amendments

1st amendment

• 1791

• the right to free speech, press, assembly, protest and religion

2nd amendment

• 1791

• right to bear arms, weapons like guns

3rd amendment

• 1791

• right to not have troops in your house at nighttime, no quartering of troops in peacetime 

4th amendment

• 1791

• guards against unreasonable searches 

5th amednment

• 1791

• right to due process - application by the state of all legal rules and principles pertaining to a case so all legal rights that are owed to a person are respected, government must give people a chance to defend themselves in a fair hearing before infringing on their rights, right to a court case before punishment

6th amendment 

• 1791

• right to a fair and speedy trial 

7th amendment 

• 1791

• right to a jury trial for criminal and some civil cases 

8th amendment

• 1791

• prohibits excessive bail and no usual punishment 

9th amendment

• 1791

• addresses our enumerated rights - specific rights explicitly listed and defined in a legal document 

10th amendment

• 1791

• federal powers that are not stated in the constitution are reserved for the states 

11th amendment 

• 1795

• any states can be sued by a U.S. citizen

12th amendment

• 1804

• established a separate process for electing the president and vice president 

13th amendment

• 1865 

• abolishes and prohibits slavery 

14th amendment

• 1868

• establish birth-right citizenship, prevented states from abridging the privileges or immunities of US citizens or due process clause, all citizens receive equal protection of the laws 

15th amendment

• 1870

• can’t prevent one from voting because of race, color or creed

16th amendment

• 1913

• congress is given the power to tax incomes 

17th amendment 

• 1913

• the direct election of senators - member of Congress who represents the state 

18th amendment

• 1919

• prohibition of liquor 

19th amendment

• 1920

• women gain the right to vote

20th amendment

• 1933

• date when president, vice-president and congress start and end their terms

21st amendment

• 1933

• repeal of prohibition (18th amendment)

22nd amendment

• 1951

• limit on presidential terms - prohibits anyone who has been elected president from serving two terms 

23rd amendment 

• 1961

• district of Columbia receives electoral votes 

24th amendment

• 1964 

• prohibits federal and state governments from charging poll taxes - fees required to vote(racism) 

25th amendment

• 1967

• vice president becomes president after the president’s death, resignation or removal from office, presidential succession and presidential disabilitly

26th amendment

• 1971

• 18 year olds can vote

27th amendment

• 1992

• delays pay increase of Congress - If Congress votes to increase its members' salaries, the pay raise cannot take effect until after the next election for the House of Representatives.