Amendments
1-5
1-5
The 1st Amendment
Freedom of religion, speech, petition and assembly
(Guarantees the right to the freedoms of speech, press, and religion)
The 6th Amendment
Right to speedy and public trial, impartial jury and right to counsel.
(Guarantees fair and speedy jury trial and the rights to know the accusation, the accuser, and to find counsel and witnesses)
The 11th Amendment
Federal courts so not have the authority to hear cases brought by private citizens against states.
The 16th Amendment
Established federal income tax.
(Reserves the U.S. government the right to tax income)
The 21st Amendment
Repeal of Prohibition
(State laws over alcohol are to remain)
The 2nd Amendment
Right to Bear Arms
(Guarantees the people’s right to own and bear arms for their defense)
The 7th Amendment
Right to a trial by jury in common-law cases.
(Reserves individuals’ rights to jury trial depending on the civil case, and cases already examined by not be re-opened by another court)
The 12th Amendment
Separated balloting procedures for president and vice-president (put them as a team).
(Modifies and clarifies the procedure for electing vice-presidents and presidents)
The 17th Amendment
Direct election of U.S. Senators.
(Establishes popular voting as the process under which senators are elected)
The 22nd Amendment
Presidents limited to 2 terms.
(Limit the terms that an individual can be elected as president )
The 3rd Amendment
No quartering of soldiers
(Citizens cannot be forced to quarter soldiers during times of peace)
The 8th Amendment
Protection against cruel and unusual punishment. No excessive bail imposed.
(Forbids exorbitant bails and fines and punishment that is unusual or cruel)
The 13th Amendment
Abolition of slavery.
(forbids forced-slavery and involuntary servitude)
The 18th Amendment
Prohibition
(Denies the sale and consumption of alcohol)
The 23rd Amendment
D.C. given presidential electors.
(Reserves the right of citizens residing in the District of Columbia to vote for their own Electors for presidential elections)
The 4th Amendment
Protection against illegal search and seizure
(Citizens cannot be forced to subject themselves to seizure and search without a search warrant and probable cause)
The 9th Amendment
The enumeration of rights in the Constitution won't be used against the people.
(Reserves the rights of citizens which are not specifically mentioned by the Constitution)
The 14th Amendment
Granted former slaves citizenship and equal protection, established principle of selective incorporation.
(Details Equal Protection Clause, Due Process Clause, Citizenship Clause, and clauses dealing with the Confederacy and its officials)
The 19th Amendment
Women have the right to vote.
(Reserves women’s suffrage rights)
The 24th Amendment
The 25th Amendment
Poll tax is illegal.
(citizens cannot be denied the suffrage rights for not paying a poll tax or any other taxes)
Established VP as successor if P is unable to serve. P can nominate a VP if there is a VP vacancy.
(establishes the procedures for a successor of a President)
The 5th Amendment
Protection against self-incrimination, double jeopardy. Protection of due process and right to a grand jury.
(Protects citizens from self-incrimination and double jeopardy)
The 10th Amendment
Reserved powers to the states.
(Reserves powers that are not given to the U.S. government under the Constitution)
The 15th Amendment
African-American men could vote.
(Reserves citizens the suffrage rights regardless of their race, color, or previous slave status)
The 20th Amendment
President and vice-president's term of office begins on January 20th, and no longer in March.
(establishes date of term starts for Congress (January 3) & the President (January 20))
The 26th Amendment
The 27th Amendment
18-year-olds have the right to vote.
(Reserves the right for citizens 18 and older to vote)
Congressional pay raises will only take effect after the next election.
(Denies any laws that vary the salaries of Congress members until the beginning of the next terms of office for Representatives)