Bill of Rights for Kids

Often, the term 'Constitution' brings a blank or groan look on the faces of our children. One can not blame them, may be because when the constitution and its amendments were written around 200 years back, the leaders of the United States at that time didn't realize that kids may find it difficult to understand or grasp this important document. However, here I will try to make the bills of rights for kids easy to understand, but before going there we will first have a brief idea about the history of the bills of rights for kids.

History of the Bill of Rights for Kids

Basically, the Constitution is the highest law in the United States, which provides a framework for its government. US Constitution is a document which was written by a group of men, called the Framers, who met in Philadelphia in 1787 to discuss what should be included in it. These men came from all over the country which at that time had only 13 states. Of these men, some are even famous today like James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. The different states had different ideas regarding new ways of running the country or what the new government should do. Hence, later after many debates and discussions, they came up with a plan that every state member could agree with. Some of the states didn't want to agree until the constitution adds some specific rights for individual people. So, in 1971, twelve amendments, written by James Madison, were presented to the states for final approval, of which, only ten were approved. Those ten amendments make up the Bill of Rights, which is also termed as the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Following are the ten amendments that are in the Bill of Rights:

Amendment I
The first amendment addresses that Congress government can not make a law that affects the establishment of your religion, or stops you from practicing your religion or restricts you saying or publishing whatever you want (like in a newspaper or a book). Also, Congress can not restrict or stop you from meeting peacefully for a demonstration or manifestation to ask the government to change something.

Amendment II
The second amendment says that Congress cannot stop or restrict people from having and carrying weapons for their safety or in situations where they need to defend themselves.

Amendment III
The third amendment addresses that unless there is a war or if Congress has passed a law, soldiers can not live in someone else's house without the owner's permission.

Amendment IV
According to the fourth amendment, nobody can search your body, or your house, or your papers and things or give a warrant unless they can prove to the judge that they have a strong reason to think you are guilty or have committed a crime.

Amendment V
This amendment says that you cannot be tried or prosecuted for any crime without a prior Grand Jury meeting, to decide whether there's enough evidence for a trial. If you are proved to be innocent by the jury, the government can not try you second time with another jury. You need not testify against yourself during the trial and you cannot be killed or put in jail or fined, unless you were declared guilty of a crime by a jury. Also the government can not take your house or your farm or anything that belongs to you, unless the government pays for it.

Amendment VI
The amendment VI addresses the actual trial procedure, in which if you are arrested you are allowed to have a speedy and public trial by a jury of ordinary people from your area. You have the right to know what you are accused of, to face the people who are witnesses against you and to have the government help you get witnesses on your side or in your defense.

Amendment VII
According to this amendment you have the right to a trial by jury, if it is a civil case i.e. a law case between two people or an issue which is worth more than 20 dollars.

Amendment VIII
This amendment addresses that the government can not ask you to pay more than what is reasonable in bail or in fines. Also cruel and unusual punishments or tortures can't be imposed on you even if you are guilty of a crime.

Amendment IX
This amendment says that details of these rights which are outlined or listed in the Constitution cannot be considered or interpreted in a way to have or deny others their rights.

Amendment X
Finally, the last amendment addresses that anything the Constitution doesn't say or other laws that aren't governed or prohibited by the Constitution which Congress can do, should be done by the states or its people.

I hope I have somewhat succeeded in conveying the importance and meaning of the bill of rights for kids in a simple and easy way. The master copies of the Constitution are stored at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Hence, as a parent or teacher you can help your kids or students to retain this information by making them visit the National Archives at least once or asking them to create posters, PowerPoint presentations, brochures, or other projects to illustrate what each amendment states.