Rights & Freedoms
This amendment guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition
What is the 1st amendment?
This amendment ensures an impartial jury and the right to confront witnesses, forming the backbone of criminal trial fairness.
What is the 6th amendment?
This amendment abolished slavery, except as punishment for a crime.
What is the 13th Amendment?
This amendment created separate ballots for president and vice president to prevent election deadlocks like the one in 1800.
What is the 12th Amendment?
This amendment restricts lawsuits against states, making it harder to sue a state in federal court.
What is the 11th Amendment?
This amendment allows citizens to own firearms for protection.
What is the 2nd Amendment?
This amendment preserves the right to a jury in civil cases, reflecting the Founders’ distrust of government judges.
What is the 7th Amendment?
This amendment’s Equal Protection Clause became the foundation for major civil rights rulings, including school desegregation.
What is the 14th Amendment?
This amendment shifted inauguration to January 20 to shorten the “lame duck” period.
What is the 20th Amendment?
This amendment created the federal income tax, dramatically expanding government revenue.
What is the 16th Amendment?
This amendment prevents the government from forcing you to house soldiers in your home
What is the 3rd Amendment?
This amendment limits excessive bail and forbids punishments that are inhumane.
What is the 8th Amendment?
This amendment prohibits denying voting rights based on race, though states later used loopholes to suppress voters.
What is the 15th Amendment?
This amendment limits presidents to two terms, a response to FDR’s unprecedented four elections.
What is the 22nd Amendment?
This amendment banned alcohol nationwide, launching the Prohibition era.
What is the 18th Amendment?
This amendment requires police to have a warrant or probable cause before searching your property
What is the 4th Amendment?
This amendment protects rights not explicitly listed, recognizing that the Constitution cannot name every liberty.
What is the 9th Amendment?
This amendment expanded democracy by granting women the right to vote after decades of activism.
What is the 19th Amendment?
This amendment allows the vice president and cabinet to declare a president unable to perform duties.
What is the 25th Amendment?
This amendment repealed Prohibition, marking the only time one amendment has undone another.
What is the 21st Amendment?
This amendment includes the right to remain silent and protects you from being tried twice for the same crime
What is the 5th Amendment?
This amendment reserves undelegated powers to the states or the people, forming the basis of federalism debates.
What is the 10th Amendment?
This amendment lowered the voting age to 18, influenced by the argument “old enough to fight, old enough to vote.”
What is the 26th Amendment?
This amendment changed how senators are chosen, giving the people direct election power instead of state legislatures.
What is the 17th Amendment?
This amendment prevents Congress from giving itself an immediate pay raise, delaying it until after the next election.
What is the 27th Amendment?