The Amendments

Amendment 1

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

Amendment 2

right to bear arms

Amendment 3

no quartering of troops

Amendment 4

no unreasonable search or seizure

Amendment 5

Indictment, double jeopardy (can’t be tried twice for the same crime), protection against self-incrimination (plead the 5th), due process

Amendment 6

Speedy and public trial by jury of peers, cross-examination of adverse witnesses, to call favorable witnesses to testify, right to defense counsel, to be informed of the crime accused

Amendment 7

lawsuits and juries (civil suits)

Amendment 8

No cruel or unusual punishments, no excessive fines and bail

Amendment 9

listing rights in the Constitution doesn’t deny others

Amendment 10

delegated and reserved powers (those that belong to the states)

Amendment 11

Individual cannot sue a state in a federal court.

Amendment 12

Separate ballots for President and Vice President

Amendment 13

abolished slavery

Amendment 14

1. Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States

2. Banned states from denying any person life, liberty or property without due process (nationalized the Bill of Rights)

3. Banned states from denying any person equal protection under the law

Amendment 15

Extended voting rights to African American males (You cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed)

Amendment 16

Congress can collect income tax

Amendment 17

election of U.S. senators by direct popular vote instead of by State Legislatures

Amendment 18

prohibition

Amendment 19

right to women to vote

Amendment 20

Shortened the time between the presidential election and inauguration

Inauguration - Jan 20.

Opening day of Congress - Jan 3

Amendment 21

repealed the 18th amendment (prohibition)

Amendment 22

Limit the President to two full terms in office

Amendment 23

Voters in the District of Columbia could vote for President & Vice President (3 electoral votes)

Amendment 24

ended poll tax in federal elections

Amendment 25

Provided for succession to the office of president

Amendment 26

18-year-olds could vote

Amendment 27

Banned Congress from increasing its members’ salaries until after the next election