The Constitution ~ Lesson 5 Bill of Rights

After the Constitution was passed, many people wanted the rights of Americans spelled out more clearly than they were in the Constitution. To do this, Congress passed amendments (changes) to the constitution. The first ten amendments were passed in 1791. They are called the Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights

1	Speech, religion, assembly, press
2	Right to bear arms
3	Quartering of soldiers
4	Unlawful search and seizure
5	Habeas Corpus, due process
6	Speedy trial, representation
7	Trial by jury in federal court
8	Reasonable bail Protection from cruel and unusual punishment
9	All individual rights may not be listed
10	Powers not specifically given to the Federal government are reserved to the states or individual

How the Constitution is Amended

2/3 of each House of Congress

2/3 of all state legislatures or conventions

3/4 of all states (38) needed to ratify

becomes an amendment to the Constitution

Go to the online quiz for Lesson 5.