Books in Our Rights series

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a very significant part of the Bill of Rights and the American justice system. In criminal cases, the Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to a grand jury, forbids double jeopardy, necessitates due process of law, and protects against self-incrimination. The Fifth Amendment ensures that Americans benefit from a balanced and accountable justice system. Through this book, readers learn the essential reasons for the creation of the Fifth Amendment and explore the provisions of the amendment through historical examples.

"The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution may be one of the most well-known and oft-quoted, and readers will learn why in this information-rich book. Through an in-depth yet age-appropriate examination of the First Amendment, readers will understand why the legal protection of such freedoms as religious expression, speech, and peaceful assembly is so important. Through a close look at the language of the amendment, readers will walk away with an understanding of the law's historical significance and how it affects our lives today"--

When the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, it had a major flaw: it failed to acknowledge individual rights. Early Americans were not pleased. They didn't believe their new government was respecting their freedoms. Thus, the Bill of Rights was created. Readers will explore the history, significance, and controversy surrounding the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits cruel or unusual punishment. Primary sources, sidebars, and compelling stories, demonstrate how the amendment protects, and potentially harms, criminals. Historic and present-day examples of long-standing debates about the amendment's controversial "cruel and unusual" clause further illustrate the amendment's importance.

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a very significant part of the Bill of Rights and the American justice system. In criminal cases, the Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to a grand jury, forbids double jeopardy, necessitates due process of law, and protects against self-incrimination. The Fifth Amendment ensures that Americans benefit from a balanced and accountable justice system. Through this book, readers learn the essential reasons for the creation of the Fifth Amendment and explore the provisions of the amendment through historical examples.

When the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, it had a major flaw: it failed to acknowledge individual rights. Early Americans were not pleased. They didn't believe their new government was respecting their freedoms. Thus, the Bill of Rights was created. Readers will explore the history, significance, and controversy surrounding the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits cruel or unusual punishment. Primary sources, sidebars, and compelling stories, demonstrate how the amendment protects, and potentially harms, criminals. Historic and present-day examples of long-standing debates about the amendment's controversial "cruel and unusual" clause further illustrate the amendment's importance.

The Bill of Rights affords people certain rights that the U.S. Constitution didn't originally outline. The Ninth Amendment guarantees the protection of rights not enumerated in the Bill of Rights. It would be difficult to write a document that protected every single American right, so this amendment protects all those rights left unsaid. The Tenth Amendment defines the relationship between the federal and state government, a concept known as federalism. This amendment aims to solve the issues of federal powers and regulations. In this book, concrete examples and primary sources reveal the importance of these two amendments.