The Constitution and Its Amendments

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Preamble, Articles, and all $$27$$ Amendments of the U.S. Constitution based on lecture notes.

Preamble

The opening statement of the Constitution that states its purpose, including forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, and insuring domestic tranquility.

Article 1

The section of the Constitution that outlines the Legislative Branch, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Senate

A part of Congress consisting of $100$ members, with $2$ senators from each state.

House of Representatives

A part of Congress consisting of $435$ members, where the number of representatives per state is determined by the population.

Mississippi House Representation

The state of Mississippi has $4$ representatives in the House of Representatives.

Bill

A proposed law that must be approved by both sides of Congress and signed by the President to become a law.

Veto

The action taken by the President when they do not sign a bill passed by Congress.

Article II

The section that outlines the Executive Branch, including the President's term of office, election qualifications, and powers as Commander in Chief.

Article III

The section that establishes the Judicial Branch, giving judicial power to the Supreme Court and other lesser courts authorized by Congress.

Supreme Court Judges

The highest court consists of $9$ judges who serve for life.

Article IV

Describes the relation of the states to one another, new states and territories, and the rights of states guaranteed by the federal government.

Article V

Describes the amending process and the means by which the Constitution can be changed.

Article VI

Declares that the Constitution is "The Supreme Law of the Land" and overrides conflicting local or state laws.

Article VII

States that the Constitution will take effect when approved by $9$ states; it went into effect on March $4$, $1789$.

Amendment I

Protects five freedoms: Expression, Press, Assembly, Religion, and Petition.

Militia

Refers to a group such as the National Guard that states can maintain as mentioned in Amendment II.

The Brady Law

A federal law that requires a background check for the purchase of weapons.

Amendment III

Prohibits the government from forcing people to house soldiers in their homes without the owner's consent, except according to law.

Amendment IV

Protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires a search warrant based on probable cause.

Eminent Domain

The power of the government to take private property for public use with just compensation as specified in Amendment V.

Double Jeopardy

The protection under Amendment V that ensures no person is subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.

Amendment VI

Protects the rights of an accused person in criminal proceedings, including the right to a speedy public trial and the assistance of a lawyer.

Amendment VII

Guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases where the value in controversy exceeds $20.00$.

Amendment VIII

Prohibits the imposition of excessive bails, excessive fines, and the infliction of cruel and unusual punishments.

Amendment IX

Clarifies that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.

Amendment X

Known as the federalism amendment, it states that all powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.

Amendment XI

Provides guidelines and judicial power limits concerning lawsuits against states.

Amendment XII

Gives guidelines for the election of the President and Vice President and was added in $1804$ following a tie.

Amendment XIII

Forbids slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime.

Amendment XIV

Grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the US and includes the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses.

Amendment XV

States that the right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Amendment XVI

Empowers Congress to lay and collect taxes on incomes from whatever source derived, added in $1913$.

Amendment XVII

Established in $1913$, it calls for the popular election of two Senators from each state to serve for six years.

Amendment XVIII

Outlaws the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes.

Amendment XIX

Prohibits denying the right to vote to any citizen of the United States on account of sex.

Amendment XX

Determines that terms for the President and Vice President end at noon on the $20th$ day of January.

Amendment XXI

Repeals the $18th$ Amendment regarding the prohibition of intoxicating liquors.

Amendment XXII

Establishes Presidential tenure, stating that no person can be elected to the office of President more than twice.

Amendment XXIII

Grants the District of Columbia the same number of electors as the least populous state for presidential elections.

Amendment XXIV

Outlaws the use of a poll tax or other tax as a condition for voting in federal elections.

Amendment XXV

Revises provisions for presidential succession and provides for filling vacancies in the office of Vice President.

Amendment XXVI

Provides that the right to vote for citizens who are $18$ years of age or older shall not be denied on account of age.

Amendment XXVII

Delays any law varying the compensation for Senators and Representatives until after an intervening election.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, written in $1791$.

Civil War Amendments

A collective term for Amendments $13$, $14$, and $15$.