APUSH

1st Amendment – Freedoms

Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition; foundation of free expression

2nd Amendment – Right to Bear Arms

Right to own guns; tied to militias and self-defense

3rd Amendment – Quartering

No forced housing of soldiers; reaction to British Quartering Acts

4th Amendment – Search & Seizure

Protection against unreasonable searches; privacy rights

5th Amendment – Due Process

Protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy; legal rights of accused

6th Amendment – Fair Trial

Speedy, public trial with right to counsel; ensures criminal justice

7th Amendment – Jury Trial

Jury trial in civil cases over $20; limits judicial power

8th Amendment – Cruel Punishment

No excessive bail or cruel punishment; limits government abuse

9th Amendment – Unenumerated Rights

People have rights beyond those listed; limits government power

10th Amendment – States’ Rights

Powers not given to federal government reserved to states; federalism basis

11th Amendment – State Sovereignty

Limits lawsuits against states; response to Chisholm v. Georgia

12th Amendment – Electoral College

Separate ballots for President and Vice President; fixes election ties

13th Amendment – Abolish Slavery

Ends slavery and involuntary servitude; post-Civil War freedom

14th Amendment – Citizenship

Birthright citizenship and equal protection; foundation for civil rights

15th Amendment – Voting Rights

No denial of vote by race; enfranchises freedmen

16th Amendment – Income Tax

Authorizes federal income tax; Progressive Era reform

17th Amendment – Direct Election

Senators elected by popular vote; democratizes government

18th Amendment – Prohibition

Bans alcohol manufacture and sale; temperance movement success

19th Amendment – Women’s Vote

Grants women right to vote; women’s suffrage victory

20th Amendment – Lame Duck

Shortens time between election and inauguration; increases efficiency

21st Amendment – Repeal Prohibition

Repeals 18th Amendment; first amendment repeal

22nd Amendment – Term Limits

Limits president to two terms; reaction to FDR’s four terms

23rd Amendment – DC Voting

Gives DC electoral votes; expands democracy to capital residents

24th Amendment – Poll Tax

Bans poll taxes in federal elections; civil rights voting reform

25th Amendment – Succession

Clarifies presidential succession and VP vacancies; post-JFK assassination

26th Amendment – Voting Age

Lowers voting age to 18; Vietnam War era reform

27th Amendment – Congressional Pay

Congressional pay raises delayed until next election; ratified 200 years later