Bill of Rights/Constitutional Amendments

2nd Amendment

- a well regulated militia (necessary for secuirty of free State)
- right of people to bear arms

3rd Amendment

no quartering (without consent of Owner)

4th Amendment

- protection against unreasonable searches/seizures
- warrants must be specific and issued based on probable cause
- all about implied right to privacy

5th Amendment

- protection against double jeopardy
- "pleading the fifth"
- guaranteed due process
- eminent domain (take property for public use; government pay market value for land but not actual property)

6th Amendment

- right to a speedy trial and impartial jury
- informed of the charges against you
- confronted by witnesses against you
- right to have witnesses for your defense
- right to counsel

5th and 6th Amendment

Miranda Rights (origin: Miranda vs. Arizona)

7th Amendment

- right to a jury trial if a civil dispute is over an amount greater than $20

8th Amendment

- no excessive bail
- no excessive fines
- no cruel or unusual punishment (death penalty)

9th Amendment

- Constitution can not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people

10th Amendment

Reserved Powers Amendment

11th Amendment

federal courts can not hear cases and make decisions against a state if the state is sued by a citizen who lives in another state or by a person who lives in another country

12th Amendment

- Changed Electoral College --> president and vice president ballots are separate and if no majority, House decides from top 3 candidates

13th Amendment

slavery is abolished

14th Amendment

- citizenship clause
- privileges and immunities clause
- due-process clause
- equal protection clause
(last 3 are basis for Selective Incorporation)

15th Amendment

no voting discrimination based on race

16th Amendment

congress can tax income - from any source

17th Amendment

- direct election of senators
- governors have power to fill vacancies

18th Amendment

Prohibition

19th Amendment

women's suffrage

20th Amendment

- set inauguration date date for new presidential term (12pm on January 20th) and for new sessions of Congress (12pm on January 3rd)
- also give Congress power to choose president and vice president in case of death during election/failure to gain majority of electoral votes

21st Amendment

- prohibition repealed
- allow states to regulate alcohol beverages in their borders

22nd Amendment

presidents have two-term limit

23rd Amendment

gave Washington D.C. 3 electoral votes

24th Amendment

abolished poll taxes

25th Amendment

- president can be removed if vp and majority of cabinet determine they are "unable to discharge the powers and duties" of office (president can contest but if vp and cabinet persist, Congress can remove prez by 2/3 vote in both chambers)
- amendment clarifies that vp is successor if prez leaves mid-term and that vp is in power if prez undergoes major surgery

26th Amendment

lowered voting age to 18

27th Amendment

congress can't raise its pay during its current term