Amendments & Articles (Simple)

1st Amendment (1791)

protects freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceful assembly, and petition (ask the government for change).

2nd Amendment (1791)

protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

3rd Amendment (1791)

stops the government from forcing people to house soldiers in their private homes during peacetime.

4th Amendment (1791)

protects people from unfair searches and property seizures without a proper warrant.

5th Amendment (1791)

guarantees due process, protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy, and requires fair compensation for private property taken for public use.

6th Amendment (1791)

gives people accused of crimes the right to a fast and public trial by an impartial jury and the right to a lawyer.

7th Amendment (1791)

guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil court cases involving property or money.

8th Amendment (1791)

bans excessive bail, heavy fines, and cruel or unusual punishments.

9th Amendment (1791)

clarifies that people have other basic rights that are not explicitly written down in the Constitution.

10th Amendment (1791)

states that any powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

11th Amendment (1795)

limits the ability of people to sue a state in federal court.

12th Amendment (1804)

changes how the electoral college votes for the President and Vice President.

13th Amendment (1865)

ends slavery and involuntary servitude across the nation.

14th Amendment (1868)

grants equal citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law to all people born or naturalized in the U.S.

15th Amendment (1870)

protects citizens from being denied the right to vote based on race or color.

16th Amendment (1913)

allows the federal government to collect an income tax.

17th Amendment (1913)

changes the election of U.S. senators to a direct vote by the people.

18th Amendment (1919)

bans making, selling, or transporting alcoholic beverages.

19th Amendment (1920)

guarantees women the right to vote.

20th Amendment (1933)

changes the dates when the President, Vice President, and Congress take office.

21st Amendment (1933)

cancels out the Eighteenth Amendment and brings back alcohol.

22nd Amendment (1951)

limits a person to serving two terms as President.

23rd Amendment (1961)

gives the District of Columbia electors in the electoral college.

24th Amendment (1964)

stops the government from making voters pay a tax to vote in federal elections.

25th Amendment (1967)

explains how the Vice President takes over if the President dies, resigns, or is unable to serve.

26th Amendment (1971)

lowers the official voting age to 18 years old.

27th Amendment (1992)

delays any changes to pay for members of Congress until after the next election cycle.

Article 1

legislative branch: sets up Congress to make laws, split into the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Article 2

executive branch: sets up the President, Vice President, and departments to run the government and carry out laws.

Article 3

judicial branch: sets up the Supreme Court and other federal courts to judge cases and check laws.

Article 4

the states: explains how states must share power and respect each other's laws.

Article 5

amendments: explains how to change or add new rules to the Constitution.

Article 6

federal power: says the Constitution is the top law of the land, ahead of state laws.

Article 7

ratification: explains how nine of the thirteen states and to approve the Constitution to make it official.

commerce clause (article 1, section 8, clause 3)

gives Congress the power to regulate business across state lines and with other nations: the primary tool Congress uses to pass laws on healthcare, environmental protection, and civil rights.

necessary and proper clause (article 1, section 8, clause 18)

gives Congress the authority to make all laws that are needed for carrying out its enumerated (official) powers, allowing for flexibility in legislation: also known as the elastic clause.

supremacy clause (article 6, clause 2)

establishes the Constitution and federal laws as the supreme law of the land: if state law conflicts with a federal law, the federal law wins.

general welfare clause (article 1, section 8, clause 1)

grants Congress the power to collect taxes to pay debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare: allows for the creation and funding of public program like Social Security and Medicare.

due process clause (5th and 14th amendments)

prohibits the government from taking away a person’s life, liberty, or property without fair and legal procedures: federal government at the 5th, state/local at the 14th.

equal protection clause (14th amendment, section 1)

forces states to govern impartially and treat all citizens equally under the law: the legal backbone for ending segregation and expanding civil rights.