Foundations of the Constitution
This document, written in 1787, created the framework for the U.S. government.
What is the Constitution?
This amendment protects several core freedoms, including the ability to express ideas, practice religion freely, publish information, gather in groups, and petition the government without punishment.
What is the 1st Amendment?
Ratified after the Civil War, this amendment permanently outlawed slavery in the United States, while still allowing involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.
What is the 13th Amendment?
This amendment established Prohibition by banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol across the United States.
What is the 18th Amendment?
This amendment reversed a previous amendment by ending the nationwide ban on alcohol, making it the only amendment specifically created to repeal another.
What is the 21st Amendment?
This term describes the first ten amendments added to the Constitution, which focus on protecting individual freedoms and limiting government power.
What is the Bill of Rights?
This amendment protects an individual’s right to own and carry weapons, and is often debated in connection to public safety and personal freedom.
What is the 2nd Amendment?
This amendment restructured the Electoral College system by requiring electors to cast separate ballots for President and Vice President following complications in early elections.
What is the 12th Amendment?
This amendment expanded suffrage by guaranteeing that the right to vote could not be denied on the basis of sex, marking a major victory for the women’s rights movement.
What is the 19th Amendment?
This amendment limits the amount of time a President can serve in office, setting a maximum of two elected terms following concerns about long-term leadership.
What is the 22nd Amendment?
This is the only way to remove an existing amendment from the Constitution.
What is creating a new amendment to repeal another amendment?
This amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures and requires law enforcement to have a warrant supported by probable cause.
What is the 4th Amendment?
Often considered one of the most important amendments, this one defines citizenship, includes the Due Process Clause, and requires states to provide equal protection under the law.
What is the 14th Amendment?
This amendment shifted the power of selecting U.S. Senators from state legislatures to the voters, increasing democratic participation in government.
What is the 17th Amendment?
Influenced by arguments during the Vietnam War era, this amendment expanded suffrage by lowering the voting age nationwide from 21 to 18.
What is the 26th Amendment?
This process allows the Constitution to be formally changed, requiring approval from both Congress and the states, making it intentionally difficult to complete.
What is the amendment process?
This amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to remain silent and the guarantee of due process.
What is the 5th Amendment?
This amendment was passed in response to a Supreme Court case and limits the ability of individuals to bring lawsuits against states in federal court, reinforcing state sovereignty.
What is the 11th Amendment?
This amendment granted the federal government the authority to collect income taxes directly from individuals, significantly increasing its ability to generate revenue.
What is the 16th Amendment?
This amendment granted citizens living in Washington, D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections by giving the district electoral votes.
What is the 23rd Amendment?
This principle explains why the Constitution can be changed over time through amendments, allowing it to adapt to new ideas and issues.
What is a living document?
This amendment emphasizes that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that other rights do not exist, protecting unenumerated rights retained by the people.
What is the 9th Amendment?
Passed during Reconstruction, this amendment sought to protect the voting rights of formerly enslaved individuals by prohibiting restrictions based on race, though many states later found ways to bypass it.
What is the 15th Amendment?
This amendment altered the timing of federal government transitions by setting new start dates for Congress and the President, reducing the “lame duck” period after elections.
What is the 20th Amendment?
This amendment eliminated poll taxes in federal elections, removing a financial barrier that had been used to restrict voting rights, especially in the South.
What is the 24th Amendment?