Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

First Amendment• Freedom of:

– religion– speech– press– to peacefully

assemble– to petition the

government over problems

Helpful Hint to Remember…

• “Freedom Amendment”

• Freedom of: Religion, Assembly, Petition, Press and Speech

Second Amendment

• Each state will have a militia

• Right of the people to have and carry weapons

Helpful Hint to Remember…

BEAR ARMS

Right “2 Bear Arms”

Third Amendment

• No housing of soldiers without consent of homeowner

Fourth Amendment

• The government does not have the right to search you or your property without a warrant demonstrating probable cause

• This amendment does not go into effect in emergency situations

Fifth Amendment • No person shall be accused of a

crime without following the process of the law– Grand jury decides if there is enough

evidence to indict someone

• No person shall have to testify at their own criminal trial

• No double jeopardy – can not be tried for the same crime twice

• No one can have property taken with out due process of the law

Sixth Amendment

• Protects the rights of people accused of a crime– Speedy trial– Public trial– Jury Trial– Know the charges against them– Hear witnesses against them– Lawyer

Hints to Rememberspeedy Trial

Legal Council

Unbiased Jury

Right to Know Charges Against You

No surprise Witnesses

Seventh Amendment

• Juries can decide civil cases– Hurt someone

without committing a crime

– Disputes over money or property

Eighth Amendment

• Allows for fair bail

• Bans “cruel and unusual punishment”

1972 Supreme Court ruled that the way most states carried out the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment

Hints to Remember…

Ninth Amendment

• Rights listed in the Constitution are not the only rights that citizens have. This allows the courts and Congress to decide additional basic rights of citizens

• Education is an example

Tenth Amendment

• Recognizes that states and the people have additional powers not specifically given to the congress by the Constitution

• Federalism – balance of power between the state and federal government

Amendment 11

• All lawsuits involving the states or foreign countries will be handled by the Supreme Court

Amendment 12

• Changed the election procedure for president. – Electors vote for a president – Electors then vote for a vice

president– If there is a tie members of

the House of Representatives cast votes among the leaders with the most votes

Amendment 13

• Ends slavery

http://www.comprofessor.com/2012/01/slavery-poverty-and-world-today.html

Amendment 14

• Defines citizenship in the United States– Born or naturalized can

not be denied life, liberty, or property with out legal process and are equally protected by the law.

– Representation is based on the whole number of people

Amendment 15

• Anyone can vote no matter your race, color, or previous position in service.

Amendment 16

• Congress can collect income tax

Amendment 17

• Members of the senate are directly elected by the people

• The state temporally appoints someone to fill vacancies

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/image/108th_Congress.htm

Amendment 18

• Ratified January 16, 1919

• Repealed by Amendment 21 – December 5, 1933

• “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors is prohibited”

Amendment 19

• August 18, 1920

• Women gain the right to vote

Amendment 20• Term of president ends at noon

on January 20th

• Terms of Senators and Representatives ends at noon on January 3

• Congress shall meet at least once a year starting on January 3

• If the president dies following the election before taking office the vice president will take over the office

Amendment 22

• 2 time max elected as president

• If you served more that 2 years as acting president you can only run one time

Amendment 23

• Washington DC is allowed electors to represent their votes for President and Vice President

Amendment 24

• Can not collect a poll tax – do not have to pay in order to vote

Amendment 25

• Vice President takes over when the president can no longer fulfill their duties

• If for a period of time the president will not be able to fulfill his duties he can in writing ask for the Vice President to take over. House must approve, and he can return when in writing he says he is fit and the House approves.

Amendment 26

• 18 years old to vote – limited by the Supreme Court to federal elections only

Amendment 27

• Senators and Representatives who vote for a raise can not have a raise take effect until after a new election period takes place