Bill of Rights
A local police officer stops John on the street and demands to search his backpack without a warrant or probable cause. Which amendment protects John’s right against this search?
The 4th Amendment (Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures)
After the Civil War, the federal government passed a law granting citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S. and ensuring equal protection under the law. Which amendment was this?
The 14th Amendment (Equal protection and citizenship)
During the Great Depression, the government tried to prevent people from drinking alcohol to curb social problems, but this led to illegal alcohol trade. Which amendment, passed in 1919, prohibited alcohol?
The 18th Amendment (Prohibition).
When the U.S. Constitution was first drafted in 1787, it didn’t include a Bill of Rights. Which group pushed for the inclusion of the first 10 amendments to secure individual liberties?
The Anti-Federalists.
In 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition. Which earlier amendment did the 21st Amendment undo?
The 18th Amendment (Prohibition).
Jessica was arrested and accused of stealing a car. When questioned, the police asked her to confess, and if she didn't, they said she would be locked up forever. Which right is being violated here?
The 5th Amendment (Protection against self-incrimination)
In 1867, an African American man attempted to vote but was turned away because of a law requiring a literacy test. Which amendment, ratified after the Civil War, aimed to prevent such discrimination?
The 15th Amendment (Right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude)
In 1964, a Southern state imposed a poll tax to prevent African Americans from voting in elections. Which amendment banned this practice?
The 24th Amendment (Outlawed poll taxes)
The Constitution allows Congress to propose an amendment with a two-thirds majority vote. What must happen next for the amendment to become law?
It must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by special ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states.
The 25th Amendment (1967) was crucial for ensuring a smooth transition of power in the event of a president’s death or incapacity. What did it clarify regarding the vice president's role?
The 25th Amendment clarifies that the vice president becomes president if the president is unable to serve.
A group of citizens in a small town decided to hold a rally in a public park to protest a local government decision. The police shut down the protest, saying it would disturb the peace. What specific right did the police violate?
The 1st Amendment (Freedom of speech and peaceful assembly)
The U.S. Constitution originally allowed the president and vice president to be chosen separately, which led to some problematic results. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied in the electoral college. Which amendment fixed this issue?
The 12th Amendment (Electoral College reform)
Following the 1932 election, Franklin D. Roosevelt won a second term. However, he served an unprecedented four terms as president. Which amendment was passed to prevent this from happening again?
The 22nd Amendment (Limits presidents to two terms).
After the 14th Amendment was ratified, it became a key tool for challenging segregation. What legal doctrine did the Supreme Court use to justify the separate-but-equal doctrine, which lasted for nearly 60 years?
The Plessy v. Ferguson decision (1896)
The 23rd Amendment gave residents of Washington D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections. Prior to this, how many electoral votes did D.C. have?
Zero (They gained 3 electoral votes through the 23rd Amendment).
David is sentenced to death after being found guilty of J-Walking. His lawyer argues that the punishment is far too severe for the crime he committed. Which amendment addresses the fairness of punishment?
The 8th Amendment (Protection from cruel and unusual punishment)
After the Civil War, a series of laws were passed in Southern states to prevent African Americans from fully participating in society, including voting. Which amendment was intended to end such practices by guaranteeing voting rights to all men, regardless of race?
The 15th Amendment.
In the 1960s, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, but Southern states still found ways to restrict voting rights. Which amendment, ratified in 1965, gave Congress the power to prevent these voting restrictions?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (related to the 15th Amendment, though not technically an amendment itself, Congress used it to strengthen protections).
In the 1970s, an amendment was introduced to guarantee women’s equality under the law. While it passed Congress, it failed to be ratified by enough states. What was this amendment called?
The Equal Rights Amendment.
The 17th Amendment (1913) changed the way U.S. senators were selected. How were they chosen before this amendment?
Senators were chosen by state legislatures.
Sarah was arrested for protesting a local law. While being held in custody, the authorities refused to allow her to speak to a lawyer. Which right, guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, did the police violate?
The 6th Amendment (Right to counsel)
In the 19th century, many people argued that the federal government should intervene to address the issue of slavery in the United States. Which amendment completely abolished the institution of slavery but allowed exceptions for those convicted of crimes?
The 13th Amendment (Abolition of slavery and involuntary servitude)
In 1971, Congress passed a law lowering the legal voting age to 18. What historical event contributed to this change, which was later codified in the 26th Amendment?
The Vietnam War, where young men were drafted at 18 but couldn’t vote
The 27th Amendment (ratified in 1992) prevents Congress from changing its own salary without waiting for the next election. What makes this amendment unique in terms of its ratification process?
It was proposed in 1789 but not ratified until over 200 years later, making it the longest ratification process in U.S. history.
In 1961, Washington, D.C. was granted the right to vote in presidential elections through the 23rd Amendment. However, D.C. residents still do not have full voting representation in Congress. What significant limitation does D.C. face in the political system today?
Washington, D.C. residents do not have voting representation in Congress, meaning they have no voting members in the House of Representatives or Senate.