27 Amendments
1st Amendment
Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, press, and petition
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
Restrict the quartering of troops
4th Amendment
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures
5th Amendment
Protects life, liberty, property. Due process of law, double jeopardy (tried twice for a same crime), self-incrimination ("I plead the fifth."), and government seizure of property. "John Locke Amendment"
6th Amendment
Speedy, public, and jury trial - Criminal Cases (a case between you and the government because you've broken a law)
7th Amendment
Jury trial in Civil Cases (a case between you and another person for something like a law suit)
8th Amendment
Protects against cruel and unusual punishment
9th Amendment
All rights not spelled out are "retained by the people" - your basic or natural rights (just because the Bill of Rights doesn't say we can get married doesn't mean that the government can say we can't get married) "The Catch All"
10th Amendment
Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states (issues like marriage or marijuana are not listed in the Constitution so the states decide what will be allowed in their cities)
11th Amendment
Individual States have "Sovereign Immunity". This means lawsuits cannot be brought against any State without its consent.
12th Amendment
Created a new method of electing the President and Vice President.
The old system had led to catastrophic results in the elections of 1796 and 1800. In 1796, the two candidates who received the most votes were made President and Vice President. This mean they were political enemies. In 1800, one Vote was cast for the candidate and one for his running mate. This meant the two ended up tied. Now, Electoral College casts votes for President and Vice President separately.
13th Amendment
Abolished Slavery and Involuntary Servitude, except as a punishment for a crime (i.e. community service)
14th Amendment
Gave citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States. Obligation of the states to uphold the privileges of United States citizens. No state can deny "equal protection of the laws" to any person. States cannot take people's rights away.
15th Amendment
The right to vote shall not be denied to any citizen on the basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
16th Amendment
Established Federal Income Tax
17th Amendment
Popular election of senators. This means that the states no longer elect the senators, but rather, the people elect their senators.
18th Amendment
Prohibition of intoxicating liquors.
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote.
20th Amendment
Changed the dates when a new President and congress takes office from March to January. This shortened the "lame duck" period.
21st Amendment
Repeal of Prohibition. (18th Amendment)
22nd Amendment
Limited the President of the United States to serving no more than two terms or 10 years in office.
23rd Amendment
Gives Washington D.C. three electoral votes during Presidential Elections. Because D.C. is not a state, it didn't have a say in the presidential elections until the 1964 election.
24th Amendment
The right to vote cannot be denied to any U.S. citizen because of an inability to pay a poll tax or any other taxes.
25th Amendment
Clarifies the process of Presidential succession in the event that the President dies or is unable to perform his duties:
VP becomes President
New President nominates a VP and has to be approved by both houses of Congress through majority vote.
26th Amendment
Suffrage extended to 18, 19, and 20 year olds in all local, state, and federal elections. Lowered the voting age to 18.
27th Amendment
Senators and Representatives cannot increase their pay during the current term. They can only increase pay for the people elected the to the next term.
Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, press, and petition
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
Restrict the quartering of troops
4th Amendment
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures
5th Amendment
Protects life, liberty, property. Due process of law, double jeopardy (tried twice for a same crime), self-incrimination ("I plead the fifth."), and government seizure of property. "John Locke Amendment"
6th Amendment
Speedy, public, and jury trial - Criminal Cases (a case between you and the government because you've broken a law)
7th Amendment
Jury trial in Civil Cases (a case between you and another person for something like a law suit)
8th Amendment
Protects against cruel and unusual punishment
9th Amendment
All rights not spelled out are "retained by the people" - your basic or natural rights (just because the Bill of Rights doesn't say we can get married doesn't mean that the government can say we can't get married) "The Catch All"
10th Amendment
Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states (issues like marriage or marijuana are not listed in the Constitution so the states decide what will be allowed in their cities)
11th Amendment
Individual States have "Sovereign Immunity". This means lawsuits cannot be brought against any State without its consent.
12th Amendment
Created a new method of electing the President and Vice President.
The old system had led to catastrophic results in the elections of 1796 and 1800. In 1796, the two candidates who received the most votes were made President and Vice President. This mean they were political enemies. In 1800, one Vote was cast for the candidate and one for his running mate. This meant the two ended up tied. Now, Electoral College casts votes for President and Vice President separately.
13th Amendment
Abolished Slavery and Involuntary Servitude, except as a punishment for a crime (i.e. community service)
14th Amendment
Gave citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States. Obligation of the states to uphold the privileges of United States citizens. No state can deny "equal protection of the laws" to any person. States cannot take people's rights away.
15th Amendment
The right to vote shall not be denied to any citizen on the basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
16th Amendment
Established Federal Income Tax
17th Amendment
Popular election of senators. This means that the states no longer elect the senators, but rather, the people elect their senators.
18th Amendment
Prohibition of intoxicating liquors.
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote.
20th Amendment
Changed the dates when a new President and congress takes office from March to January. This shortened the "lame duck" period.
21st Amendment
Repeal of Prohibition. (18th Amendment)
22nd Amendment
Limited the President of the United States to serving no more than two terms or 10 years in office.
23rd Amendment
Gives Washington D.C. three electoral votes during Presidential Elections. Because D.C. is not a state, it didn't have a say in the presidential elections until the 1964 election.
24th Amendment
The right to vote cannot be denied to any U.S. citizen because of an inability to pay a poll tax or any other taxes.
25th Amendment
Clarifies the process of Presidential succession in the event that the President dies or is unable to perform his duties:
VP becomes President
New President nominates a VP and has to be approved by both houses of Congress through majority vote.
26th Amendment
Suffrage extended to 18, 19, and 20 year olds in all local, state, and federal elections. Lowered the voting age to 18.
27th Amendment
Senators and Representatives cannot increase their pay during the current term. They can only increase pay for the people elected the to the next term.
1 Sentence Example of Each Amendment being Used or Violated
1st Amendment
Though the media shows mostly violent protests, some of the protests in Ferguson are peaceful. Because of the first amendment, the protestors participating in peaceful protests are allowed to do so.
2nd Amendment
Today, some states are trying to pass laws that may limit or constrict the use, sale, or buying of firearms. Many gun owners feel that this is violating the second amendment.
3rd Amendment
Today, military troops cannot come to your house and demand that you feed them and that you allow them to stay in your home.
4th Amendment
Today, it is illegal for police to search and seize your belongings without reasonable explanation or a warrant.
5th Amendment
The fifth amendment encompasses a wide variety of including due process of law, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, etc. Today, all people accused of a crime have the right to a fair, speedy trial with a jury of impartial peers.
6th Amendment
Today, all criminals accused of a crime have the right to a public trial to determine whether or no they’re guilty.
7th Amendment
Today, civil cases are debated in a public trial in front of an impartial jury.
8th Amendment
Today, cruel and unusual punishments for crimes committed are severely frowned upon. So, a judge can’t sentence you to death for going 10 miles over the speed limit.
9th Amendment
The ninth amendment is often referred to as the “catch-all”. It states that all rights not spelled out are “retained by the people”. Today, people are able to marry anyone they want (to a certain extent) even though it says nothing about marriage in the Constitution.
10th Amendment
Today, the powers not given the to federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states.
11th Amendment
Today, states cannot be sued without their consent.
12th Amendment
The twelfth amendment established a new method of electing a President and Vice President. We still use this method today.
13th Amendment
Slavery is still illegal in the U.S.
14th Amendment
The fourteenth amendment gave citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S. It also contains the Equal Protection Clause. Today, all people born or naturalized in the U.S. are considered citizens.
15th Amendment
Today, every of age U.S. citizen of every race and color are allowed to vote.
16th Amendment
The sixteenth amendment established the federal income tax. Today, everyone (16 years or older) who makes any sort of income is required to pay taxes because of this.
17th Amendment
The seventeenth amendment established that states wouldn’t elect senators, but the people would. Today, the people still elect the senators rather than the states.
18th Amendment
The eighteenth amendment prohibited intoxicating liquor. Today, possessing, selling, buying, and consuming liquor if you are of age is legal.
19th Amendment
Today, women 18 years or older allowed to vote in every election.
20th Amendment
The twentieth amendment changed the dates when a new President and congress takes office to shorten the “lame duck” period. Today, the President takes office in January rather than in March.
21st Amendment
The twenty-first amendment repealed prohibition of intoxicating liquors. Today, it’s legal to possess, sell, buy, and consume liquor if you’re of age.
22nd Amendment
Today, the President still only serves 2 terms or 10 years.
23rd Amendment
Today, Washington D.C. still only has 3 Electoral College votes.
24th Amendment
Today, elections or other opportunities to vote cannot be denied to any U.S. citizen because of their inability to pay taxes.
25th Amendment
We still use the process of Presidential succession that was established by the twenty-fifth amendment.
26th Amendment
Today, people who are 18, 19, and 20 years old are allowed to vote in elections.
27th Amendment
Today, Congressmen cannot raise their pay but can raise the pay for those coming into office.
Though the media shows mostly violent protests, some of the protests in Ferguson are peaceful. Because of the first amendment, the protestors participating in peaceful protests are allowed to do so.
2nd Amendment
Today, some states are trying to pass laws that may limit or constrict the use, sale, or buying of firearms. Many gun owners feel that this is violating the second amendment.
3rd Amendment
Today, military troops cannot come to your house and demand that you feed them and that you allow them to stay in your home.
4th Amendment
Today, it is illegal for police to search and seize your belongings without reasonable explanation or a warrant.
5th Amendment
The fifth amendment encompasses a wide variety of including due process of law, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, etc. Today, all people accused of a crime have the right to a fair, speedy trial with a jury of impartial peers.
6th Amendment
Today, all criminals accused of a crime have the right to a public trial to determine whether or no they’re guilty.
7th Amendment
Today, civil cases are debated in a public trial in front of an impartial jury.
8th Amendment
Today, cruel and unusual punishments for crimes committed are severely frowned upon. So, a judge can’t sentence you to death for going 10 miles over the speed limit.
9th Amendment
The ninth amendment is often referred to as the “catch-all”. It states that all rights not spelled out are “retained by the people”. Today, people are able to marry anyone they want (to a certain extent) even though it says nothing about marriage in the Constitution.
10th Amendment
Today, the powers not given the to federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states.
11th Amendment
Today, states cannot be sued without their consent.
12th Amendment
The twelfth amendment established a new method of electing a President and Vice President. We still use this method today.
13th Amendment
Slavery is still illegal in the U.S.
14th Amendment
The fourteenth amendment gave citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S. It also contains the Equal Protection Clause. Today, all people born or naturalized in the U.S. are considered citizens.
15th Amendment
Today, every of age U.S. citizen of every race and color are allowed to vote.
16th Amendment
The sixteenth amendment established the federal income tax. Today, everyone (16 years or older) who makes any sort of income is required to pay taxes because of this.
17th Amendment
The seventeenth amendment established that states wouldn’t elect senators, but the people would. Today, the people still elect the senators rather than the states.
18th Amendment
The eighteenth amendment prohibited intoxicating liquor. Today, possessing, selling, buying, and consuming liquor if you are of age is legal.
19th Amendment
Today, women 18 years or older allowed to vote in every election.
20th Amendment
The twentieth amendment changed the dates when a new President and congress takes office to shorten the “lame duck” period. Today, the President takes office in January rather than in March.
21st Amendment
The twenty-first amendment repealed prohibition of intoxicating liquors. Today, it’s legal to possess, sell, buy, and consume liquor if you’re of age.
22nd Amendment
Today, the President still only serves 2 terms or 10 years.
23rd Amendment
Today, Washington D.C. still only has 3 Electoral College votes.
24th Amendment
Today, elections or other opportunities to vote cannot be denied to any U.S. citizen because of their inability to pay taxes.
25th Amendment
We still use the process of Presidential succession that was established by the twenty-fifth amendment.
26th Amendment
Today, people who are 18, 19, and 20 years old are allowed to vote in elections.
27th Amendment
Today, Congressmen cannot raise their pay but can raise the pay for those coming into office.