Constitutional Protections:

 

Original Constitution:

     No suspension of Writ of Habeas Corpus

     (except during rebellion or invasion)

           defense attorney can request a judge

           to issue a writ which requires the

           police to bring the suspect before a

           judge and provide a statement of

           charges

     No Bills of Attainder: law that punishes a

           person without a trial

     No Ex Post Facto Laws: punishes a

           person for something that wasn’t

           illegal when it occurred

 

The Bill of Rights: The First Ten Amendments to the Constitution

 

What protections do they provide?

    

1: freedom of speech, press, assembly,

     petition, and religion

     no established (official) religions,

     separation of church and state

2: right to bear arms

 

3:  no quartering of soldiers in private homes

     in peacetime, except with owner’s

     consent

 

4: no unreasonable searches or seizures

     no general warrants (they must be

     specific)

 

5: no double jeopardy for same offense

     cannot be forced to be a witness against

           yourself

     eminent domain: private proprty cannot

           be taken for public use without

           “just compensation”

     due process of law

 

6:  right to speedy trial by an impartial jury

     right to be informed of charges against

           you

     right to defense counsel

 

7:  trial by jury in civil cases

 

8: no excessive fines, bails, or “cruel and

     unusual punishment”

 

9: non-enumerated rights: people aren’t

     limited to the rights that are specifically

     stated in the first 8 amendments

 

10: reserves to the states or to the people all

     powers not prohibited to the states or

     given to the federal government