Amendments to the Constitution

What was the purpose of the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments)?

To prevent the abuse of government power and ensure the protection of individual freedoms such as speech, religion, and assembly.

What does the First Amendment protect?

protects five freedoms: freedom of religion, speech, the press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government for grievances.

What is guaranteed by the Second Amendment?

The right of the people to keep and bear arms, necessary for the security of a free state.

What does the Third Amendment prevent?

prevents the government from forcing citizens to house soldiers during times of peace and sets rules for wartime housing of soldiers.

What does the Fourth Amendment protect?

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and the requirement for warrants to be issued with probable cause.

What does the Fifth Amendment guarantee?

The right to due process, protection against self-incrimination and double jeopardy, and the right to just compensation if private property is taken for public use.

What rights does the Sixth Amendment provide?

The right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, to be informed of charges, confront witnesses, and the right to legal counsel.

What does the Seventh Amendment guarantee?

The right to a trial by jury in civil cases where the value in controversy exceeds $20.

What protections are provided by the Eighth Amendment?

Protection against excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.

What is the purpose of the Ninth Amendment?

It ensures that the listing of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights retained by the people.

What does the Tenth Amendment state?

Powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or to the people.

What is the significance of the Eleventh Amendment?

It protects states from being sued in federal court by citizens of another state or foreign country.

What change did the Twelfth Amendment make?

It separated the election of the president and vice president in the Electoral College and outlined procedures if no candidate receives a majority.

What did the Thirteenth Amendment accomplish?

It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime.

What was the primary purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment?

The Fourteenth Amendment addressed citizenship, equal protection, and due process by the states, incorporating the protections of the Bill of Rights to apply to state governments.

What does the Fifteenth Amendment do?

prohibits denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

What is the primary purpose of the Sixteenth Amendment?

The Sixteenth Amendment gives Congress the power to impose and collect income taxes without apportionment among the states or regard to the census.

What change did the Seventeenth Amendment introduce regarding U.S. Senators?

It established that Senators would be elected directly by the people of each state rather than by state legislatures.

What did the Eighteenth Amendment prohibit?

The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. for beverage purposes.

What significant change did the Nineteenth Amendment bring about?

The Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote, prohibiting voting discrimination based on sex.

What did the 20th Amendment change about presidential and congressional terms?

It shortened the time between the presidential election and inauguration, moved the start of congressional terms to January 3, and helped address "lame duck" challenges.

What did the 21st Amendment achieve?

It repealed the 18th Amendment, ending the prohibition of alcoholic beverages.

What does the 22nd Amendment limit regarding the presidency?

It restricts a person to two elected terms as president and limits the total time they can serve.

What did the 23rd Amendment grant to Washington D.C. voters?

It gave them the right to appoint electors for President and Vice President, equal to the least populous state.

What did the 24th Amendment abolish?

It abolished poll taxes, preventing states from requiring voters to pay a tax to vote in federal elections.

What does the 25th Amendment address?

It establishes presidential succession, provides procedures for filling a vice-presidential vacancy, and clarifies the process for presidential incapacity.

What voting rights did the 26th Amendment extend?

It lowered the voting age to 18, allowing all U.S. citizens 18 and older to vote.

What does the 27th Amendment prevent?

It prevents Congress from giving itself a pay raise during the same term in office. Any pay changes must take effect only after a new election.