The New and Improved Bill of Rights
An inquiry-based project about individual rights necessary in a modern world.
Jim Schoepski
Belvidere High School
Belvidere, IL


Scenario

  
 
  Over 200 years ago the founding fathers created a basic set of human rights which they felt were essential to democracy. These rights have created the cornerstone of our democracy and are the model for democracies around the globe. Two hundred years is a long time, however, and some of the rights may be obsolete or in need of revision. Your group is to draft a revised Bill of Rights.

Task

  
 
 
What are the basic rights guaranteed in the first amendment?
 
 
  The U.S. Constitution: the Amendments
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.table.html#amendments
The amendments to the U.S. Constitution
What other important rights are located in the Bill of Rights?
 
 
  ACLU Briefing Paper: The Bill of Rights
http://archive.aclu.org/library/pbp9.html
ACLU overview of the Bill of Rights, its history and the process by which it was adopted
What rights did Franklin Roosevelt outline in his "Four Freedoms" speech?
 
 
  The Four Freedoms: FDR's Address to Congress
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/ralph/workbook/ralprs36b.htm
Text of FDR's State of the union address to Congress outlining the need for new basic human rights.
What effect did 9/11 have on the rights of Americans defined in the Constitution?
 
 
  Terrorizing the Bill of Rights
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0146/hentoff.php
The Patriot Act and its impact on the Constitution
What are other current issues that Americans face regarding human rights?
 
 
  The Libertarian Party: Issues
http://www.lp.org/issues/
A view of the Libertaraian party's stands on current issues
 
 
  American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org/
Organization devoted to protecting basic human rights in the U.S.
 
 
  CRF Research links
http://www.crf-usa.org/links/issues
Current issues in constitutional rights

Product

  
  Each group will draft a revised Bill of Rights. Your group must produce ten amendments with a rationale for why these indivdual rights are necessary. Your group can alter or amend the current amendments to fit modern times, however, your group must still justify these amendments. The written project must contain must ten amendments with rationale. The rationale should be four to six sentences each.

Each group will also make an oral presentation detailing their amendments and giving an oral rationale. Students must be prepared for a question and answer session following the presentation.

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