The U.S. Bill of Rights Made Easy!

1. The U.S. Bill of RightsMade Easy! By Amanda Martin

2. Why Do I Need to Know This? Most people can agree that the U.S. Constitution is… lengthy & boring.

3. But what you may not have considered… AFTER high school… YOU will be on your own, making decisions that could affect your future (+positively+) OR (–negatively-)

4. AM I BEING LEGAL? • Understanding the freedoms and rights given to you in the Bill of Rights, will provide you with the confidence in the decisions you make. Your actions within these groups can affect your future. So you’ll want to know if what you’re doing is legal right?

5. Getting Involved In Society • Many students get involved in clubs, organizations, or Greek life once in college. • In these clubs you could: • stand up for something you support in a public format. • Petitionthe government

6. In Your Nearing Future… • If you join a fraternity or sorority: • 1. You will be attending chapter and assemblies to support your house. • 2. Some houses are religiously based • 3. Some houses allow alcohol consumption Jewish House Party House

7. Okay, Let’s Get Started Already. NOWyou understand why and how the U.S. Constitution applies to you. Read a little bit and take the quiz at the end to see how much you learned. It’ll be easy, trust me! You won’t even notice how much you have learned!

8. So… What Should You Do? • Read the slides explaining the amendments. • Don’t sigh! It’s worth it. • You’ll definitely ace the exam after this activity(: • Click on the button that says “Layman’s Terms” after you have read the actual definition of the amendment – this will explain the amendment in an easier fashion so you can understand.

9. Quick fact: Layman’s Terms • comes from the word laity • which means a non clergy man. So, it’s a term for people who are non experts in the field of terminology. Cool, huh? Yeah I'm full of that kind of stuff 

10. Amendment I

11. Layman’s Terms I • Freedom to: • Speak your mind publicly • Practice your preferred religion, any type! • From being forced to practice a religion • Assemble with a crowd peacefully • Petition the Government • From the Press

12. Applying to your life • You wanna tell people about your religion? • You can stand on a box in the middle of New York City ( or anywhere in America) and proclaim your beliefs if you want… • Because the 1st Amendment allows you to practice your own religion and speak publicly… • But what if you’re the average Joe walking by this religious proclamation? You can just walk away, no worries. America says you can do what you want!

13. Applying to your life (cont) • Also!! • Upset about the lack of funding towards your favorite cause? OR the restrictions for you to meet with your organization, because the county doesn’t support you? • Well! the 1st Amendment says you can assemble peacefully and if you feel like this right isn’t being provided, you can write your congressman and tell him to fix the problem! • This is your way of petitioning the government peacefully.

14. Amendment II

15. Layman’s Terms II • Freedom to: Bear and own arms You can carry a gun on your person and/or in your home.

16. Applying to Your Life • Don’t want to feel unprotected from the criminals that may happen to strike at random? • You can get a weapons permit, if you have a clean criminal record! • Yet another provision by the United States! • Fun Fact: While this may be a debatable amendment, the majority of Americans supportfirearm ownership.

17. Amendment III

18. Layman’s Terms III • Freedom from: Being forced to house soldiers in wartime

19. Applying to your life • Could you imagine a soldier walking up to your house expecting lodging, hygiene care and food during a time of war? • UHM! … yeah, that all ended AFTER the American Revolutionary War in 1780. Housing Soldiers poses way too many threats to innocent Americans, especially if the enemy finds the homes that are holding soldiers. We are lucky, foreign countries still allow soldiers to take advantage of civilians homes.

20. Amendment IV

21. Layman’s Terms IV • Freedom from: Officials - searching your property without a warrant allowing them the ability. Officials - actually taking your property without a warrant allowing them the ability.

22. Applying to Your Life • Imagine this: • Your name was John Smith and cops wandered to every house whose name fell under John Smith in the phonebook? • When they got to these homes, they just tore through every John’s clothes in search for a weapon or illicit drugs? • Not fair, what if John Smith were 99 years old and immobile?

23. Well: the 4th Amendment provides: - Americans with the freedom from this injustice. • Instead: any government official has to prove that their search is necessary with the judicial branch. • Fun Fact: this is all a part of Checks and Balances

24. Amendment V

25. Layman’s Terms V • Freedom From: Being tried twice for the same crime • Freedom To: Get an attorney for free Remain Silent when you get arrested

26. Applying To Your Life • Okay, if you’ve gotten to this legal point in life… you’re kind of in the “danger zone.” • It’s important to know that you can hire a free attorney if you are being accused of a crime, the government will provide one for you! IF the court rules you not guilty for a crime, they cannot find more evidence and try to accuse you again later. - Once you’ve been tried and found guilty or not guilty. That’s the final ruling. • ALSO, when A cop reads you your Miranda Rights, you have the right not to testify against yourself!

27. Amendment VI

28. Layman’s Terms VI • Freedom of: • Trial By Jury

29. Applying to Your Life • If you are being accused of murder, you have the right to an attorney and a jury to decide the position of your guilt.

30. Amendment VII

31. Layman’s Terms VII • This one is … simply weird… • but it happens and if you are involved in a federal civil case involving more than $20 bucks… you have the right to trial by jury • Helpful Hint: • Amendment VI guarantees trial by jury AND • Amendment VII is the $20 right … try to remember it that way!

32. Applying to Real Life • This basically means: if you steal a French fry of your friend’s plate, you won’t be tried with the death penalty.

33. Amendment VIII

34. Laymen’s Terms VIII • This basically means: IFyou steal a French fry of your friend’s plate, you won’t be tried with the death penalty !!! You ALSO won’t be charged $1,000 for that potato wedge 

35. Amendments IX

36. Layman’s Terms This is the Bill of Rights …. not the ONLY rights that the Unites States provides.

37. Applying to your Life • A cop cannot beat you with his night stick for a simple seat belt violation without probably cause. • These are considered laws… not JUST rights. The amendments are only changes to the Constitution that is full of all sorts of rights and laws that make you a free American.

38. Amendment X

39. Layman’s Terms There are rights specific to the Federal government The other rights are to be delegated at the state level

40. Applying to Your Life • ZBT is a new fraternity to Purdue. This requires them to communicate with other schools and states that support the fraternity. This is influenced by state governments not the federal government.

41. QUIZ TIME! • You will be given an example of a real life scenario. • Then, you need to pick the answer that you think matches the best with the scenario. • You need to score a 100% before I will let you take the exam.

42. GOOD LUCK!

43. Can I carry a gun in my backpack? • A. Yes, only if the President says so. • B. Nope, never. • C. Yes, if you receive a gun permit.

44. I want to make a speech in public about Jewish Fraternities, will people throw things at me? • A. Duh. You can’t force your religion on society. • B. Yes, Amendment I provides the freedom of speech. • C. Yes, Amendment IV provides the freedom of speech.

45. So, the Bill of Rights are my only rights? • A. You don’t have any rights! • B. No, the Constitution informs you about all your rights. • C. Yes, that is why it’s called the Bill of Rights.

46. What else are the Bill of Rights considered? • A. Laws • B. Problems • C. A hefty bill that the government is still paying for with taxes

47. I want an attorney! Do I have to sell my house to pay for one? • A. Yes, they are really expensive • B. The government provides them, if you ask for one • C. You can get an attorney with a loan if you have good credit history

48. Where’s my jury? • A. You can’t get a jury unless you pay. • B. In the bathroom • C. Amendment VI

49. I just got fined with a court summons for shoplifting! • A. Good, stop stealing things! • B. Amendment VIII • C. Amendment I

50. I stole a five dollar pair of earrings, do I get a jury? • A. If you ask for one. • B. Yes, you stole the allowed amount to get tried in front of a jury. • C. It has to be over $20 dollars worth of merchandise.