The Purpose Of The Bill Of Rights Essay

Words: 576
Pages: 3

What do you think the purpose of the Bill of Rights is? The Bill of Rights is the first of 10 amendments that protect you. The Bill of Rights aims to protect you from harm or unfair treatment. Three other examples are Amendments 1, 4, & 8. Amendment 1 gives freedom of speech, press, petition, assembly, and religion. The First Amendment protects citizens' rights to speak out against the government. “Without the First Amendment, people might be put in jail because of their words.” (Social Studies Alive, 2003). The First Amendment protects citizens' basic rights. The First Amendment also protects the right to report news and give opinions in newspapers and other forms. “Americans wanted this right because the British had jailed newspaper writers …show more content…
The Fourth Amendment protects the rights of the accused and forbids unreasonable searches and seizures by government officials. “The Fourth Amendment says that officials cannot perform searches and seizures without a good reason.” (Social Studies Alive, 205). Because of this amendment, people have the right to not be searched without probable cause and a warrant signed by a judge. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from the power of the police and others who enforce laws. “If a search or seizure violates the fourth amendment, any evidence that was found cannot be used in court.” (Social Studies Alive, 205). Therefore, the only evidence allowed at trial is the list of items approved by the search warrant. The Fourth Amendment must be followed for trials to be fair. The Fourth Amendment shows how it can protect you from being searched or seized by an official or other. Amendment 8 gives you the right to not be given overpriced fines, bail, or punishment. The Fourth Amendment protects the people's rights to fair and reasonable punishment when they break the law. “It says that punishments cannot be so harsh that they are unfair.” (Social Studies Alive,