Study Guide Chapter 6

Bill of Rights- a list of citizens’ rights

Amendment process – the way in which changes are added to the Constitution

Convention – assembly

Separation of church and state -   the situation in which the government may not favor any religion or establish an official religion

Eminent domain – the power to take private property for public use

Due process of law – a process by which the government must treat accused persons fairly according to rules established by law

Double jeopardy – being place on trial twice for the same crime

Freedom of the press – the right to publish newspapers, magazines, and other materials without government restriction

Freedom of speech – the right express one’s opinions publicly

Case studies – descriptions of situations or conflicts, the issues involved, and the decisions made

Tinker v. Des Moines – Supreme Court case involving the right of students to wear armbands as a form of symbolic speech to protest the Viet Nam War. The court ruled that armbands were a form of “speech” because they were symbols representing ideas.

Skokie v. Illinois – a Supreme Court case involving members of an American Nazi group and the town of Skokie, Illinois. The town of Skokie refused to allow the American Nazi group march in a local park. The Supreme Court ruled that the Nazi’s had the right to march and distribute material expressing hatred because the First Amendment protects the expression of all ideas

Texas v. Johnson – Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag outside of the convention center where the 1984 Republican National Convention was being held in Dallas, Texas. Johnson burned the flag to protest the policies of President Ronald Reagan. He was arrest and charged with violating a Texas law that prevented the desecration of a venerated object, including the American flag. The Court ruled that flag burning is symbolic speech that is protected by the First Amendment.

Marketplace of ideas – a society where all ideas can be expressed

First Amendment – Guarantees freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press; the right to assemble peacefully; and the right to petition the government

Second Amendment – Protects the right to possess firearms

Third Amendment – Declares that the government may not require people to house soldiers during peacetime.

Fourth Amendment – Protects people from unreasonable search and seizures

Fifth Amendment – Guarantees that no one maybe deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

Sixth Amendment – Guarantees the right to a trial by jury

Seventh Amendment – Guarantees the right to a trial by jury in most civil cases

Eighth Amendment – Prohibits excessive bail, fines, and punishments

Ninth Amendment – Declares that rights not mentioned in the Constitution belong to the people

Tenth Amendment – Declares that powers not given to the national government belong to the states or the people.