AP Government and Politics: All Constitutional Amendments

1st

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances”

Way to remember: RAPPS

2nd

Right to keep and bear arms

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”

3rd

Bans quartering of soldiers

“No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner prescribed by law”

4th

Bans unreasonable searches and seizures

“The right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized”

5th

Right to due process, no self-incrimination, no double jeopardy

“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation”

6th

Guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public trial without unnecessary delay, the right to a lawyer, the right to an impartial jury, and the right to know who your accusers are and the nature of the charges and evidence against you

Ensures the right to a timely resolution of a case and prevents the government from holding individuals indefinitely without trial

Sets forth rights related to criminal prosecutions

7th

Guaranteed a trial by jury in civil cases

8th

Bans cruel and unusual punishment

No excessive fines or bails

9th

Guarantees that rights that are not specifically written in the Constitution may be retained by the people.

10th

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people

11th

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any foreign state

A citizen of one state can’t sue the government of another state unless it is done in the state being sued

12th

Creating the electoral college and how the president and vice president are elected

13th

Abolished slavery

14th

Defines citizenship for African Americans, all natural born citizens are American citizens, and equal protection of the laws (equal protection clause)

15th

Universal male suffrage

16th

Allows Congress to collect income tax

17th

Senate is elected directly—direct democracy

18th

Prohibition of alcohol (repealed by 21st)

19th

Women’s suffrage

20th

“Lame duck”—fixes dates of term commencements of Congress and POTUS

“The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3rd day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin”

21st

Repeals 18th amendment Prohibition

22nd

Limits presidential terms to 2

Unwritten precedent set by Washington, broken by FDR

23rd

Provides representation for DC

24th

Prohibits poll taxes

25th

Defines process of presidential disability and succession

26th

18 is established as the national voting age

Related to the Vietnam War

27th

Changes in congressional salary take effect on its next term