
• Cruel or unusual punishment

The Ninth & Tenth Amendments

• These amendments addressed the Framers’ concerns that the Constitution would give the federal government too much power to deny the people’s rights
• Ninth Amendment says that people have more rights that have not been specifically listed in the Constitution
• Tenth Amendment says that all powers that don’t specifically belong to the federal government belong to the state governments or the people

Voting Amendments

Voting Rights

• Voting is central to America’s representative democracy
• There are four amendments to the Constitution that have to do with the right to vote
• The voting amendments include the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments

15th Amendment

• The 15th Amendment states that the right to vote can’t be denied based on race
• It granted African Americans the right to vote for the first time
• It was adopted after the Civil War, along with the 13th and 14th Amendments, which freed African Americans from slavery and granted them citizenship

19th Amendment

• The 19th Amendment states that the right to vote can’t be denied based on sex
• It was adopted in 1920, as a result of the women’s suffrage movement that began in the 1820s
• Leaders of the women's rights movement in the 1800's included
• Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone

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24th Amendment

• The 24th Amendment prohibits poll taxes (taxes that must be paid in order to vote)
• Poll taxes were designed to make it difficult for African Americans to vote, especially in the South
• Poll taxes also prevented poor citizens of all races from voting

26th Amendment

• The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
• It was adopted in 1971 during the Vietnam War
• It was proposed because men as young as 18 were being drafted to fight in the war but did not have the power to vote for or against the war
• “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote” became a common slogan

Voting Rights Amendments Summary

Pick one:

• Citizens of any race can vote.
• Any citizen can vote (Women and men can vote).
• You don’t have to pay to vote.
• Citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote.

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Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement (1960s-70s)

• The Civil Rights Movement fought to end racial discrimination
• A leader in the Civil Rights Movement was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• He fought for civil rights/worked for equality for all Americans, and worked to ensure that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character"
• of their character”
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Quiz

What is an amendment?

• a change (to the Constitution)
• an addition (to the Constitution)

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

• twenty-seven (27)

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

• the Bill of Rights

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of press
• Right to assembly
• Right to petition the government

What is freedom of religion?

• You can practice or not practice any religion

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

• 15th Amendment: citizens of any race can vote
• 19th Amendment: citizens of any gender can vote
• 24th Amendment: citizens don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote
• 26th Amendment: citizens 18 and older can vote

What did Susan B. Anthony do?

• fought for women’s rights
• fought for civil rights

What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

• civil rights (movement)

What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?

• fought for civil rights
• worked for equality for all Americans

Rights of U.S. Citizens and Residents

Rights of Everyone in the United States

• Some rights belong to everyone living in the US, regardless of their citizenship status, such as:
• Freedom of expression, which includes:
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of the press
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom to petition the government
• Freedom of religion
• The right to bear arms

Rights and Responsibilities of United States Citizens

• Some rights belong only to U.S. citizens, like
• Voting in federal elections
• Running for federal office
• Some responsibilities also belong only to U.S. citizens, like
• Voting in federal elections
• Serving on juries

How can Americans participate in democracy?

Voting

• When you become a citizen, you can participate in democracy by voting
• This is a powerful way to influence who represents you in government
• Voting also allows you to hold elected officials accountable

Serving on a Jury

• As a citizen, you may be asked to serve on a jury
• If you’re unavailable, you can request to be dismissed, but otherwise, it is your responsibility to serve
• As a member of a jury, you will listen to a trial and make a fair decision about the outcome of a criminal or civil case

Running for Office

• As a citizen, you will have the right to run for office
• You can run for local, state or federal government
• However, only people born in the U.S. can run for president

Civic Participation

• In addition to voting, serving on a jury, and running for office, you can also participate by:
• Joining a political party
• Helping with a political campaign
• Joining a civic group
• Joining a community group
• Giving an elected official your opinion on an issue
• Calling your Senators and Representatives
• Publicly supporting or opposing an issue or policy
• Writing to a newspaper

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Political Parties

• A political party is a group of people who share similar political views
• Two main political parties in the U.S. are the Democrats and the Republicans
• Smaller parties include the Libertarians and the Green Party
• If you are in a party, you can participate in primary elections

Promises United States Citizens Make

• Give up loyalty to other countries
• Defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
• Obey the laws of the United States
• Serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
• Serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
• Be loyal to the United States

When you become a U.S. citizen, you have to make some promises to the government:

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Quiz

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom to petition the government
• Freedom of religion
• Right to bear arms

Name one right only for United States citizens.

• Vote in a federal election
• Run for federal office

What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

• Serve on a jury
• Vote in a federal election

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

• Vote
• Run for office
• Serve on a jury
• Join a political party
• Help with a campaign
• Join a civic group
• Join a community group

• Give an elected official your opinion on an issue
• Call Senators and Representatives
• Publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
• Write to a newspaper

Questions/Preguntas

Leccion #6 - 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 45, 48, 49, 50, 51, 54, 55, 77, 84, 85

What are the two major political parties in the United States?

• Democratic and Republican

CitizenTIP: Know your rights

Why should I know my rights?

The purpose of the United States government should be to protect your rights. Citizens must be aware of these rights so that they can hold the government responsible for making sure they are protected. This is part of the social contract: The government protects our rights in exchange for us giving it power.

Where do my rights come from?

• The U.S. Constitution (1787)
• The Original Constitution
• The Bill of Rights
• The Amendments
• The Oregon Constitution (1857)
• Protects your rights from infringement by the state government
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
• Not strictly enforceable
• Created by the United Nations to establish an expectation of governments honoring their citizens’ fundamental human rights
• Many rights found in these documents apply to all persons, not just citizens

Helpful Organizations

• The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) supports civil rights activism both in protest form and in the courtroom. Click Here for their information about your civil rights involving being questioned about your immigration status.
• Basic Rights Oregon is a member of the Equality Federation with a primary focus on bringing equality to the LGBTQ+ community.
• The Community Alliance of Tenants educates, advocates for, and empowers tenants to hold their landlords responsible for providing safe, affordable, and comfortable housing.
• Legal Aid Services of Oregon is a nonprofit that provides free legal help to protect the lives, property, and rights of families and individuals with lower incomes.

Discussion Question

What are you most excited for about being a U.S. citizen?

Any questions?