Amendments by Number
First Amendment to the US constitution
What is: Freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and petition
Bill of Rights
What is: the first 10 amendments to the US constitution
What is "quartering a soldier?"
What is: Allowing a soldier to stay in your home without receiving any compensation
Which amendment says the government is not allowed to tell you what to say or what to believe in?
What is: 1st amendment
"No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
What is: 3rd amendment
Second amendment to the US constitution
What is: the right to bear arms
What does Liberty mean?
What is: The power to think and act as one sees fit without restraint except by the laws of nature and interfering with someone else’s rights.
"Certain rights...shall not be construed to deny or disparage others"
What is: People have rights beyond those listed in the Constitution, and those unlisted rights are still protected.
The right to a jury trial in federal civil cases where the disputed amount exceeds $20
What is: the 7th amendment
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
What is: 1st amendment
Eighth amendment to the US constitution
What is: A ban on extreme punishments for crimes, focusing on those that are “cruel and unusual,” as well as excessive fines or bail.
Common law
What is: A legal system where laws are developed primarily through judicial decisions and precedents rather than through written statutes (a judge makes decisions rather than having only written laws)
What does it mean to have the right to bear arms?
What is: the right to own firearms and protect personal property
Which amendment says you can't be prosecuted twice for the same crime?
What is: 5th amendment
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
What is: 4th amendment
Third amendment to the US constitution
What is: nobody can be forced to house soldiers in times of peace
Due process
What is: The government must apply laws and rules equally to all people.
"No unreasonable searches and seizures" refers to this concept:
What is: People have the right to feel safe in their own homes, and cannot be forced to let in government officials without a warrant
Which amendment grants Americans the right to a speedy public trial, and assumes everyone is innocent until proven guilty?
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
What is: 9th amendment
Tenth amendment to the US constitution
What is: Separation of federal and state law, stating that the federal government has only the powers granted to it by the United States Constitution. The states have power over everything else.
Natural/Inalienable rights
What is: Rights which belong to humans by nature and can only be justly abridged through due process. Examples are life, liberty, and property.
"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury...nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
(Just the italicized parts!)
What is: Protection against double jeopardy, the right against self-incrimination, the right to due process, eminent domain, allowing the government to take private property for public use with just compensation.
Which amendment says that states can set their own laws, but the federal government can only enforce things listed in the constitution?
What is: 10th amendment
"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
What is: 5th amendment