These cartoons focus on rights and protections guaranteed by the
U.S. Constitution. See how you would answer the questions that
go with the cartoons. To access other topics, use the Topics
menu to the right.
Constitutional Rights
Cartoon 1
Lady Justice Schoolmarm
Adapted from Insights on Law & Society
1.3 (Spring 2001): 23.
This Lady
Justice holds a balance. But there's a schoolbell in her other
hand! See what this cartoon suggests about youth rights at school.
1. What does the saying "Justice is blind" mean? What "hangs"
in Lady Justice's balance?
2. Freedom of speech, press, religion, and association are guaranteed
by the Bill
of Rights. How are these rights practiced in your school?
How are they limited? What are some other constitutional rights?
3. If you were able to increase one freedom in your school, which
would it be? How much would you increase it? If you were able
to limit one freedom in your school, which would it be? How much
would you limit it?
4. See Investigating
the Rights of Youth to learn more about rights that are guaranteed,
limited, and withheld from American youths.
Cartoon 2
Doubly Jeopardized Turkey
Adapted from Insights on Law & Society 2.2
(Winter 2002): 20.
This cartoon recalls an important Fifth Amendment right, and it
spotlights the nature of legal interpretation. The turkey is defending
itself before a judge who isn't quite persuaded that the bird
has a case. Decide whether you think the turkey should win.
1. Examine the cartoon's details. What is the date? When was the
newspaper published?
2. Read the Fifth
Amendment. What is double jeopardy? What significance
does it have for the turkey's case?
3. What part of the turkey's evidence does the judge accept? What
part does he question? What does the judge's question suggest
about how precisely legal documents are prepared and interpreted?
4. See Debating the Rights of Detainees, Asylum Seekers, and Juvenile Refugees to learn about the plight of people caught in the complexities of the U.S. judicial system.
Cartoon 3
Gagged Lady Justice
Adapted from Insights on Law & Society 2.3
(Spring/Summer 2002): 6.
This cartoon features the Roman saying "During war, law is silent."
Americans think of law (often represented by Lady Justice) as
blind but never mute. See what this cartoon suggests about the
interplay of law and the military in times of crisis.
1. Who are the three figures in the cartoon? What are they doing?
Which characters seem to be allied? Opposed?
2. Name some constitutional rights that have been limited in Times
of Crisis. Why were the rights limited?
3. Select two or more Constitutional
Rights and decide to what extent you would "silence" them
in times of crisis.
4. See Debating the "Mighty Constitutional Opposites" to learn about enduring debates involving constitutional interpretation.
