The document summarizes key elements of the Bill of Rights, Articles of Confederation, checks and balances system, and the 5th Amendment. The Bill of Rights protects individual rights such as freedom of speech and protects the accused. The Articles of Confederation were too weak and replaced by the Constitution. The system of checks and balances prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful. Pleading the 5th refers to refusing to self-incriminate under the 5th Amendment.

1. Unit 3 Post Test
Essay Rev.

2. The Bill of Rights
- The Main Purpose of the Bill of Rights is to strengthen
and protect the rights of individual citizens.
- The First Amendment and Freedom of Speech, would
protect someone who wanted to speak out against a rule
they did not like.

3. Bill of Rights continued:
- A person accused of a crime would find protection in the
Bill of Rights too.
- Several of the Amendments help protect accused people.
- The 5th Amendment could help by ensuring that they did not have
to testify against themselves.
- Someone wanted to protect their home would find help
too.
- The 2nd Amendment allows us to own arms (weapons)

4. Articles of Confederation
- The Articles were considered too weak and were
replaced by the Constitution. Some weaknesses under
the Articles included:
- Could not defend against rebellions.
- Could not tax citizens = could not raise new money.
- No army or navy for protection.
- Each state only had 1 vote in Congress.

5. Checks and Balances
- The Constitution includes Checks and Balances that keep
any one branch from getting too powerful.
- The Legislative Branch has these checks:
- Can override vetoes
- Can impeach the president
- Can impeach federal judges

6. Checks continued:
- The Judicial Branch has these checks:
- Can declare laws unconstitutional
- Can declare executive actions unconstitutional.
- The Executive (President) Branch has these checks:
- Can veto bills
- Can appoint judges
- Can pardon people convicted of federal crimes.

7. Pleading the 5th
- If someone “Pleads the 5th,” that means:
- This means that someone refuses to answer a question that might
get them into trouble.
- This right to “plead the 5th” refers to the 5th Amendment to the
Constitution, which is in the Bill of Rights.