Amendments to the Constitution

1st Amendment

Protects freedom of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech (RAPPS). Also includes separation of church and state.

2nd Amendment

Protects the rights to bear arms (guns)

3rd Amendment

Protects against quartering of soldiers

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures of your property by police. Requires a warrant for most searches.

5th Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy (being charged for the same crime twice). Also guarantees a grand jury, due process, and just compensation.

6th Amendment

Protects the right of a fair, speedy, and public trial by a jury in all criminal cases. Guarantees a lawyer if you cannot afford one.

7th Amendment

Protects the right to a lawyer in all civil cases

8th Amendment

Protects against cruel and unusual punishment by the state

9th Amendment

Guarantees rights not listed (enumerated) in the Constitution

10th Amendment

Guarantees state of deciding issues not directly addressed by the Constitution (education, traffic, etc...)

11th Amendment

Allowed private citizens or other states to sue a state government.

12th Amendment

Set modern rules for the electoral college

13th Amendment

Abolition (doing away with) slavery

14th Amendment

Right to free from discrimination in states, due process, and granted citizenship to freed slaves.

15th Amendment

Granted suffrage (voting rights) to African Americans

16th Amendment

Allows the government to collect income taxes

17th Amendment

Made the senate open to direct election (previously they were appointed by state governors)

18th Amendment

Prohibition of alcoholic beverages

19th Amendment

Granted women suffrage

20th Amendment

Shortened the time it takes the new president to take office (called "lame duck" period) from March 4th to January 20th

21st Amendment

Repealed (undid) the 18th Amendment

22nd Amendment

Limited the terms of the president to two

23rd Amendment

Residents of DC are given the right to vote for the president

24th Amendment

Abolished the poll tax (fee to vote)

25th Amendment

Set rules for succession of the president

26th Amendment

18 year olds given the right to vote

27th Amendment

Made it so Congressmen could not raise their own salaries