The Importance of Rights

1. The Importance of Rights What have we learned? Kurt Van Deren

2. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was introduced in the first United States Congress in 1789 by James Madison. The Bill of Rights took effect on December 15, 1791, after being approved by three-fourths of the States. Kurt Van Deren

3. In 1787, delegates of the thirteen States met in Philadelphia and drafted a remarkable document—the Constitution. But while the Constitution outlined what the new government could do, it did not define what the government could not do. Kurt Van Deren

4. Having a distrust of government after having been a part of an oppressive government in England, citizens of the thirteen States wanted a more limited government. The solution was a “bill of rights” limiting the power of the federal government. Anti-Federalists thought a list of specific rights was unnecessary, but Federalists refused to agree to the Constitution without such a list. Kurt Van Deren

5. What rights does the Bill of Rights protect? (1) Congress will make no law establishing or prohibiting a religion, or preventing free speech, freedom of the press, or free assembly. (2) Recognizing the need for a well-armed militia, you have the right to keep and bear arms. (3) You have the right to refuse to allow soldiers to stay in your home unless instructed to do so during war time. (4) You have the right not to be searched unreasonably, and warrants must only be issued based on probable cause. (5) You can’t be tried for a serious crime without being charged by a Grand Jury, you can’t be tried twice for the same crime, and the government can’t take your property without due process of law. Kurt Van Deren

6. What rights does the Bill of Rights protect? (6) In criminal cases, you have the right to a speedy trial in front of an impartial jury, to be told of the charges you face, and to be represented by an attorney. (7) You have the right to a jury in certain civil cases (cases involving disagreements between two people, instead of cases involving crimes). (8) You can’t be required to pay too much bail or be subject to cruel and unusual punishment for a crime. (9) You have other rights, besides those listed in the Constitution. (10) The powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution are left to the States and to individuals. Kurt Van Deren

7. For accurate, unbiased reporting… • Leave your opinion out of the story. Include only cited facts and details and quotes from sources. • Sources must be identified in the article and quotes must be word for word. • Don’t rely on one source. Talk to multiple people to get all sides of the story. • Double check your facts. If you aren’t sure, call your source back. Omie Drawhorn

8. The Five W’s, one H Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? Omie Drawhorn

9. The inverted pyramid • Hard news stories (ie- breaking news, crime) often follows an inverted pyramid structure Omie Drawhorn

10. Start with….. • A summary lead, which summarizes in the first sentence what the story is about. It gets directly to the point. Follow with… • A nut graph, or the focus graph, a paragraph that explains the point of the story. It usually follows the lead, but if a lead has that information, a nut graph isn’t always necessary. Omie Drawhorn

11. Add supporting points in descending order of importance. Start with the “who, what, where, when, and why” and follow the information with details, and gradually less important information until the whole story is told. • Incorporate quotes throughout the story. • Be sure to cite your sources! Omie Drawhorn