The Amendments (all 27) - The Bill of Rights (first 10)

Background to the US Government 2022+

The 1st Amendment

protects the people’s right to

• practice religion,

• to speak freely,

• to assemble (meet),

• to address the government

• and of the press to publish

The 2nd Amendment

protects the right to

• own guns. There is debate whether this is a right that protects the state, or a right that protects individuals

The 3rd Amendment

guarantees that the army cannot force homeowners to give them room and board

The 4th Amendment

protects the people from the government improperly taking property, papers, or people, without a valid warrant based on probable cause (good reason)

The 5th Amendment

protects people from being held for committing a crime unless they are properly indicted, that they may not be tried twice for the same crime, that you need not be forced to testify against yourself, and from property being taken without just compensation.

• it also contains due process guarantees

The 6th Amendment

guarantees a speedy trial, an impartial jury, that the accused can confront witnesses against them, and that the accused must be allowed to have a lawyer

The 7th Amendment

guarantees a jury trial in federal civil court cases. This type of case is normally no longer heard in federal court

The 8th Amendment

guarantees that punishments will be fair, and not cruel, and that extraordinarily large fines will not be set

The 9th Amendment

is simply a statement that other rights aside from those listed may exist, and just because they are not listed doesn’t mean they can be violated

The 10th Amendment

is the subject of some debate, but essentially it states that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states or to the people

The 11th Amendment

more clearly defines the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court concerning a suit brought against a state by a citizen of another state

The 12th Amendment

redefines how the President and Vice-President are chosen by the Electoral College, making the two positions cooperative, rather than first and second highest vote-getters. It also ensures that anyone who becomes Vice-President must be eligible to become President

The 13th Amendment

abolished slavery in the entire United States

The 14th Amendment

ensured that all citizens of all states enjoyed not only rights on the federal level, but on the state level, too. It removed the three-fifths counting of slaves in the census. It ensured that the United States would not pay the debts of rebellious states. It also had several measures designed to ensure the loyalty of legislators who participated on the Confederate side of the Civil War.

The 15th Amendment

ensured that race could not be used as a criteria for voting

The 16th Amendment

authorizes the United States to collect income tax without regard to the population of the state

The 17th Amendment

shifted the choosing of Senators from the state legislatures to the people of the states

The 18th Amendment

abolished the sale or manufacture of alcohol in the United States.

• This amendment was later repealed (erased). [See 21st Amendment.]

The 19th Amendment

ensures that [biological] sex could not be used as a criteria for voting

The 20th Amendment

set new start dates for the terms of the Congress and the President, and clarifies how the deaths of Presidents before swearing-in would be handled

The 21st Amendment

repealed the 18th Amendment

The 22nd Amendment

set a limit on the number of times a President could be elected - two four-year terms. It has one exception for a Vice-President who assumes the Presidency after the death or removal of the President, establishing the maximum term of any President to 10 years.

The 23rd Amendment

grants the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) the right to three electors in Presidential elections.

The 24th Amendment

ensured that no tax could be charged to vote for any federal office

The 25th Amendment

clarifies even further the line of succession to the Presidency, and establishes rules for a President who becomes unable to perform his duties while in office

The 26th Amendment

ensures that any person 18 or over may vote

The 27th Amendment

requires that any law that increased the pay of legislators may not take effect until after an election