Lillian Cammack
Criminal Justice
Professor Rohrbach
September 9, 2012
The First Ten Amendments
The first Ten Amendments to the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, were adopted in 1791. These amendments were added to the Constitution to protect the rights and liberties of an individual.
I. Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition
Cammack 2 As an individual, I had never before thought about what the Bill of rights meant to me. I cannot recall a time where I have had to exercise my rights. When I thought about the First Amendment, I automatically thought about the Freedom of Speech. I would say that is what most American’s think of in regards to the First Amendment. In reading this amendment, I now understand I exercised this right, and continue to exercise this right almost every day of my life. How do I use this right? This right gives me the Freedom of Religion. My father was a minister, and was thus afforded the right to practice and teach his children what he believed, without government interference. The Freedom of Speech goes right along with the Freedom of Religion, because I am allowed to voice my opinions and beliefs without repercussion. There are many issues with the First Amendment when it comes to Freedom of Religion, with one of the major issues being the Separation of Church and State. Is our right to Freedom of Religion being taken away from us by not allowing the use of prayer in schools? If you want to say a prayer in school with other believers, is this in violation of the amendment? How is it that if for religious reasons, you choose not to immunize your children, you can then have the State Department called to your home for child neglect? Does this Amendment not give us the right to make choices for ourselves and our families? I chose this picture to represent my feelings on religion. I believe it should be my right to teach, express and voice my beliefs, without the interference of the State. The First