Reconstruction Amendments
Which amendment abolished slavery?
13th Amendment
What is the 14 Amendment?
Guarantees equal protection under the law
What is another name for the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Elastic Clause
What does the 9th Amendment say?
People have rights beyond those listed in the Constitution
“The government that governs best is the one that governs least, allowing individuals the freedom to make their own choices without excessive interference.”
limited government
Which amendment protected voting rights regardless of race?
15th Amendment
What clause applies many Bill of Rights protections to the states?
Equal Protection / Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment
Which branch of government uses the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Congress / Legislative Branch
Why was the 9th Amendment added?
To show listed rights are not the only rights people have
“The legitimacy of any government rests on the consent of the governed; without the people’s approval, authority is meaningless.”
popular soverignty
What three amendments are known as the Reconstruction Amendments?
13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
What does the 14th Amendment say about citizenship?
Anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. is a citizen
What type of powers does this clause help Congress carry out?
Enumerated powers
The 9th Amendment protects what type of rights?
Enumerated rights
“If one branch of government gains too much power, liberty is threatened; therefore, each branch must have ways to limit the others.”
checks and balances
After which war were the Reconstruction Amendments added?
The Civil War
What concept describes applying the Bill of Rights to states?
Incorporation
Why do critics worry about this clause?
It may allow the federal government to expand power too much
Name an example often associated with 9th Amendment debates. (ex. abortion)
Right to privacy
“In order to maintain unity and ensure national progress, the central government must have the authority to act decisively, even if it means overriding state decisions.”
Supremacy Clause
What was the main goal of the Reconstruction Amendments?
Expand civil rights and protections for formerly enslaved people
Why is the 14th Amendment considered important today?
It protects civil rights and ensures equal treatment under the law
Why did the Federalist want to include the necessary and proper clause in the Constitution?
To allow the national government to efficiently run the country.
Why do some judges interpret the 9th Amendment cautiously?
It does not clearly list specific rights
“While safety is important, sacrificing personal freedoms for security risks undermining the very principles this nation was founded upon.”
protecting individual rights over increasing government powers