Amendments Study Guide

Im gonna do something silly

Bill of rights

First 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution

First Amendment

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Think of a town Hall displaying a Nativity, or Students burning a flag.

Second Amendment

The right to keep and bear arms. Think of Civil war reenactors meeting somewhere for lunch and being arrested for having firearms.

Third Amendment

Quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent. Think of the national guard taking over schools and apartment buildings. 

Fourth Amendment

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; warrants require probable cause. Think of football players getting drug tests unscheduled or a woman dropping her purse and an officer picking it up and seeing marijuana.

Fifth Amendment

Due process, no self-incrimination, no double jeopardy, eminent domain with fair compensation. Think of “I plead the fifth!” or someone getting rearrested after found not guilty.

Sixth Amendment

Speedy and public trial, impartial jury, right to attorney, confront witnesses. Think of a woman testifying by a recorded statement because she cannot be at the trial or the judge, police force and jury having lunch together.

Seventh Amendment

Right to a jury trial in civil cases over $20. Think of a bakery hiring a band to play and then refusing to pay them because the music was not satisfactory. 

Eighth Amendment

No excessive bail, no cruel or unusual punishment. Think of Death penalty, solitary confinement, Or a million dollar bail.

Ninth Amendment

People have rights beyond those listed in the Constitution. Think of a woman claiming “Rights to privacy” — It isn’t in the Bill of Rights.

Tenth Amendment

Powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people. Think of Idaho legalizing Doctor-Assisted suicides.

Eleventh Amendment

Citizens cannot sue states in federal court without the state’s consent. Typically, states refuse.

Twelfth Amendment

Separate ballots for President and Vice President in the Electoral College. No more having the Vice President be the runner-up of the Presidential votes.

Thirteenth Amendment

Abolished Slavery!!!

Fourteenth Amendment

Citizenship by birth/naturalization, equal protection, and due process at the state level.

Fifteenth Amendment

Voting cannot be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Sixteenth Amendment

Power to collect income taxes from Congress

Seventeenth Amendment

Direct election of U.S. Senators by the people - Made Senators accountable to voters

Eighteenth Amendment

Prohibition of alcohol (manufacture, sale, transport). Think: “grrr not old enough to drink yet!”

Nineteenth Amendment

Women’s suffrage (right to vote). Yay!!!

Twentieth Amendment

New start dates: Congress Jan 3, President Jan 20.

Twenty-First Amendment

Abolished Prohibition (18th Amendment). Think: “Im 21, I can drink now!!!”

Twenty-Second Amendment

Set a maximum of Maximum of 2 terms for the president.

Twenty-Third Amendment

Granted the right to vote for President and Vice President for citizens in D.C

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Banned Poll taxes in federal elections. Allowed more people to vote since they did not have to pay to.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

Established Presidential succession and filling Vice President vacancies.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Voting age lowered to 18.

Twenty-Seventh Amendment

Congressional pay raises take effect only AFTER the next election.