Post on 23-Dec-2015
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