Day 2 (Sem II) - Beyond the Constitution

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Learning Targets:  Students will be able to....

• Explain how the U.S. Constitution protects individual liberties and rights.
• Describe the rights protected in the Bill of Rights.
• Explain the extent to which the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First and Second Amendments reflects a commitment to individual liberty.

Through the U.S. Constitution, but primarily through the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment, citizens and groups have attempted to limit national and state governments to prevent them from infringing upon individual rights and from denying equal protection under the law. 

However, it has sometimes been argued that these legal protections have been used to slow reforms and restrict freedoms of others in the name of social order.

Opener:  Below are the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution (Bill of Rights). Choose the 2 that you believe are the most important safeguards against tyrannical government and explain why.

1 Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
2 Right to keep and bear arms
3 No quartering of soldiers.
4 Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
5 Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy.
6 Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.
7 Right of trial by jury in civil cases.
8 Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.
9 Other rights of the people not listed.

10 Powers reserved to the states.

Activity #1 - N-50 - Civil Liberty

LD - Individual rights and protections that protect citizens from unjust government actions or laws that would limit freedoms.

SD - 

Examples - Speech, privacy, safety, press, assembly

Non-Examples - Protections from other private citizens, government benefits

Related Terms - Bill of Rights, Limited Government, Civil Rights

Activity #2 - Civil Liberties Mini-Lecture

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MAIB35rJfNk4CybPJ4MGrSvamUifO0Vp4pcQYDoAiyE/edit?usp=sharing

Close:  Wisconsin v Yoder - PERP

https://thejerryperezexperiment.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/4/1/31411573/street_law_4_wisconsin_v_yoder_final.pdf