Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

1. Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

2. 1st Amendment - 1789 • Freedom of speech • Speak out without fear of persecution • Freedom of religion • Can be a part of any religious group & don’t have to be a part of any • Freedom of press • Protects journalists • Allows them to do their jobs & give opinions that some may not like

3. 1st Amendment • Freedom of assembly • Peacefully assemble • Freedom of petition • To say to the government “This isn’t not fair!”

4. 2nd Amendment • Citizens have the right to own guns.

5. 3rd Amendment • Citizens do not have to house soldiers.

6. 4th Amendment • In order to search someone’s things or person, the government must have probable cause. • Probable cause - legitimate reason or some type of proof. • In order to search, a court must issue a warrant. • Warrant – permission to search

7. 5th Amendment • You can’t be put on trial for the exact same crime twice. • The government must follow correct procedures to accuse or search a person. • A person does not have to answer a question if it will make them look guilty – • “I plead the 5th!”

8. 6th Amendment • Any person who is accused of a crime should get a speedy trial by a jury. • That person can have a lawyer during the trial & must be told what they are being accused of. • The person can call witnesses & question the other side’s witnesses.

9. 7th Amendment • A trial jury is needed in civil cases.

10. 8th Amendment • The government cannot require excessive bail or fines, or any cruel and unusual punishment.

11. 9th Amendment • Says that the listing of individual rights in the Constitution & Bill of Rights does not include all of the rights of the people & the states.

12. 10th Amendment • Any powers that the Constitution does not give to the United States belongs to the states and the people. • This does not include powers that the Constitution says the states cannot have.

13. 11th Amendment - 1795 • Immunity of states from lawsuits by out-of-state citizens & foreigners not living within the state borders.

14. 12th Amendment - 1804 • Changed how Presidents ran for office. • Presidents & Vice Presidents were voted for separately.

15. 13th Amendment - 1865 • Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in the United States.

16. 14th Amendment - 1868 • Citizenship is given to ANYONE born in the United States. • Equal protection under the law • Eliminated 3/5ths Compromise

17. 15th Amendment - 1870 • All men were given the right to vote.

18. 16th Amendment – 1913 • The federal government was given the right to tax our incomes.

19. 17th Amendment - 1913 • Direct election of Senators • People in the states would elect the Senators instead of them being appointed by the state legislatures

20. 18th Amendment - 1919 • Prohibition – no making, selling, or purchasing alcohol. • Drinking???

21. 19th Amendment - 1920 • WOMEN were given the right to vote!!

22. 20th Amendment - 1933 • Moved the Presidential inauguration from March to January.

23. 21st Amendment - 1933 • Repealed the 18th Amendment • Allowed alcohol

24. 22nd Amendment - 1951 • Presidents can only be elected to two terms of office.

25. 23rd Amendment - 1961 • Washington, D.C. is given 3 votes in the Electoral College. • They can vote for President.

26. 24th Amendment - 1964 • Poll taxes are not allowed.

27. 25th Amendment - 1967 • If the President dies, the Vice President takes over. • Then he/she gets to select a new Vice President.

28. 26th Amendment - 1971 • 18 year olds can vote!

29. 27th Amendment - 1992 • Congress can give itself a raise, but it won’t take effect until a new Congress starts. • New one every 2 years.