The 27 Amendments Study Guide

1st amendment

Guarantees and protects freedoms of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech.

2nd amendment

Gives state militias the right to bear arms or keep weapons.

3rd amendment

Says that lodging for soldiers in private homes is only permissible with the consent of the owner.

4th amendment

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and requires a warrant if there is a probable cause or reason to believe that a search will produce evidence of a crime.

5th amendment

Outlines legal rights of people in criminal proceedings. Before being brought to trial for a felony, a person must be charged with a specific crime. Persons may not be tried twice for the same crime. A person can not be forced to give testimony against himself in court. Persons accused of a crime are entitled to due process - that is, a fair hearing or trail. The government may not seize private property for public use without paying the owner a fair market price.

6th amendment

Protects the rights of people in criminal cases and guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial. The accused must be told the charges against him and must be allowed to have a lawyer.

7th amendment

Preserves the right of trial by jury in civil cases or cases involving parties contesting private matters.

8th amendment

Forbids unreasonably high ball to be set by courts. Also, punishment may not be cruel or unusual (such as torture).

9th amendment

Provides that the people retain certain rights, even though the Constitution does not specifically list them.

10th amendment

Says that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states. This amendment limits the power of the federal government.

11th amendment

Prohibits federal courts from hearing cases lodged against a state by a citizen in another state (ratified February 7, 1795).

12th amendment

Requires that choices for President and Vice-President be designed as successful (ratified June 15, 1804).

13th amendment

Abolished slavery (ratified December 6, 1865).

14th amendment

Defines citizenship as all persons born or naturalized in United States (ratified July 9, 1868).

15th amendment

Declares that the right to vote cannot be denied because of race (ratified February 3, 1870).

16th amendment

Gives Congress the power to impose individual federal income tax (ratified February 3, 1913).

17th amendment

Provides that United States senators be elected directly by the people (ratified April 8, 1913).

18th amendment

Prohibits the manufacture, sale, and shipment of alcoholic beverages (ratified January 16, 1919).

19th amendment

Gives women the right to vote (ratified August 18, 1920).

20th amendment

States that the President and Vice-President begin their new terms on January 20; members of Congress begin on January 3 (ratified January 23, 1933).

21st amendment

Repealed the 18th amendment (ratified December 5, 1933).

22nd amendment

Limits the President to serving two terms (ratified February 27, 1951).

23rd amendment

Washington, D.C., is given the right to vote for President and Vice-President (ratified March 29, 1961).

24th amendment

Prohibits the payment of a tax as a requirement to vote (ratified January 23, 1964).

25th amendment

Outlines the procedure for presidential succession in case of presidential disability (ratified February 10, 1967).

26th amendment

Lowers the voting age to 18 (ratified July 1, 1971).

27th amendment

Regulates compensation for Congress (ratified on May 7, 1992).