Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

AMENDMENTS TO THE US CONSTITUION

Can also be found in the appendix of your text.

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

1st Amendment

Religious and Political Freedom (1791)

• Freedom of Speech is a basic right in America- verbal or symbolic

• Religion• Press• Assembly • Redress of Grievances ( right to complain and ask

for change)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

2nd Amendment

• Right to Bear Arms (1791)• “ A well regulated militia, being necessary to

the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

• Many people now believe this Amendment means: Everyone has the right to own a weapon.

• An "Informal Change" or "Informal Amendment" to the Constitution is one where the interpretation of the Constitution is changed by a Supreme Court ruling, rather than by a formal constitutional amendment or change of wording.

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

3rd Amendment

• No Quartering Troops in citizens homes (1791)

• During the American Revolution this was an issue

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

4th Amendment

• No unlawful Search and Seizure (1791)

• Probable cause – the police can search due to probable cause (belief there is a problem or law being broken)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

5th Amendment

• Rights of Accused Persons (1791)

• “ No Double Jeopardy” Can’t be tried for the same crime twice

• No forced confessions: may remain silent

• A Grand Jury will decide if the government has enough evidence to press charges

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

6th Amendment

• Right to a Speedy, Public Trail (1791)

• Miranda Rights- Miranda Warning (1966)

• Gideon v. Wainright- added right to an attorney

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

7th Amendment

• Trail by Jury in Civil Cases (1791)• Rules of Common Law• Individuals/ groups/ businesses suing each other or

the government for damages.• Not a Criminal Issue.• Goldman v. Simpson ( $) A family sued for

damages for wrongful death.• Jones v. Clinton ( $) A former Arkansas employee

sued the former governor for money due to alleged sexual harassment.

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

8th Amendment

• Limits of Fines and Punishment (1791)• NO Excessive Bail• No Excessive Punishments:

– To date the death sentence is not cruel.– Each state decides the method for the state.– Current methods used throughout the USA

• Lethal Injection, Electric chair, Hanging, Gas Chamber, Firing Squad.

• The Federal Government will only use Lethal Injection for Federal Death Sentences

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

9th Amendment

• Rights of People (1791)

• You have more rights than are written down

• The Right of Privacy ( Implied)

• The right to travel freely with out government papers (custom)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

10th Amendment

• Powers of State and People (1791)

• The Federal Government is limited in that some powers are reserved for the states and the people.

• This is a states rights amendment

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

11th Amendment

• Lawsuits Against States (1795)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

12th Amendment

• Election of Executives (1804)

• President and Vice-President Elected as a Team

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

13th Amendment

• Slavery Abolished (1865)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

14th Amendment

• Civil Rights (1868)

• If born in the United States, you are a citizen of the United States.

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

15th Amendment

• Right to Vote (1870)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

16th Amendment

• Income Tax (1913)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

17th Amendment

• Direct Election of Senators (1913)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

18th Amendment

• Prohibition (1919)

• No Alcohol

• No Buying , Selling, or Manufacturing of Alcohol

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

19th Amendment

• Woman Suffrage (1920)

• Right to Vote

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

20th Amendment

• “Lame Duck” Sessions (1933)

• Lessons Time from the election to taking office

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

21st Amendment

• Repeal of Prohibition (1933)

• Alcohol is O.k.

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

22nd Amendment

• Limit on Presidential Terms (1951)

• Two term limit

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

23rd Amendment

• Voting in District of Columbia (1961)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

24th Amendment

• Abolition of Poll Taxes (1964)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

25th Amendment

• Presidential Disability, Succession (1967)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

26th Amendment

• 18-Year-Old Vote (1971)

Adapted by

Kelly M. Taylor

27th Amendment

• Congressional Pay (1992)