The Bill of Rights Activity Syllabus



Bill of Rights Enrichment Syllabus

1. Supreme Court pending case

Refer to or daily online news for the cases/issues that are being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Choose a pending case and analyze.

Displays should be no larger than 30” x 20”. Your work will be comprised of the following:

• Name of the Court Case

• Background information (Facts of the case)

• Issue being judged

• Amendment(s) being evaluated

• Explain how that/those amendment(s) is/are relevant to this case

• Illustration

• Who should win?

2. Constitutional cartoons.

Draw a cartoon depicting/satirizing/opining about the Bill of Rights or any part of it. It can be drawn or computer generated as long as it’s your concept.

For ideas:

Attach an explanation of the message your cartoon/graphic illustration is attempting to convey on separate paper.

3. Law Day Contest. See the rules posted.

4. Congressional Art Competition. See the website on my WebBoard

5. Transcription.

Choose one. All interview transcripts must be printed and signed by the respondents.

You may compose your own questions however you should include some of my suggested ones.

This interview should last at least 10 minutes.

Interview#1 - The First Amendment -

Interview a religious official or representative of any religion.

Suggested:

What are your concerns about the limits placed by the government from the "establishment clause"?

What are your rights as a religious leader under the "free exercise clause"?

How do they interpret the doctrine of the separation of church and state? What “wall” would you subscribe to?

Interview#2 - The Second Amendment -

Interview a gun rights advocate or a gun control advocate.

Suggested:

Do you believe people have the right to own a gun?

Do you believe the right to bear arms is an absolute right?

Do you believe the state has a right to legislate gun ownership? In what ways?

Do you believe that there are circumstances under which gun ownership is permissible?

Explain what the Second Amendment means to you.

Interview#3 - The Fourth Amendment -

Interview a law enforcement officer or lawyer.

Suggested:

How should law enforcement officers cope with the intricacies of the Fourth Amendment?  What about the Fourth Amendment concerns you the most?

How should society or for that matter YOU deal with balancing the citizens’ right to privacy and the need to protect society?

Interview#4 - The Eighth Amendment -

Interview an official or public proponent or opponent of the death penalty.

Suggested:

How do you interpret the 8th Amendment and how should it resolve the question regarding the death penalty or capital punishment?

Interview#5 - School safety vs. Student rights -

Interview a friend of yours from your home district high school about a particular incident which happened at that school pitting a student’s right to expression or privacy against the school policy.

Suggested:

How are you personally involved with this case?

Without giving names, describe the circumstances under which this incident occurred.

Explain what constitutional issues are being addressed in this incident.

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