The Bill of Rights: match each amendment to the right it protects

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Barron v. Baltimore

   Who made it: Cornell's Legal Information Institute, summarizing a Supreme Court opinion. When: the opinion was issued in 1833; this summary is today. Where: Washington, DC and Ithaca, New York. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain what the Court decided. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In 1833 Chief Justice John Marshall wrote that the Fifth Amendment's takings clause restricts only the federal government, not state governments. The Court dismissed the case because it had no jurisdiction. Source card "Applying the Bill of Rights to the states". Who made it: Cornell's Legal Information Institute (Wex). When: today. Where: Ithaca, New York. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a legal idea. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Before the Fourteenth Amendment, the Bill of Rights limited only the federal government, as in Barron v. Baltimore (1833). The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868. The Supreme Court later applied parts of the Bill of Rights to the states through its Due Process Clause, selectively and one right at a time. One early example, in 1897, applied the Fifth Amendment's rule on paying for property taken.

2. 1.

   Ari traces how the Bill of Rights came to reach state governments. Which account is the most accurate?

   • Congress voted to extend the Bill of Rights to the states soon after Barron in 1833
   • Barron limited it to the federal government; later courts applied rights to states
   • The Fourteenth Amendment came first, and Barron then limited the states
   • The Fourteenth Amendment applied the whole Bill of Rights to the states on the day it passed

3. How the Bill of Rights began

   Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a founding document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Congress passed a joint resolution on September 25, 1789 that proposed twelve amendments. The first ten, ratified by the states in 1791, became the Bill of Rights. The Constitution might never have been ratified without the framers' promise to add a Bill of Rights. State conventions had asked for added clauses to prevent misconstruction or abuse of the new government's powers, and such clauses would extend public confidence in the government.

4. 2.

   Bo asks why some state conventions wanted added clauses. Which explanation does the card best support?

   • The conventions wanted the Constitution rewritten from the start
   • Added clauses would let states withdraw from the Constitution if they chose
   • Added clauses would guard against abuse, with no effect on public confidence
   • Added clauses would guard against abuse of power and build public confidence

5. First Amendment (part)

   Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, First Amendment (1791), speech, press, assembly and petition; as printed in 1840, p. 15): "Congress shall make no law… 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."

6. 3.

   Jun reads about a town that bans handing out leaflets near a polling place on election day. A resident cites the First Amendment. Which reasoning is soundest?

   • Speech rights win automatically in any place at any time, whatever the town's reason
   • The First Amendment does not apply to printed leaflets
   • Speech rights end whenever a town gives a reason for the rule
   • Speech is protected, but a court weighs the right against the town's reasons

7. Fourth Amendment

   Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, Fourth Amendment (1791); as printed in 1840, p. 15): "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."

8. 4.

   Kira reads about officers who hear a cry for help inside a house and enter without a warrant. The resident cites the Fourth Amendment. What would a court ask?

   • Did the officers pay the resident for the door?
   • Did the Third Amendment allow soldiers to enter?
   • Was the entry reasonable under the circumstances?
   • Did the officers have a warrant? If not, the search fails

9. How the Bill of Rights began

   Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a founding document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Congress passed a joint resolution on September 25, 1789 that proposed twelve amendments. The first ten, ratified by the states in 1791, became the Bill of Rights. The Constitution might never have been ratified without the framers' promise to add a Bill of Rights. State conventions had asked for added clauses to prevent misconstruction or abuse of the new government's powers, and such clauses would extend public confidence in the government.

10. 5.

    Luz wants to know how people understood the Bill of Rights in 1791. Which evidence is best?

    • A map of the thirteen states
    • The National Archives card alone
    • Letters, debates and newspapers written in 1789 to 1791
    • A modern textbook summary of the amendments and what they mean today

11. Fourth Amendment

    Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, Fourth Amendment (1791); as printed in 1840, p. 15): "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."

12. 6.

    Milo knows courts sometimes apply old words to new things. Which question does that with the Fourth Amendment?

    • Does the Third Amendment allow soldiers in a home?
    • Did the First Congress meet in New York when it proposed the amendments?
    • Do the "papers" and "effects" it protects include data on a phone?
    • Did people in 1791 carry money in their pockets?

13. Tenth Amendment (part)

    Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, Tenth Amendment (1791), closing phrase; National Archives transcript): "…are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

14. 7.

    A student claims, "Amendment X lets states ignore the Constitution." Pia checks the text. What is the best response?

    • X reserves powers neither delegated to the US nor barred to states, so it cannot override the Constitution
    • X lets Congress ignore state constitutions
    • X lets states ignore any federal law they dislike, because states keep the leftover powers
    • X says states may add amendments without the people

15. Fourth Amendment

    Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, Fourth Amendment (1791); as printed in 1840, p. 15): "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."

16. 8.

    Ren reads about an officer who asks for a warrant based on a rumor, with no sworn statement and no place named. Which Fourth Amendment requirements are missing?

    • The oath, since the rumor is probable cause and the place is clear enough
    • A signed note from the officer's supervisor
    • Probable cause, an oath or affirmation, and a description of the place
    • A vote of the court and a notice to the neighbors

17. Fifth Amendment (part)

    Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, Fifth Amendment (1791); as printed in 1840, p. 16): "…nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be put twice in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to be witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law…" Source card "Applying the Bill of Rights to the states". Who made it: Cornell's Legal Information Institute (Wex). When: today. Where: Ithaca, New York. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a legal idea. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Before the Fourteenth Amendment, the Bill of Rights limited only the federal government, as in Barron v. Baltimore (1833). The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868. The Supreme Court later applied parts of the Bill of Rights to the states through its Due Process Clause, selectively and one right at a time. One early example, in 1897, applied the Fifth Amendment's rule on paying for property taken.

18. 9.

    Tala compares two clauses: both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments mention due process. Which pairing is accurate?

    • Both limit the federal government
    • The Fifth's limits the federal government; the Fourteenth's limits the states
    • The Fifth's limits the states; the Fourteenth's limits the federal government
    • Both limit private companies and individuals

19. First Amendment (part)

    Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, First Amendment (1791), speech, press, assembly and petition; as printed in 1840, p. 15): "Congress shall make no law… 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." Source card "Fourth Amendment". Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, Fourth Amendment (1791); as printed in 1840, p. 15): "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." Source card "Eighth Amendment". Who made it: the First Congress of the United States, which proposed the amendments in 1789. When: Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified by the states in 1791. Where: New York City, where Congress met. For whom: the states and the people. Why: to add protections for individual rights to the Constitution. Excerpt (Constitution, Eighth Amendment (1791); as printed in 1840, p. 16): "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

20. 10.

    A student says the Bill of Rights stops private companies from limiting speech. Zee checks the texts. What is the best response?

    • Companies are listed as limited by the Fourth Amendment
    • The Eighth Amendment limits private companies
    • The texts limit what government may do, so they do not govern private companies
    • The First Amendment stops any company from limiting anyone's speech, in any place