amendments

1st amendment

Protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd amendment

Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

3rd amendment

Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent during peacetime.

remember: ¼ (quarter) → 1/3?

4th amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring warrants to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause.

5th amendment

Provides the right to due process and protects against double jeopardy and self-incrimination.

remember: jeopardy comes on at 5

6th amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair and speedy trial, as well as the right to a lawyer and an impartial jury.

remember: the average trial is 6 days

7th amendment

Guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases and prevents re-examination of facts tried by a jury.

remember: there are 7 members in a jury

8th amendment

Prohibits excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

remember: 8 looks like a noose (death punishment)

9th amendment

Protects rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, ensuring that the listing of certain rights does not mean others do not exist.

10th amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

11th amendment

Limits lawsuits against states in federal courts.

remember: 11 → ll (limit lawsuits)

12th amendment

Revised the electoral process for electing the President and Vice President, ensuring they are elected together on the same ballot.

remember: 1st (pres) + 2nd (vice) voted together

13th amendment

Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States.

14th amendment

Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.

15th amendment

Prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

16th amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income taxes from individuals.

17th amendment

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote, changing the way Senators were chosen from state legislatures.

18th amendment

Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States, leading to the era of Prohibition.

remember: age of drinking over seas

19th amendment

Grants women the right to vote in federal and state elections, enfranchising female citizens.

remember: ratified in 1920

20th amendment

Known as the "Lame Duck Amendment," it shortened the time between presidential elections and the beginning of the new term, moving Inauguration Day to January 20.

remember: inauguration Day January 20

21st amendment

Repealed the 18th amendment, ending Prohibition.

remember: drinking age is 21

22nd amendment

Limits presidential terms to two.

remember: 2 presidential terms

23rd amendment

Grants the District of Columbia electoral votes in presidential elections.

24th amendment

Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.

25th amendment

Establishes presidential succession and procedures for presidential disability.

remember: 2025 trump may x-x → jd takes over

26th amendment

Grants 18-year-olds the right to vote.

remember: 2+6 = 8 → 18

27th amendment

Addresses congressional pay increases, prohibiting changes from taking effect until after the next election.

remember: 2025 election wait until 2029 - you cannot do it in 27

28th amendment

Currently unratified amendment proposed to address voting rights or other significant issues.