Bill of Rights Quiz

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. They were passed in 1789 and ratified in 1791.

The Bill of Rights protects American civil rights. These amendments outline which rights may not be restricted by government. Advocates of limited government supported the Bill of Rights as a measure to prevent tyranny.

The First Amendment declares that the government may not pass or enforce laws that limit the freedom of a citizen to practice religion, speak, assemble, or petition the government.

The establishment clause prohibits the federal government from creating or supporting a national religion. Along with the Free Exercise Clause that follows, the Establishment Clause enshrines the principle of "separation of church and state" in the United States.

Freedom of speech has been interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court to apply to many modes of communication, including art, music, recordings, clothing, signs, and broadcasts. Individuals, however, can be prosecuted for such forms of malicious speech as plagiarism, inciting violence, libel, slander, and some kinds of obscenities.

A free press is crucial to a democracy because it provides citizens access to what their government is actually doing. Without this open reporting, citizens would have a difficult time holding their representatives accountable. Government-controlled media can be used to create and spread misinformation and propaganda.

The freedom of assembly allows Americans to create, join, and/or participate in groups without fear of being legally prosecuted for doing so. These actions can be regulated by the government (e.g., granting permits), but they cannot be banned outright.

The freedom to petition allows Americans to write government officials and institutions without fear of legal reprisal. It does not matter how many people come forward or in what format the writing is presented.

While the First Amendment allows for the freedom of speech, should that speech be both false and purposefully targeting a person’s reputation, it is called slander. Slander is not a constitutionally protected form of speech.

The Second Amendment states, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The extent of these protections generates much political debate, and the Supreme Court has made many rulings to clarify the scope of gun rights in the United States.

The Third Amendment prohibits the government from lodging soldiers into someone’s residence without permission. The British government used this method of quartering during their colonial rule.

The Fourth Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures by requiring a judicially sanctioned warrant that is supported by probable cause. The search warrant must specify the place to be searched and the things to be seized. Exceptions are made for obtaining evidence that is in plain sight and collecting evidence that is found during a consented (as opposed to warranted) search.

The Fifth Amendment protects against double jeopardy, i.e., being tried twice for the same offense. It also protects people from self-incrimination, provides for due process, and requires the government to pay for any private property it seizes.

Eminent domain seizures are legal, but the government is constitutionally obligated to provide the owner “just compensation” — interpreted as the market value of the property.

The Sixth Amendment guarantees speedy, public, and fair trials for the accused. This includes the right to a trial by jury, the right to legal representation, the right of the accused to face their accusers, and the right to call witnesses in defense.

The Eighth Amendment prohibits the use of “cruel and unusual punishment.” This means the sentence should match the severity of the crime; e.g., an unpaid speeding ticket should not result in a 30-year prison sentence.

The Bill of Rights was written to address Anti-Federalist objections to the Constitution. It did this by providing specific guarantees of personal freedoms and rights, while placing clear limitations on the government's power. However, the Federalists were concerned that by listing out these specific rights, there may be an implication that any unlisted rights belong to the federal government. The Ninth Amendment was written to address these concerns, declaring that the listing of certain rights in the Constitution will not revoke or degrade other rights retained by the people.

Nowhere is the Founders’ intent to empower the American people more clearly spelled out than in the Tenth Amendment. This amendment states that unless a power is explicitly granted to the federal government or prohibited by the Constitution, it is reserved to the States, or the people.