Bill of Rights

(noun)

The collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.

Related Terms

Examples of Bill of Rights in the following topics:

  • Nationalizing the Bill of Rights

    • The incorporation of the Bill of Rights (also called the incorporation doctrine) is the process by which American courts have applied portions of the United States' Bill of Rights to the states.
    • Some argued that the Bill of Rights should be fully incorporated.
    • This is referred to as "total" incorporation, or the "nationalization" of the Bill of Rights.
    • Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black is noted for the complete nationalization of the Bill of Rights.
    • Compare and contrast the difference between nationalization and selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights.

  • The Bill of Rights

    • The Constitution may never have been ratified if a bill of rights had not been added .
    • Some people feared that the listing of some rights in the Bill of Rights would be interpreted to mean that other rights not listed were not protected.
    • James Madison, "Father of the Constitution" and first author of the Bill of Rights
    • Without the addition of the Bill of Rights, it is unlikely that the Constitution would have been ratified.
    • Explain how the Bill of Rights is used to protect natural rights of liberty and property.

  • The Eighth Amendment

    • The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights prohibiting the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments.

  • The Bill of Rights

    • The Bill of Rights is a series of limitations on the power of the U.S. government, protecting the natural rights of liberty and property.
    • The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution.
    • An agreement to create the Bill of Rights helped secure ratification of the Constitution itself.
    • In 1991, the Bill of Rights toured the country in honor of its bicentennial, visiting the capitals of all fifty states.
    • This piece was influential in the creation of the Bill of Rights.

  • The First Amendment

    • The First Amendment to the US Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights, and protects core American civil liberties.
    • The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights and protects American civil liberties.
    • The English Bill of Rights, however, does not include many of the protections found in the First Amendment.
    • The US Bill of Rights drew many of its First Amendment provisions from other countries' bill of rights, such as the English Bill of Rights.
    • However, the US Bill of Rights established more liberties than the English Bill of Rights.

  • Incorporation Doctrine

    • The incorporation of the Bill of Rights is the process by which American courts have applied portions of the Bill of Rights to the states.
    • As described, the incorporation of the Bill of Rights is the process by which American courts have applied portions of the U.S.
    • Bill of Rights to the states, by virtue of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
    • Since that time, the Court has steadily incorporated most of the significant provisions of the Bill of Rights.
    • By the latter half of the 20th century, nearly all of the rights in the Bill of Rights had been applied to the states, under the incorporation doctrine.

  • The Second Amendment

    • The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
    • 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.

  • Ratification of the Constitution

    • In order for all states to ratify, a compromise over a bill of rights had to be made.
    • New York and Virginia ratified the Constitution under the condition that a Bill of Rights be added.
    • Ten of the amendments would become the Bill of Rights.
    • The Bill of Rights was enacted on December 15, 1791.
    • Amendment 6: Establishes rights to a fair and speedy public trial, to a notice of accusations, to confront the accuser, to subpoenas, and to counsel.

  • The First Amendment

    • The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights.
    • Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
    • State the restrictions imposed upon the federal government and the rights accorded individuals by the 1st Amendment

  • The Ninth Amendment

    • The Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, addresses rights of the people that are not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.
    • For example, the District Court that heard the case of Roe v.
    • Wade ruled in favor of a "Ninth Amendment right to choose to have an abortion," although it stressed that the right was "not unqualified or unfettered. "
    • The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
    • Analyze the relationship between enumerated and unenumerated right in the Constitution