The Bill of Rights: Assessment

Imagine your area is in a state of emergency and you are concerned about the balance of liberty and security as people try to return to their normal lives, recover what was lost, and rebuild what was destroyed. Compose an email you could send to elected officials to voice your concerns. Your email should include positions on two of the potential issues related to civil liberties found below.

Template

Instructions: Replace the information (in parentheses) with your own thoughts and information from the lesson.

Hello ________ (name of one of your elected officials at the local, state, or national level) ____,

(Write paragraph one here. Paragraph one should address why rights are not absolute. Explain how the Constitution safeguards and limits individual rights.)

(Paragraph two should address one of the ten situations from the list. Be sure to include the following information in the paragraph:

• the Constitutional amendment that relates to the situation
• arguments that could be made for or against the action that took place
• your position on the situation and the reasons you think officials should agree with you)

(Paragraph three should address a different situation from the list. Address the bulleted items again for this second situation.)

(Short summary conclusion with points made in your email and appreciation expressed for the officials’ time.)
Sincerely,
(Your Name)

1. Imagine that the following situations have occurred in your community following the disaster. Select two of the following situations to address and evaluate in your email:
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     The government suspended the right of habeas corpus (the right to see a judge after arrest to determine if imprisonment is lawful).

   • The government forced people to evacuate from their homes.
   • The press accessed the disaster area and published a story in a national newspaper about the event.
   • The government allowed federal and state troops to be quartered in private residences to assist residents and protect order.
   • Citizens were denied the right to bring legally owned firearms to storm shelters.
   • The government made certain dangerous areas off-limits, which prevented residents from accessing their homes and personal property.
   • Prisoners were kept in prisons that lacked power, supplies, and plumbing during the emergency.
   • The federal and state courts postponed scheduled criminal and civil trials due to the emergency.
   • The government prevented the press from publishing graphic photos of victims of the natural disaster to protect the privacy of the victim’s family.
   • The federal government stated that local and state governments are solely responsible for the disaster recovery efforts and that it will not be providing assistance.
2. Once you have chosen the concerns you wish to address, compose a well-written response to each situation with the following information:
   • the Constitutional amendment that relates to the situation
   • arguments that could be made for or against the action that took place
   • your position on the situation and the reasons you think officials should agree with you
3. Save your email and check it for spelling and grammar.