Amendment 1
SPRAP- Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. No yelling "fire", can't use speech or religion to harm other people, and you need signatures to petition.
Amendment 2
Protects the right to bear arms (carry a weapon or keep an army). Certain weapons are restricted and you need to have a waiting period of 3 days and have a license. You can't have weapon if you are a felon, you have to be at least 21, and you can't have a grenade. Other restrictions differ from state to state.
Amendment 3
No quartering of soldiers unless the citizen chooses to, or in times of war but this has to be done in a lawful way.
Amendment 4
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. One would need a writs of assistance/search warrant to search or seize something, which must be signed by a judge and include the person to be seized, the place to be searched, and the thing to be seized.
OJ Simpson
A man who allegedly stabbed his ex wife (Nicole Brown Simpson) and a man delivering his wife her sunglasses (Ron Goldman) to death. He was found not guilty in trial but was later found responsible for both deaths in civil trial (person to person).
Amendment 5
Protects the rights of the accused. Double jeopardy, "Taking the fifth", Miranda warning, due process of law, eminent domain, indictment.
Miranda warning
After one's arrest police will repeat in various situations (such as, while they put the accused in a police car) "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney.
Indictment
A formal charge or accusation made by the Grand Jury.
Due process of law
A guarantee to a fair trial with a speedy conclusion.
Amendment 6
Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, to a lawyer, to question the witness, to an impartial jury, and to hear the charges against you.
Impartial Jury
A jury that will consider a case fairly, without favoring or discriminating against anyone.
Amendment 7
Guarantees the right to a trial by jury or judge for a civil trial.
Amendment 8
The bail must be proportionate to the crime and punishments can't be "cruel and unusual" or too harsh for a particular crime.
Amendment 9
Certain rights are in the Constitution but that does NOT mean that these are the only rights that people have NOR does it make other rights less important.
Amendment 10
States and/or people have all the powers that have not been specifically denied to the states.
$50,000
How much is the bail for residential burglary?
Amendment 11
Concerns lawsuits against states; citizens of other states or foreign countries cannot sue a state in a Federal Court.
Amendment 12
Changed the method the President and Vice President are elected. Previously the vice president was chosen by whoever finished second in the voting for president.
George Santos
A Brazilian republican who lies about almost everything and lied to get sympathy votes to become a House of Representative. He told people his mom died during 9/11, and ran a go fund me for a military dog but ended up stealing all the money.
Amendment 13
Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.
Involuntary Servitude
Work done against someone's will
Amendment 14
Cancelled the three-fifths clause.
Three-fifths Clause
Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person when counting to determine the representation for each state. This was an agreement made to keep both the North and South happy, since the North believed slaves counted as property and the South wanted to count the slaves as people to get more representation.
Amendment 15
Men 21 years or older could vote. You cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or their religion. This did not include African Americans and women.
Amendment 16
Allows Congress to pass and collect taxes/revenue. Everyone's taxes vary based off their income.
Amendment 17
Allows for the direct election of Senators. Senators represent the state and people; they must listen to the people in the state who vote for them (constituents).
Amendment 18
Prohibited the production, sale, or transport of alcoholic beverages. This was cancelled in 1919 with the passage of amendment 21.
What did amendment 18 cause?
Unemployment and more crime (death)
What did the Great Depression cause?
It caused people to turn to alcohol
Amendment 19
Women's suffrage; Granted women the right to vote if they were 21 years or older
Amendment 20
Lame Duck-incumbent who was not reelected or did not for reelection.
January 20
What is the set date for the inauguration of the President?
January 3
What date does Congress meet each year?
Amendment 21
Repealed the 18 amendment; This was the only amendment to ever be repealed.
Repeal
to cancel
Amendment 22
Limits the president and vice president to 2 full terms. A president can serve 10 years if they take over another president's term if it is less than half the term.
Amendment 23
Allows the citizens of Washington DC to vote for the President of the US. Before this there were no electors from the DC region.
Amendment 24
Prohibits Poll Taxes in Federal elections
Poll tax
A fee a voter must pay in order to vote
Amendment 25
Provides for who will replace the President and/or VP if they cannot serve. The VP replaces the president, and if a VP must be replaced the President chooses someone but they must be approved by majority vote of Congress.
Amendment 26
Allows 18 year olds to vote
Why was amendment 26 made?
18 year-olds were drafted for the Vietnam war and people thought it was unfair that people of this age could be sent to war but couldn't vote.
Amendment 27
If Congress gives themselves a raise in salary that raise cannot go into effect until the next group comes along.
Bill of rights (B of R)
individual rights/the people's rights
How did James Madison feel about the Bill of Rights in the Constitution?
James Madison didn't think it was necessary to add the bill of rights to the constitution but Thomas Jefferson convinced him otherwise in a letter stating that if the government is going to give the people the rights, might as well write it down.
Grandfather clause
A clause that stated that one could not vote unless their grandfather had voted.
Literacy Act
People had to be able to read in order to vote
When was amendment 21 passed?
1919
When was amendment 23 passed?
1961