Bill of Rights Day

Written in 1787 and ratified in 1789, the U.S. Constitution is the backbone of the three separate but equal branches of government. It was not a perfect document when first written, and has been amended 27 times throughout its 228 years of its existence.

Today we celebrate the first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution– we know them as the Bill of Rights.  Written in 1791 by James Madison, they guarantee all of our personal liberties, the freedoms that government cannot take away.  Can you name them all?

Here is a brief summary:

1. the freedom of religion, speech, press, and peaceable assembly

2. the right to bear arms

3. the right not to have soldiers quartered in your home

4. the right to be free of unreasonable search  and seizure

5. the right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, and protection against double jeopardy

6. the rights of a criminal defendant

7. the right to trial by jury

8. the right to bail and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment

9. the rights listed do not deny the people other rights they retain

10. the reservation of rights not granted to the federal government are left to the states or the people.

View the full text of the Bill of Rights. You can find more resources about Bill of Rights Day at the United States Court website.

 

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Friendly Competition

Competition. The word conjures up sports, doesn't it? The pride of winning, or, the sadness of defeat. As a former teacher, I know that competition based on more than physical skills can be just as intense for high school students. Case in point: the students who participated in this year’s We the People competition.

High school students from all over the state who spent months pouring over our country’s founding documents, news articles, and text books, came to the Ohio Statehouse on January 23 ready to demonstrate their comprehension of constitutional issues to a panel of judges. They were prepared, poised, and professional in their presentations and during the follow-up questions from the judges.

I was especially glad to see students from the Law and Leadership Institute (LLI) program participating in We the People for the first time. LLI was started by the Ohio Supreme Court to prepare students from underserved communities for post-secondary and professional success.

Congratulations to all the students – and their teachers – for a great day of competition!

You can see more about the competition and what’s next for the winning team in this video from Court News Ohio.

Get Ready to Celebrate Your Rights

December 15 is Bill of Rights Day. It’s the day to celebrate the individual liberties that our U.S. Constitution protects.

The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787 and ratified in 1789.  Throughout the 227 years of its existence, it has been amended 27 times to meet current needs.

The first 10 amendments were written on December 15, 1791 by James Madison and are known as the Bill of Rights.  The Bill of Rights explains that government power is limited and specifically lists the important rights belonging to each individual in the country. 

As part of this year’s celebration of the anniversary of the Bill of Rights, the United States Courts interviewed students from Miami University of Ohio to have them explain why the Bill of Rights is important to them. Click below to view their responses.

More educational resource tools about Bill of Rights Day are found on the United States Courts website.

September 17 is a Special Day for Our Country

On this day in 1787, the U.S. Constitution was adopted by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.



U.S. Constitution (National Archives Website)

The U.S. Courts’ website has resources for teachers and the general public to learn more about the Constitution. The site includes a quiz to test your knowledge about this vital document that established the foundation of our government. For example, when was the last time the Constitution was amended? I won’t give away the answer. See for yourself and then let me know how you did.

The U.S. Supreme Court and Federal Cases

From time to time I blog about opinions of the Supreme Court of Ohio that explain the law that applies within our state. But as you know, we have a dual system of law. The U.S. Supreme Court announces federal law that applies to the entire country. 

That court was busy this last week, finishing its current term that began in October. The Supreme Court released opinions on the Voting Rights Act, marital status for same-sex couples, and land use regulations, among others. And although some Americans may disagree with a controversial court ruling, everyone must understand that our Constitution gives the U.S. Supreme Court the final word governing legal matters across all 50 states.

Not every case can reach the supreme court level.  Some state cases may wend their way to the Ohio Supreme Court, but even fewer state cases are heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Even so, federal law affects everyone, whether we have a pending case or not. Part of our duties as American citizens and as voters is to understand the operation of each branch of government.

To get a better handle on the judicial branch and recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings, you may visit SCOTUSblog and click on the “plain English” posts on the decisions. There you will find a good summary of recent U.S. Supreme Court cases.

Red, White, and Blue and a Burning U.S. Supreme Court Case

Nearly 100 years ago, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation to establish June 14 as Flag Day. As we mark the day today to honor the United States flag, I’d like to point out a federal case involving the flag and the protection of constitutional rights.

Landmark cases have far-reaching impacts. Texas v. Johnson is one of them.

In 1989, to protest the policies of the Reagan administration, Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag outside of the Dallas City Hall. He was arrested, but argued that his act was protected by the First Amendment because he was engaging in symbolic speech. The Supreme Court agreed and held that the constitution protects symbolic speech even when it is offensive.

Many of us have fond memories of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance when we began our school day. Because the flag is such a recognized symbol of the United States and is honored as dear to patriotic Americans, its desecration is a controversial means of political expression. Many would disagree with flag burning.  

What would you think if you saw such an act? What should government do?

Our Constitution grants us rights that may not be granted to people in other countries. One is freedom of speech – even speech that may be considered wrong or even hateful. Our country is strong enough to allow different opinions to be expressed, including criticism of the government. We should be glad to be uncensored and unmuzzled .   

We should be proud to honor a flag that stands for the right to freely speak. It is a flag that deserves our respect and protection.

Teens Can Sink Teeth into Halloween-Themed Case

Periodically, I try to let teachers know of online materials that may assist them in social studies classes, particularly those materials that relate to the judiciary. Here is an interesting idea from the U.S. courts website, and it’s timely given that Halloween is just around the corner.

An interactive educational program on the First Amendment and social media designed for high school students uses a real case about the U.S. Supreme Court’s school newspaper censorship decision (Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier) and applies it to a fictional student vampire club.

The Fangtastics go to court when high school administrators drive a stake through the heart of their online postings. Was it a case of protected critical satire or dangerous cult activity?

In the classroom, instructors may choose an Oxford-style debate or a full-fledged courtroom drama to examine opposing sides of the social media/free speech issue. It’s all in fun, especially as Halloween approaches. For more on social media and the First Amendment – and where vampires stand on the issues – take a look at these resources.

Additional reality-based courtroom simulations on a variety of topics of interest to high school students are also available.

Annual Constitution Day observance approaching

In about two weeks, Americans will celebrate the 224th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.

Each year, schools that receive federal funds must educate students about the Constitution on that day, although it will be Friday, Sept. 16, since the 17th is a Saturday this year.

Ohio civics teachers searching for potential activities may go to the iCivics Web site for resources. Here is the link: http://www.icivics.org/Constitution_Day. Teachers will find a lesson plan and a game for students to play. Have fun!