rights and liberties
Ratified in 1791, this amendment is often called the “freedom of conscience,” since it guarantees the government cannot establish a national religion or silence dissent.
What is the 1st Amendment?
The phrase “plead the Fifth” refers to rights against self-incrimination in this amendment.
What is the 5th Amendment?
The election of 1800 exposed flaws that this amendment fixed by requiring separate votes for president and vice president.
What is the 12th Amendment?
The “Noble Experiment” banning alcohol was launched by this amendment.
What is the 18th Amendment?
This amendment repealed Prohibition.
What is the 21st Amendment?
This amendment, rarely cited today, was a response to colonial resentment of the Quartering Acts.
What is the 3rd Amendment?
This amendment guarantees the right to confront witnesses and have counsel during a trial.
What is the 6th Amendment?
Known for its Equal Protection Clause, this amendment also introduced the principle of birthright citizenship.
What is the 14th Amendment?
What is the 14th Amendment?
Ratified after the Civil War, this amendment legally abolished slavery.
What is the 13th Amendment?
This amendment lowered the voting age to 18, largely due to the Vietnam War draft.
What is the 26th Amendment?
The exclusionary rule, established in Mapp v. Ohio (1961), comes from protections in this amendment.
What is the 4th Amendment?
This amendment underpins “states’ rights” arguments by reserving undelegated powers to the states or people.
What is the 10th Amendment?
Ratified in 1933, this amendment moved Inauguration Day from March 4 to January 20.
What is the 20th Amendment?
The first voting rights amendment, this one prohibited racial discrimination in voting but did not yet protect women.
What is the 15th Amendment?
This amendment limited presidents to two elected terms.
What is the 22nd Amendment?
What is the 22nd Amendment?
The Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) centered on the individual right guaranteed by this amendment.
What is the 2nd Amendment?
This amendment makes clear that unenumerated rights are still protected.
What is the 9th Amendment?
This amendment gave Congress the explicit power to collect an income tax.
What is the 16th Amendment?
What is the 16th Amendment?
This amendment shifted senatorial elections from state legislatures to the people.
What is the 17th Amendment?
This amendment, proposed in 1789 but not ratified until 1992, restricts congressional pay raises from taking effect until the next term.
What is the 27th Amendment?
This amendment preserves the right to a jury in civil suits where damages exceed $20.
What is the 7th Amendment?
The prohibition of “excessive bail” originates from English law and appears in this amendment.
What is the 8th Amendment?
This amendment gave women the right to vote in 1920.
What is the 19th Amendment?
This amendment was a reaction to Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), limiting lawsuits against states.
What is the 11th Amendment?
This amendment banned poll taxes in federal elections.
What is the 24th Amendment?