The U.S.
Constitutional
Amendments
Bill of Rights
• First ten
amendments to
the
Constitution
• They were all
ratified in 1791
as a package
Amendment 1
• Freedom of Religion: guarantees
Americans the right to practice any
religion, or no religion at all.
• Forbids Congress from forming an official
national religion
• Established the division of church and
state
• Freedom of Speech: the right to express
ideas and opinions and the right to listen
to ideas and opinions of others
• cannot be exercised in any way that
might cause physical harm to others
Amendment 1 Continued
• Freedom of Press: freedom to express
in writing, provided they do not state
falsehoods that damage a persons
reputation (libel)
• Freedom of Assembly: freedom to hold
meetings.
• People can gather and discuss their
views about government decisions
• Meetings must be peaceful
Amendment 2
• Right to Keep Arms
• This guarantees that the states right
to have a militia (National Guard) is
guaranteed
Amendment 3
• Quartering of
Soldiers
• In peacetime,
troops may not
take over private
houses
Amendment 4
• Search and Seizure Warrants
• the govt. is limited in its right to search
and take custody of people and their
property
• a search warrant can be issued by a
judge only if there is good reason for its
use
• it must describe the place to be searched
and the person or property to be seized
Amendment 5
• Rights of Persons accused of a crime
• cannot be tried for serious crime unless
first indicted, or accused, by a grand jury
• cannot be tried twice for the same crime
(double jeopardy)
• cannot be forced to testify against self
• No person can be deprived of life, liberty,
or property except by lawful means
• Govt. cannot take private property for
public use without paying a fair price for it
Amendment 6
• Right to a Speedy Trial
• an accused person is entitled to a
speedy, public trial by a jury in the state
where the crime was committed
• Accused person must be told of the
charges against him or her
• is entitled to have a lawyer
• Accused person has the right to question
anyone who gives testimony against him
or her and to call defense witnesses
Amendment 7
• Jury trial in civil cases
• A jury trial in civil cases is guaranteed
when the matter amounts to more
than $20
Amendment 8
• Excessive bail or
punishment
• bails, fines, and
punishment must be
fair and reasonable
Amendment 9
• Powers reserved to the people
• the listing of rights guaranteed in the
Constitution does not mean that
these are the only basic rights or than
other basic rights may be restricted
Amendment 10
• Powers reserved to the states
• All powers not given to the federal
government are left to the states and
the people
Amendment 11
• Suites against States
• Any suite brought against a state by a
citizen of another state or of a foreign
country must be tried in the courts of
the state being sued and not in a
federal court
Amendment 12
• Election of President and Vice-
President
• This amendment changed Article 2
• After this amendment electors were
instructed to cast separate ballots for
president and vice-president
Amendment 13
• Abolishment of Slavery
• Slavery will no longer be allowed in the
United States or in any area governed by
the United States
Amendment 14
• Rights of citizens
• citizenship is given to African Americans
• States are forbidden to deny equal
privileges and protection by law to any
citizen
• a state representation in Congress could
be reduced for denying these rights
• Former officials of the Confederacy were
barred from holding public office
• all federal govt. debts from the Civil War
were to be paid, Confederate debts were
Amendment 15
• Right to Suffrage
• Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote
because of their race or color, or because of prior
enslavement
Amendment 16
• Taxes on Income
• Congress is given the power to pass
a law taxing incomes
Amendment 17
• Election of Senators
• Senators are to be elected by voters of
each state
• Vacancy may be filled by special election
• governor may be given the power by the
state legislature to appoint someone
temporarily to fill the vacancy
Amendment 18
• National Prohibition
• The making, sale and transportation of
alcoholic beverages in the United States
are prohibited
Amendment 19
• Women’s
Suffrage
• The right of
women to
vote is
guaranteed
nationwide
Amendment 20
• Lame Duck
• a defeated candidate who holds office
after their replacement has been elected
has little influence
• Congress is to meet at least once a year
• If the president should die before Jan 20
or fails to qualify, the office of president
is filled by the vice-president
Amendment 21
• National Prohibition is Repealed
• Amendment 18 is repealed
• State may prohibit the transportation, sale
and possession of alcoholic beverages
Amendment 22
• 2 term limit for President
• a president is limited to 2 full terms in
office
• if a vice-president has already served
more than 2 years as president, this
person may be elected president only
once
Amendment 23
• Presidental electors for the District of
Columbia
• Residents of Washington DC are given
the right to vote for president and vice-
president
• In effect, this amendment gives the
District of Columbia 3 electoral votes
Amendment 24
• Prohibition of Poll Taxes for National
Elections
• poll taxes may not be a requirement for
voting for federal officials
• In 1966 the Supreme Court ruled that poll
taxes were also illegal as a requirement
for voting in state and local elections
Amendment 25
• Presidential Succession
• If the office of president becomes vacant
due to death or resignation, the vice-
president becomes president
• If the office of VP becomes vacant the
pres. May appoint someone to fill this
office
• This appointment must be approved by a
majority vote in Congress
Amendment 26
• Voting age lowered to 18
• the minimum voting age is lowered to 18
in all federal, state, and local elections
Amendment 27
• Congressional Pay Raises
• Any increase in Congressional pay does
not go into effect until after the next
regular election of the House of
Representatives