Most Important Amendments to Know for AP Government and Politics

What freedoms are protected by the First Amendment?

What freedoms are protected by the First Amendment?

Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition (RAPPS). Includes the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause.

What right is guaranteed by the Second Amendment?

The right to bear arms

What does the Third Amendment prohibit?

The quartering of soldiers in private homes without permission during peacetime.

What protection does the Fourth Amendment provide?

No unreasonable searches or seizures; warrants are required.

Which rights are included in the Fifth Amendment?

No double jeopardy, no self-incrimination, due process rights, property rights.

What rights are guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment?

Rights of the accused: speedy trial, jury trial, right to an attorney.

What does the Seventh Amendment guarantee?

Trial by jury in civil cases.

What is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment?

Excessive bail and cruel or unusual punishment.

What does the Ninth Amendment state?

People retain rights not listed in the Constitution.

What does the Tenth Amendment address?

Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.

What is the Eleventh Amendment about?

Prevents lawsuits against states in federal court (ratified in 1798).

What did the Twelfth Amendment change?

Established separate electoral ballots for President and Vice President (ratified in 1804).

What is the Thirteenth Amendment known for?

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime (ratified in 1865).

What rights are guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment?

Citizenship for all born or naturalized in the U.S., due process, and equal protection under the law (ratified in 1868).

What does the Fifteenth Amendment state?

Voting cannot be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (ratified in 1870).

What is the Sixteenth Amendment about?

Authorized a federal income tax (ratified in 1913).

What change was made by the Seventeenth Amendment?

Allowed for the direct election of U.S. Senators by citizens (ratified in 1913).

What was established by the Eighteenth Amendment?

Prohibition: banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol (ratified in 1919).

What did the Nineteenth Amendment achieve?

Granted women the right to vote (ratified in 1920).

What does the Twentieth Amendment address?

Moved the presidential inauguration date to January 20th (ratified in 1933).

What did the Twenty-First Amendment do?

Repealed Prohibition (the Eighteenth Amendment) (ratified in 1933).

What limit did the Twenty-Second Amendment establish?

Presidents are limited to two terms in office (ratified in 1951).

What right does the Twenty-Third Amendment grant?

Allowed residents of Washington, D.C., to vote for President (ratified in 1961).

What is prohibited by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment?

Poll taxes in federal elections (ratified in 1964).

What does the Twenty-Fifth Amendment establish?

Presidential succession and procedures for filling the Vice Presidency in cases of death, resignation, or incapacitation (ratified in 1967).

What is guaranteed by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment?

Lowered the voting age to 18 (ratified in 1971).

What does the Twenty-Seventh Amendment regulate?

Congressional pay raises cannot take effect until the next session of Congress (ratified in 1992).

Which amendments are part of the Civil War Amendments?

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.What rights does the Fifth Amendment protect?

What rights does the Fifth Amendment protect?

Right to due process, protection against self-incrimination, no double jeopardy, and compensation for private property taken for public use.

What is the collective name for the first ten amendments?

The Bill of Rights.

What did the Twenty-First Amendment repeal?

The Eighteenth Amendment (Prohibition).

What phrase can help remember the First Amendment freedoms?

RAPPS: Religion, Assembly, Petition, Press, Speech.

Which amendment deals with equal protection under the law?

The Fourteenth Amendment.

What year was the Bill of Rights ratified?

1791

What was the last amendment added to the Constitution?

The Twenty-Seventh Amendment, ratified in 1992.

Which amendment sets the voting age at 18?

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment.

What is the significance of the Twenty-Second Amendment?

It limits the President to two terms in office.