Rights in the States

In many state constitutions more rights are given the people than are listed in the Bill of Rights.  For instance, state constitutions may spell out broader rights to privacy.  Where such a constitutional issue is at stake, it might be better to bring a case in a state court (under the state constitution) than in a federal court.

Look at the protection for rights set down in the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights http://www.usconstitution.net/vdeclar.html

and the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution ("Part the First") http://www.mass.gov/legis/const.htm

How many of the rights listed in these documents appear in the Bill of Rights?

Make a list of rights which are included in these documents but do not appear in the Bill of Rights.  Which ones – if any – should have been included?

What rights are no longer relevant?

Find your state constitution online –  which rights does it protect?