Let's Understand The Bill of Rights: by Anita Kim Venegas

Name: __________________________________
Let's Understand the Bill of Rights

By Anita Kim Venegas
The Constitution of the United

States was ratified, or approved, by
nine of the thirteen colonies on June
21, 1788. The citizens wanted a list
of personal freedoms added to the
Constitution, but the writers were
unable to come to an agreement in
the summer of 1787. By December
of 1790, all colonies had approved
the Constitution. James Madison
drafted the document based on
Virginia’s Bill of Rights. In December of 1791, the states approved the first ten amendments to
the Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights. Let's learn about the personal freedoms
guaranteed by these ten amendments.
The First Amendment extends freedom to individuals to express their ideas and beliefs
through speech, writing, and practice of religion. In addition, it allows citizens to gather
together with others for a common purpose.
The Second Amendment provides the right to keep and bear arms. Even before the
Revolutionary War, gun ownership was well established. In fact, more citizens owned guns
than books. While the purposes for gun ownership have changed throughout our history, the
Supreme Court defends an individual’s right to own firearms for their own protection. The
debate over the meaning of “keep and bear arms” continues today.
The Third Amendment prevents the government from requiring Americans to shelter
soldiers in their homes during war. Before Americans won the Revolutionary War, Britain
established laws that if British soldiers needed shelter or medical support, Americans would be
forced to offer a room or even their house to enemy soldiers.
The Fourth Amendment requires a warrant before police officers can search your home
Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

or remove any of your property. The warrant must be issued by a judge with reasonable
suspicion of lawbreaking. With a warrant, the police officer has the legal right to enter your
home and seize, or take, personal property that is outlined in the warrant.
The Fifth Amendment allows an individual to stay silent when questioned by an officer
of the court. Citizens accused of a crime have the right to a fair trial in court with a judge or
jury. A person cannot be charged or punished twice for the same crime. For example, for an
individual younger than 18 years of age, the outcome of their trial is final, whether innocent or
guilty. They cannot be charged as an adult for the same crime.
The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments work together to provide rights to a
speedy trial, the right to an attorney to help them with their case, and the right to be
informed of the crime they are accused of. Also, the accused has the right to choose a jury
trial instead of a decision by the judge when there is a dispute between two people. In
addition, people have the right to have their bail set at a reasonable amount of money. The
payment of bail money to the court assures the court that the accused will return to court
when necessary.
The Ninth Amendment provides for additional rights that are not specifically mentioned
in the Constitution. For example, people generally believe they have the right to clean
drinking water. It is your freedom to drink clean water, but this freedom is not mentioned in
the Constitution.
The Tenth Amendment gives power to the individual states to make decisions for their
citizens. Federal laws apply to everyone in every state. State governments decide local laws
about taxes, family matters, and other topics. Sometimes federal laws and state laws will
contradict one another. Depending on the situation, the federal or state law will triumph
over the other.
The Constitution, written in 1787, was the beginning of a new republic. The Bill of Rights
ensures the freedoms our country fought for in the Revolutionary War.
About the Author

Anita Kim Venegas is the author of The Adventures of Peanut and Dutch.

Name: __________________________________

1. Based on the information in the article, what is the Bill of Rights?

a. The Bill of Rights is another name for the U.S. Constitution.
b. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
c. The Bill of Rights is a list of personal freedoms the colonists demanded from Britain.
d. The Bill of Rights is a personal essay written by James Madison.
2. Which amendment to the Constitution protects your right to gather in a group of

people who share the same ideas and values as you?
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which amendment to the Constitution gives authority to the U.S. states?
___________________________________________________________________________________
4. What personal freedom does the Fourth Amendment provide?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
5. What event or circumstance prompted the inclusion of the Third Amendment?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
6. The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments work together to protect the rights of
which group of people?
a. immigrants b. soldiers
c. people accused of a crime d. the poor

Name: __________________________________

Match each vocabulary word from the article with the correct definition.
_______ 1. amendment a. approved or endorsed
_______ 2. guaranteed b. a document that gives

police officers permission to arrest
someone or search their property
_______ 3. ratified c. a lawyer
_______ 4. protection d. the temporary release of someone

accused of a crime before a trial
_______ 5. warrant e. an article added to the U.S.

Constitution
_______ 6. republic f. deny the truth of a statement by

asserting that the opposite is true
_______ 7. attorney g. the provision of safety or defense
_______ 8. dispute h. formally assured
_______ 9. bail i. a government in which the power is

held by the people and their elected
representatives
_______ 10. contradict j. argument or disagreement

Name: __________________________________

In the article, “Let's Understand the Bill of Rights” you learned that the
Bill of Rights was added to the U.S. Constitution in order to guarantee
personal freedoms to citizens of the United States.
Which of the ten amendments you learned about in the article do you
think is the most important? Explain your reasoning.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

ANSWER KEY
1. Based on the information in the article, what is the Bill of Rights? b

a. The Bill of Rights is another name for the U.S. Constitution.
b. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
c. The Bill of Rights is a list of personal freedoms the colonists demanded from Britain.
d. The Bill of Rights is a personal essay written by James Madison.
2. Which amendment to the Constitution protects your right to gather in a group of

people who share the same ideas and values as you?
First Amendment
3. Which amendment to the Constitution gives authority to the U.S. states?
Tenth Amendment
4. What personal freedom does the Fourth Amendment provide?
The Fourth Amendment requires police to obtain a warrant before they enter your
home or seize your property.
5. What event or circumstance prompted the inclusion of the Third Amendment?
American colonists were forced to house British soldiers before they won the
Revolutionary War.
6. The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments work together to protect the rights of
which group of people? c
a. immigrants b. soldiers
c. people accused of a crime d. the poor

ANSWER KEY
Match each vocabulary word from the article with the correct definition.
e 1. amendment a. approved or endorsed
h 2. guaranteed b. a document that gives

police officers permission to arrest
someone or search their property
a 3. ratified c. a lawyer
g 4. protection d. the temporary release of someone

accused of a crime before a trial
b 5. warrant e. an article added to the U.S.

Constitution
i 6. republic f. deny the truth of a statement by

asserting that the opposite is true
c 7. attorney g. the provision of safety or defense
j 8. dispute h. formally assured
d 9. bail i. a government in which the power is

held by the people and their elected
representatives
f 10. contradict j. argument or disagreement

LK

Let's Understand The Bill of Rights: by Anita Kim Venegas

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Let's Understand The Bill of Rights: by Anita Kim Venegas

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Let's Understand The Bill of Rights: by Anita Kim Venegas

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Name: __________________________________

Let's Understand the Bill of Rights

The Constitution of the United

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

About the Author

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

Let's Understand the Bill of Rights

1. Based on the information in the article, what is the Bill of Rights?

2. Which amendment to the Constitution protects your right to gather in a group of

3. Which amendment to the Constitution gives authority to the U.S. states?

4. What personal freedom does the Fourth Amendment provide?

5. What event or circumstance prompted the inclusion of the Third Amendment?

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

Let's Understand the Bill of Rights

_______ 1. amendment a. approved or endorsed

_______ 2. guaranteed b. a document that gives

_______ 3. ratified c. a lawyer

_______ 4. protection d. the temporary release of someone

_______ 5. warrant e. an article added to the U.S.

_______ 6. republic f. deny the truth of a statement by

_______ 7. attorney g. the provision of safety or defense

_______ 8. dispute h. formally assured

_______ 9. bail i. a government in which the power is

_______ 10. contradict j. argument or disagreement

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

Let's Understand the Bill of Rights

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

1. Based on the information in the article, what is the Bill of Rights? b

2. Which amendment to the Constitution protects your right to gather in a group of

3. Which amendment to the Constitution gives authority to the U.S. states?

4. What personal freedom does the Fourth Amendment provide?

5. What event or circumstance prompted the inclusion of the Third Amendment?

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

e 1. amendment a. approved or endorsed

h 2. guaranteed b. a document that gives

g 4. protection d. the temporary release of someone

b 5. warrant e. an article added to the U.S.

i 6. republic f. deny the truth of a statement by

c 7. attorney g. the provision of safety or defense

j 8. dispute h. formally assured

d 9. bail i. a government in which the power is

f 10. contradict j. argument or disagreement

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

You might also like