The Amendments

to the ConstitutionUnit 4

• First 10 amendments to the Constitution

• Guarantees personal rights to life, liberty, and property

• Added to ensure that all states would ratify the Constitution

• Most of the amendments relate to specific complaints against the British rule

Bill of Rights4-1

• Freedom of:Religion

• Establishment Clause – the government cannot make us all one religion

• The government cannot prohibit expressions of religion

Speech• When does a person’s freedom

intrude on someone else’s rights?

First Amendment

Press• The Press acts as a watchdog over the

government• Freedom of press can be limited to

prevent lies and protect people’s safety

To assemble or protest peacefully• Means you have the right to criticize

the government, as long as it does not interfere with others

To petition the government• You can contact your government with

complaints, concerns, or ideas

First Amendment

• Grants the right to own a gun for militia purposes

• Gun ownership can serve as another check and balance on the government

• Are restrictions on gun ownership constitutional?

Second Amendment

• The government may not house soldiers in private homes

Third Amendment

• Searches and seizures must be reasonable

• Requires warrants or just cause for searches

Fourth Amendment

• Protects the rights of accused people

• A Grand Jury must indict a person if there is enough evidence

• A person may not be tried more than once for the same crime (double jeopardy)

• People cannot be forced to testify against themselves (“I plead the fifth”)

Fifth Amendment

• The right to a speedy and public trial

• The right to know all of the accusations against you and the accusers

• Legal counsel must be provided to defendants

Sixth Amendment

• Says that jury trials are available for civil suits–Civil Cases are lawsuits that do

NOT result in criminal punishment

Seventh Amendment

• No excessive fines• No cruel and unusual

punishment–Directly relates to the debate over

the death penalty as people disagree over what’s cruel and unusual.

Eighth Amendment

• People’s rights are not limited to those mentioned in the Constitution

Ninth Amendment

• The state retains all powers not expressed or prohibited in the Constitution

Tenth Amendment

#11 Amendment– Federal courts cannot rule in lawsuits against states

#12 Amendment– Changes to the electoral college process

#13 Amendment– Abolished slavery

#14 Amendment– Equal protection of the laws to all races

#15 Amendment– Black males given the right to vote

#16 Amendment– Income tax

Changes in Government Functions

#17 Amendment– Direct election of senators

#18 Amendment– Prohibition of alcohol

#19 Amendment– Women’s right to vote

#20 Amendment– Changes dates for inauguration and start of a new session of Congress

#21 Amendment– Repeal of prohibition of alcohol, Amendment # 18

Changes in Government Functions

#22 Amendment– Limits president to two terms

#23 Amendment– Electoral votes for Washington, D.C.

#24 Amendment– Outlawed poll taxes –tax charged for voting

#25 Amendment– Presidential disability and line of succession

Changes in Government Functions

Changes in Government Functions

#26 Amendment– 18 yr. old right to vote

#27 Amendment– Limits on Congressional pay raises