Comprehensive Study Guide to the 27 Amendments and Constitutional Articles

Structural Articles of the United States Constitution

• Article I: Legislative Branch. This section defines the functions and powers of the federal legislature.

• Article II: Executive Branch. This section outlines the powers and responsibilities of the President and the executive offices.

• Article III: Judicial Branch. This section establishes the federal court system and the Supreme Court.

• Article IV: States, Citizenship, and New States. This section governs the relationships between states and the process for admitting new states.

• Article V: Amendment Process. This article details the methodology for amending the Constitution.

• Article VI: Debts, Supremacy, Oaths, and Religious Test. This section establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and prohibits religious tests for public office holders.

• Article VII: Ratification. This article outlines the requirements for the initial ratification of the Constitution.

Amendment $1$: R.A.P.P.S

• This amendment establishes and protects five core freedoms for all citizens.

• Freedoms Granted: Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, and Speech.

• Mnemonic Device: R.A.P.P.S.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $11$: Right to bear arms

• Description: As citizens move through the United States, "we the people" are afforded the right to bear arms.

• Militia Clause: The amendment also protects the gathering and maintenance of a well-regulated militia.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $111$: Quartering of Soldiers

• Constraint: No soldier shall be quartered (otherwise defined as being stationed) in any private house without the explicit consent of the house owner.

• Hypothetical Scenario provided in text: "Can I quarter at your home? No thank you."

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $1v$: Search and Seizure

• Protection: No citizen shall be subjected to unreasonable searches or seizures by any means.

• Requirement: Probable cause is required for any such action to be lawful.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $v$: G.E.D.D.S.

• Mnemonic Device: G.E.D.D.S.

• Major Provision: No person shall be held to answer for a capital crime "nless" on a presentment or indictment sanctioned by a Grand Jury.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $v1$: Speedy trial

• Rights of the Accused: Any individual accused of a crime has the right to enjoy a speedy and public trial.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $v11$: Civil Lawsuits

• Jury Trial Preservation: In legal cases where the value in controversy exceeds the amount of $20$, the right of a trial by jury shall be preserved.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $v111$: Cruel and unusual punsihments

• Bail and Punishment Protections: No excessive bail shall be imposed upon the accused, nor shall any cruel and unusual punishments be inflicted.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $1x$: Non-enumersated rights

• Reserved Rights: Any rights that are not explicitly stated within the text of the Constitution are reserved specifically to the people.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $x$: rights reserved to the people

• Reserved Powers: Any powers not specifically delegated to the "untied states" constitution are reserved and belong to the people.

• Ratified: December $15$, $1791$.

Amendment $x1$: Suits against states

• Limitation: A citizen is prohibited from making a legal suit against any state if they are not an inhabitant of that specific state.

• Ratified: February $7$, $1975$.

Amendment $x11$: Election of Pres. and Vice Pres.

• Balloting Procedure: This amendment specifies that the votes cast for the Vice President (V.P.) and the President (Pres.) must be held on different, separate ballots.

• Ratified: June $15$, $1804$.

Amendment XIII: Abolition of slavery

• Prohibition: The practice of slavery is strictly prohibited within the United States.

• Ratified: December $6^{th}$, $1865$.

Amendment $x1v$: Citizenship Rights

• Definition of Citizen: Any individual born or naturalized within the United States is considered a citizen of the United States Body.

• Ratified: July $9$, $1868$.

Amendment $xv$: Right to vote

• Prohibited Denials: The right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged based on race, color, or a previous condition of servitude.

• Ratified: February $3$, $1870$.

Amendment $xv1$: Income tax

• Congressional Authority: Congress is granted the power to "law" and collect taxes on income.

• Ratified: February $3$, $1913$.

Amendment $xv11$: Election of senators

• Direct Election: This amendment established the process of direct election for United States senators within each state.

• Ratified: April $8$, $1913$.

Amendment $xv111$: Prohibition of liquor

• Prohibited Activities: The manufacture, sale, or transportation of liquor was prohibited.

• Ratified: January $16$, $1919$.

Amendment $x1x$: Women's suffrage

• Sex-Based Equality: The right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of a person's sex.

• Ratified: August $18$, $1920$.

Amendment $xx$: Presidential term + succession

• Term Expiration: The official terms of the President and the Vice President are scheduled to end at noon on the $20^{th}$ day of January.

• Ratified: January $20$, $1933$.

Amendment $xx1$: Repeal of prohibition

• Legalization: This amendment allowed alcohol to be legal once again.

• Relationship to Other Amendments: This amendment explicitly repealed the $18^{th}$ amendment.

• Ratified: December $5$, $1933$.

Amendment $xx11$: $2$ term Presidency

• Presidential Limits: No individual person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.

• Ratified: February $27$, $1951$.

Amendment $xx111$: Votes for D.C.

• Voting Rights Extension: This amendment grants residents of Washington, DC, the right to vote in presidential elections.

• Implementation: It grants the district electors to facilitate this right.

• Ratified: March $29$, $1961$.

Amendment $xx1v$: Abolition of poll taxes

• Tax Protections: The right for a citizen to vote shall not be rescinded if the individual is unable to pay "t a poll tax."

• Ratified: January $23$, $1964$.

Amendment $xxv$: Presidential succession

• Continuation of Leadship: In the event of the President's death or removal from office, the Vice President shall assume the position.

• Ratified: February $10$, $1967$.

Amendment $xxv1$: Voting age

• Age Threshold: The legal voting age is set at $18$.

• Universal Right: Anyone who meets this age requirement shall not be denied their right to vote.

• Ratified: July $1$, $1971$.

Amendment XXVII: Congressional Compensation

• Financial Regulation: This amendment prohibits any law from increasing or decreasing the salary/pay for members of Congress from taking effect until an election has intervened.

• Ratified: May $7^{th}$, $1992$.