On December 15, 2011, President Barack Obama proclaimed December 15th as the official Bill of Rights Day. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. They serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property, and also guarantee a number of personal freedoms, limit the government’s power in judicial and other proceedings, and reserve some powers to the states and the public. Take this quiz to see how much you know about these important rights.
1. Which amendment says that the rights not listed in the Bill of Rights are reserved to the states, or to the people? Seventh; Eighth; Ninth; Tenth?
2. What date was the Bill of Rights signed into law? July 4, 1776; Dec. 15, 1791; Dec. 15, 1778; March 4, 1779.
3. Which of the following is NOT in the Bill of Rights? No excessive bail; no excessive bail; no excessive bail; income tax.
4. Amendment 7 lists a monetary figure above which the right to trial by jury shall be preserved. What is that amount? One cent; five dollars; twenty dollars; one hundred dollars.
5. Which amendment says that no soldier shall be quartered in a house without permission of the residents? Sixth; Third; Fourth; Seventh.
6. The Bill of Rights consists of how many amendments? One; 10; 15; 27.
7. What does the Seventh Amendment cover? Nothing - it was repealed; criminal jury trials; civil jury trials; a speedy trial.
8. Which amendment guarantees the right of privacy? First; Fourth; Eighth; none.
9. Which amendment in the Bill of Rights prohibits slavery? Fifth; Sixth; Seventh; none.
10. Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
Answers: 1. Tenth. 2. December 15, 1791. 3. Income Tax – that’s the 16th amendment. 4. Just twenty dollars. That was a lot of money when the Bill of Rights was put into law. 5. The third. 6. Ten, although only eight of them are actually rights. 7. Civil jury trials. 8. None. The right of privacy is derived from the penumbra. It is not found in any specific amendment. See, for example, Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) and Roe v. Wade (1973), both of which inferred “a right to privacy” from the penumbra of the ninth and/or the 14th. 9. None. The bill of rights includes only the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Slavery is prohibited by the 13th Amendment, which is not part of the Bill of Rights. 10. When James Madison drafted the amendments to the Constitution that were to become the Bill of Rights, he drew heavily upon the ideas put forth in the Virginia Declaration of Rights. He later became the United State’s fourth president.
The Bill of Rights
Amendment I
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.
Amendment II
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.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and 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.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
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, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
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.