United States Constitutional Amendments 1-27

Amendment I

– Freedom of Religion, Speech and the Press; Rights of Assembly and Petition.

 

Amendment II

- Right to Bear Arms; The amendment was adopted so that Congress could not disarm a state militia.

 

Amendment III

– Housing of Soldiers; Grew directly out of an old complaint against the British, who had forced people to take soldiers into their homes.

 

Amendment IV

– Search and Seizure; You may not be searched or have property seized without probable cause and/or a search warrant.

 

Amendment V

- Rights of the accused; (Self-incrimination, Double Jeopardy, Due Process, Just Compensation)

 

Amendment VI

- Rights to a Fair Trial;  (Speedy and Public Trial by Jury*, Tried in state where crime was committed, Informed of charges against accused, Witnesses, Right to a lawyer)

 

Amendment VII

- Rights in Civil Cases; (Trial by jury in civil cases over $20)

 

Amendment VIII

– Cruel and Unusual Punishment; Bails, fines and punishments must be humane and fit the crime committed

 

Amendment IX

– Rights Retained by the People; Any rights not listed in the Constitution are still protected

 

Amendment X

– Powers Retained by the States and the People; States or people have all powers not given to national government. (ie: marriage)

 

Amendment XI

– Lawsuits Against States; It is impossible for the citizen of one state to sue another state. (So, Salem can’t sue Iowa)

 

Amendment XII

– Election of President and Vice President; (1804) Provides that members of the electoral college (called electors), vote for one person as president and one person as vice president.

 

Amendment XIII

– Abolition of Slavery; 1st CIVIL WAR AMENDMENT - Slavery is illegal

 

Amendment XIV

- Civil Rights; 2nd CIVIL WAR AMENDMENT - Slaves receive Citizenship and protection of due process

 

Amendment XV

– African American Suffrage; 3rd CIVIL WAR AMENDMENT - African Americans receive the right to vote...note that there is no mention of gender…

 

Amendment XVI

– Income Taxes; Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes

 

Amendment XVII

- Direct Election of Senators; The states have the power to directly elect senators to represent them. (before this, the state legislature decided who the senators were)

 

Amendment XVIII

- Prohibition of Liquor; (1919) Forbade people to make, sell, or transport liquor.

 

Amendment XIX

-Women’s Suffrage; Gives women the power to vote

 

Amendment XX

- Terms of President and Congress; Moves the date that newly elected presidents and members of Congress take office close to election time. President: January 20th, Congress: January 3rd

 

Amendment XXI

-Repeal of Prohibition; Repeals the 18th amendment.

 

Amendment XXII

- Limitation of Presidents to Two Terms; No person can be elected president more than twice.

 

Amendment XXIII

- Suffrage in the District of Columbia; Allows citizens of Washington D.C. to vote in the presidential elections. However, they cannot vote for members of Congress.

 

Amendment XXIV

-Poll Taxes; Forbids making voters pay a poll tax before they can vote in a national election.

 

Amendment XXV

- Presidential Disability and Succession; If president is removed, dies, or resigns, the vice president becomes president. The president fulfills a vice president vacancy, by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

 

Amendment XXVI

- Suffrage for 18-Year-Olds; Voting age moved to 18

 

Amendment XXVII

- Congressional Pay Raises; Any increase in congressional pay does not go into effect until after the next regular election of the House of Representatives.