AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

By: Catherine Barnett

Overview

Amendments meant to restrict the national-not state government

First 10 amendments proposed on September 25, 1789

Passed December 15, 1791

1st Amendment

Guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition

2nd Amendment

Protects the right to bear arms

Originally for the Minute Men

State and Federal Government can regulate

3rd Amendment

Protected civilians from oppression of British troops

Obsolete

4th Amendment

Search and seizure Protects: persons,

houses, papers, and effects

Exclusions: probable cause, oath or affirmation, and consent

5th Amendment

Protection against self-incrimination

Protection against double jeopardy

6th Amendment

Right to a speedy and public trial

Right to a jury Right to an

attorney Right to know

charges

8th Amendment

Bail must not be excessive

Prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment

13th Amendment

Slavery illegal in the United States

Forbids forced labor Exceptions:

punishments for crime, service on juries or in armed forces

Ratified: December 6, 1865

15th Amendment

Gave right to vote to African Americans (previous slaves)

Ratified: February 3, 1870

18th Amendment

Prohibition Act Banning

intoxicating liquors Making, selling,

transporting, importing, or exporting became illegal in U.S.

Ratified: January 16, 1919

19th Amendment

Gave equal voting rights to citizens not based on sex

Ratified: August 18, 1920

21st Amendment

Repealed the 18th amendment (prohibition)

Transportation, importation and distribution regulations to state

Ratified: December 5, 1933

22nd Amendment

Presidents elected to office may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms

Franklin D. Roosevelt served 4 terms

Ratified: February 27, 1951

26th Amendment

18 becomes the new minimum voting age

States may put the minimum voting age lower

Ratified: July 1, 1971

Sources & SitesSmith, Mary M. American Government. Englewood Cliffs, New

Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1993. 736-42. Print.

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