The Bill of Rights: match each amendment to the right it protects
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
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."
Bo reads a made-up story: officers have only a hunch that a stolen bike is in a shed. What does the Fourth Amendment require before a warrant issues?
- The officers' strong belief that a search will find something
- A vote by the town council to approve the search
- Probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation
- The consent of the soldiers staying in the house
Third 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, Third Amendment (1791); as printed in 1820, p. 32): "No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
Esme reads the Third Amendment. In peacetime, soldiers want to stay in a family's home. What does the amendment say about that?
- They may stay if the soldiers promise to behave
- They need the owner's consent
- They may stay if the mayor approves
- They may stay in peace or war whenever a law allows it
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."
Jun reads about a judge who sets bail at two million dollars for a first minor offense. Which words of the Eighth Amendment are in question?
- Excessive bail shall not be required
- The right of the people to keep their homes secure
- The right to a speedy and public trial
- Excessive fines shall not be imposed
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…"
Kira reads about a trial where a prosecutor demands that the accused take the stand and admit guilt. Which Fifth Amendment words protect the accused?
- No one may be tried twice for the same offence
- No one may be compelled to be a witness against themselves
- The accused may choose any judge for the trial
- The accused may have the assistance of counsel
Sixth 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, Sixth Amendment (1791), counsel clause; as printed in 1840, p. 16): "…and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence."
Luz reads the Sixth Amendment line on counsel. Which right does it state for a person accused of a crime?
- Protection from unreasonable searches of papers
- A judge who must share the accused's views
- A lawyer's help in the person's defence
- A public trial held within a set number of days
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.
Milo reads the National Archives card. What does it suggest about the promise of a bill of rights?
- It came after the Constitution was already ratified
- It helped win support for ratifying the Constitution
- It was demanded by Britain's government
- It guaranteed the Constitution would be ratified by the states without debate
Ninth 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, Ninth Amendment (1791), closing phrase; National Archives transcript): "…shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." Source card "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."
Noah hears a classmate say, "If a right is not listed, it does not exist." Which line from the cards answers the classmate?
- Amendment IX: the rights it lists are the ones kept by the people
- Amendment X: the Supreme Court decides which rights exist
- Amendment X: powers not given to the United States belong to the states or the people
- Amendment IX: listing some rights does not deny others kept by the people
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.
Pia reads the Barron card. In 1833, did the Fifth Amendment's takings clause limit a city government?
- Yes, the Court said it limited the federal government and the states
- Yes, but for cities larger than the federal capital
- No, the Court said it limited only the federal government
- No, because takings of property were legal in 1833
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 "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.
Tala wants the Fourth Amendment's exact words. Which card should Tala use?
- Either card, since both are about the Bill of Rights
- The Bill of Rights card, because an archive wrote it
- The Fourth Amendment card, a printing of the text
- Neither card, since the text was not written down
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."
Zee reads a made-up story: a town paper prints criticism of the mayor, and the mayor demands it stop. Which First Amendment words protect the paper?
- No mayor may serve more than one term
- No warrants issue but upon probable cause
- No law abridging the freedom of the press
- No law abridging the right peaceably to assemble