Chapter 10: Bill of Rights

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Chapter 10 Bill of Rights

• Pgs. 131 - 141

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Creation of the Bill of Rights

• 1789 George Washington became first president
• John Adams was VP
• People entitled to make amendments against
  government
• James Madison in charge of amendment process
• ¾s of the states must ratify an amendment for it
  to become law

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First Amendment

• Freedom of religion, speech, of the press, to
  assemble, and the right to petition the
  government.
• Basic freedoms, most important
• If rights are violated, challenge in court

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Right to Worship Freely

• Government cannot make any faith the official
  religion of the US
• Lemon v. Kurtzman public tax money paid for
  books and teachers in private school,
  unconstitutional because close connection b/w
  government and religion
• Can believe or not believe in religion without
  fear of punishment within reason

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Right to Free Speech and Press

• Freedom of expression
• Best protection against abuse of government power
• Speech not unlimited, speech cannot endanger
  public safety
• Texas v. Johnson Texas man burned American flag
  in protest, Supreme court overturned decision
  because cannot ban expression because someone
  disagrees

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Right to Assemble and Petition

• Can use public property for meetings and
  demonstrations (peaceful)
• Gregory v. Chicago comedian protest to mayors
  home, residents became out of hand, asked
  marchers to leave, didnt and were arrested
• No conviction, marchers were peaceful

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Questions

• Who was the first president? Who was his vice
  president?
• How many states are needed to ratify an amendment
  to become law?
• What are the first amendments called?
• What is the first amendment?
• What happened in the following cases
• Texas v. Johnson?
• Lemon v. Kurtzman?
• Gregory v. Chicago?