AP Government Amendments

First Amendment

Protects freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Second Amendment

Protects a militia's and an individual's right to bear arms. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Third Amendment

Prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during peacetime. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Fourth Amendment

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Fifth Amendment

Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Sixth Amendment

Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the right to be notified of the accusations, confront the accuser, obtain witnesses and retain counsel. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Seventh Amendment

Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Ninth Amendment

Protects rights not enumerated in the constitution. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Tenth Amendment

Limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the Constitution. Passed: 15 December, 1791

Eleventh Amendment

Immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders. Lays the foundation for sovereign immunity. Passed: 7 February, 1795

Twelfth Amendment

Revises presidential election procedures. Passed: 15 June, 1795

Thirteenth Amendment

Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. Passed: 6 December, 1865

Fourteenth Amendment

Defines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post-Civil War issues. Passed: 9 June, 1868

Fifteenth Amendment

Prohibits the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Passed: 3 February, 1870

Sixteenth Amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax. Passed: 3 February, 1913

Seventeenth Amendment

Establishes the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. 8 April, 1913

Eighteenth Amendment

Establishes prohibition of alcohol. Passed: 16 January 16, 1919

Nineteenth Amendment

Establishes women's suffrage. Passed: 18 August, 1920

Twentieth Amendment

Fixes the dates of term commencements for Congress (January 3) and the President (January 20); the "lame duck amendment." Passed: 23 January, 1933

Twenty-First Amendment

Repeals the Eighteenth Amendment and prohibits violations of state laws regarding alcohol. Passed: 5 December, 1933

Twenty-Second Amendment

Limits the number of times that a person can be elected president. A person cannot be elected president more than twice. Additionally, a person who has served more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected cannot be elected more than once. Passed: 27 February, 1951

Twenty-Third Amendment

Provides for representation of Washington, D.C., in the Electoral College. Passed: 29 March, 1961

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of poll taxes. Passed: 23 January, 1964

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

Defines the process of presidential succession. Passed: 10 February, 1967

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Establishes the right to vote for those age 18 years or older. Passed: 1 July, 1971

Twenty-Seventh Amendment

Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress. Passed: 7 May, 1992