Bill of Rights Scavenger Hunt

Bill of Rights Scavenger Hunt Directions: For each of the following scenarios, decide whether the action is protected by the Constitution or not. Provide the Amendment that the scenario refers to, and cite the specific text of the Amendment that supports or disputes the action. 1. A group of college students create a website with detailed instructions about how to create a homemade explosive. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 1 – Freedom of Speech c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…” 2. Americans must be at least 21 years of age to purchase alcohol legally a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 9 – Powers of States and People c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to… the people.” 3. Robert is disgruntled with the current political party in Presidential office. He decides to publicly voice his opinions in the middle of the city square with a speech outlining the faults of the party, the mistakes of the President, and the overall decline of the administration. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 1 - Freedom of Speech/Freedom to Petition the Government c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech… and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 4. A family displays a Nativity scene on the front lawn during Christmas. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 1 - Freedom of Religion c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…” 5. Jane is student in a public elementary school. Every day before lunch, her teacher instructs the class to remember to say grace before the meal. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 1 - Freedom of Religion c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…” 6. Nancy is a writer for a well-known city newspaper. She is writing an article about one of the Congressional candidates. Having a strong personal dislike for the candidate and wanting to sensationalize her article, Nancy decides to make up a story about the candidate having an extramarital affair, which would cast him in a bad light with voters. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No – Malice b. Amendment # 1 - Freedom of Press c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…” 7. In 1982, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the State of New York for evicting striking correctional officers and allowing members of the National Guard to live in their housing instead. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 3 – Quartering of Soldiers c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner…” 8. John works in a department store at the mall. The other day, a bag of illegal drugs was found in the parking lot of the mall. As a result, the police proceeded to open and search through all of the cars in the parking lot at that time. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 4 - Search and Seizure c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…” 9. A student chooses to sit silently in his seat during the Pledge of Allegiance. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 1 – Freedom of Speech c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…” 10. Bobby’s brother went to trial on charges of stealing last year. He was found not guilty. This past week, a witness came forward with concrete evidence that Bobby’s brother was to blame for the theft, and the victim wants him tried again. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 5 - Due Process c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “…nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb…” 11. The Webb family’s farmhouse is the last piece of private property along a certain highway. The government wants to extend the highway through that piece of land and sent the family a letter detailing those plans and offering a $60,000 for the land, a price comparable to similar pieces of property being sold at that time. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 5 - Due Process c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “…nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” 12. In 2000, members of the Ku Klux Klan organized a rally outside of a courthouse in Skokie, Illinois, a historically Jewish town. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 1 – Freedom of Assembly c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law…prohibiting…the right of the people peaceably to assemble…” 13. Daniel Johnson is a homeless man arrested for stealing from a large department store. The judge set bail at 1 million dollars, an unusually disproportionate amount. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 8 – No Excessive Bail c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Excessive bail shall not be required…” 14. A person accused of murder cannot afford to hire a lawyer and is assigned a public defender. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 6 – Right to a Fair Trial c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall… have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.” 15. The streets of Snowden were filled with violent protesters, and the National Guard was called in to help with the crowds. When some of the officers came to Alice’s house and demanded that she give them food and lodging for the night, she flatly refused and locked the door in their faces. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 3 - Quartering Soldiers c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner…” 16. Mr. Jones’ gun was confiscated by the police at a traffic stop, even though he showed them the proper permit and license for ownership of the gun. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 2 - Right to Bear Arms c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” 17. During election season, a local newspaper publishes an editorial endorsing one candidate over another. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 1 – Freedom of Press c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…” 18. Jackie was arrested by the police as she was coming out of work. When she asked what charges she was being arrested under the police refused to tell her, and when she requested a lawyer, the police simply laughed at her and told her they were all too busy for her. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 6 - Right to a Speedy and Public Trial c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right… to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation… and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.” 19. A teenager goes duck hunting with her father in October. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 9 – Protection of Rights Not Listed c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” 20. George is the new principal at a South Carolina high school. Although there are state governed guidelines for the school system, he has decided to implement a new set of rigorous testing standards for the students. These tests are similar to the testing standards he had at his old school in Wisconsin, a system that he believes is far superior to South Carolina’s. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 10 - States’ Rights c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” 21. Carl was arrested for assault five years ago. He has been sitting in jail awaiting his trial ever since then, and the court claims that the process has been lengthened due to complications with logistics concerning court dates and witness information. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 6 - Right to a Speedy and Public Trial c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial…” 22. In Pennsylvania, a person has to be at least 16 years old to apply for a learner’s permit for driving. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 10 – Powers of States and People c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” 23. Since Anna was convicted of stealing, the judge thought it would be an appropriate punishment to cut off one of her hands as a reminder to never steal again. a. Is this situation Constitutional? No b. Amendment # 8 - No Cruel and Unusual Punishment c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “…nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” 24. When a passenger sues a city transportation authority because she sustained neck injuries, a jury, not a judge, decides the case. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 7 – Civil Trial By Jury c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “In suits at common law…the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.” 25. Police officers are going through the neighborhood fundraising for an outreach program. When they reach Darrell’s house, they ask for a glass of water, because it’s extremely hot outside. While they wait for him to bring them some water, the officers smell the pungent odor of homemade explosives. When Darrell returns they demand to come in and take a look around. Darrell refuses and the officers leave to get a search warrant. When they return, they find the explosives they smelled. They arrest him. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 4 - Search and Seizure c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “…no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation…” 26. Although the death penalty is only legal in certain states, it can only be used in cases of homicide. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 8 – Cruel and Unusual Punishment c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “…nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” 27. When being interrogated by police, a person refuses to answer certain questions and chooses to remain silent. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 6 – Right to a Fair Trial c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall… have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.” 28. Before entering a suspect’s home, a police officer shows a search warrant. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 4 – Search and Seizure c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “…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.” 29. A group of people assemble on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to demand the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 1 – Freedom of Speech, Assembly, and to Petition the Government c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech…or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 30. A registered voter receives a summons to report for jury duty. a. Is this situation Constitutional? Yes b. Amendment # 6 – Right to a Fair Trial c. Cite relevant text in Amendment: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed…and…to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor…”