United States Department of Defense
U.S. Constitution Course
The Course > Page 9
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Imagery:
Protestors, TV News, Websites
Narration:
For example, the First Amendment guarantees the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom to assemble, and the freedom to petition the Government.
On-Screen Text:
Amendment 1
“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.”
Want to Know More 1:
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. It includes fifteen specific rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, and freedom of assembly.
Want to Know More 2:
The task of drafting the Bill of Rights fell to James Madison, who based his work on George Mason's earlier work, the Virginia Declaration of Rights.Want to Know More 3:
The Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution in the form of amendments. While the first part of the Constitution dealt mostly with the workings of the three branches of the Federal Government, the Bill of Rights dealt with the rights of the citizenry. Through this approach of adding amendments, the main body of the Constitution, which was considered most important, could be preserved and not require reconsideration and re-adoption.Want to Know More 4:
Amendment IX mandates that, “[T]he enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” This suggests that the Bill of Rights must not be interpreted as a total and comprehensive list of all rights possessed by the American people.