Constitutional Amendments, Descriptions, and Mnemonic Devices

Constitutional Amendments 1 Through 10: The Bill of Rights

• Amendment $1$

  • Description: Protects Religion, assembly, press, speech, Petition
  • Mnemonic Device: All RAPPS

• Amendment $2$

  • Description: the right to Heep & Bear arms.
  • Mnemonic Device: Bear Arms

• Amendment $3$

  • Description: Restricts the quartering of soliders in private homes can't intrude
  • Mnemonic Device: Restricts quartering / can't intrude

• Amendment $4$

  • Description: Prohibits unreasonable Searches
  • Mnemonic Device: Don't Search

• Amendment $5$

  • Description: Covers due Process, double jeopardy, grand juries, self incrimination Every Criminals Rights
  • Mnemonic Device: Every Criminals Rights

• Amendment $6$

  • Description: the right to a Speedy criminal trial
  • Mnemonic Device: Fair Trial

• Amendment $7$

  • Description: the right to a Jury trial in Civil lawsuits
  • Mnemonic Device: Get Jury

• Amendment $8$

  • Description: Prohibits excessive bail, fines, civel / unusual Punishments
  • Mnemonic Device: Harsh Punishment

• Amendment $9$

  • Description: Protects un-enumerated rights retained by the people
  • Mnemonic Device: Individual Rights

• Amendment $10$

  • Description: Reserves Powers not delegated to the federal goverment to the People or states
  • Mnemonic Device: Just States

Constitutional Amendments 11 Through 15: Post-Bill of Rights and Reconstruction

• Amendment $11$

  • Description: Limits federal court jurisdiction over lawsuits against States
  • Mnemonic Device: Kind States

• Amendment $12$

  • Description: Revises the Electoral College for electing the president Vice Pres.
  • Mnemonic Device: Loser not VP

• Amendment $13$

  • Description: Abolished Slaver
  • Mnemonic Device: Make'em Free

• Amendment $14$

  • Description: equal protection under the law
  • Mnemonic Device: Now Citizens

• Amendment $15$

  • Description: Protects the right to vote for all race of men
  • Mnemonic Device: Obama votes

Constitutional Amendments 16 Through 21: Progressive Era and Prohibition

• Amendment $16$

  • Description: Congress has the power to collect federal income tax
  • Mnemonic Device: PIT. Poopy income tax

• Amendment $17$

  • Description: Established the direct election of U.S. Senators
  • Mnemonic Device: Quick Senators

• Amendment $18$

  • Description: Established Prohibition (banning alcohol)
  • Mnemonic Device: Rum gone

• Amendment $19$

  • Description: Women's right to vote
  • Mnemonic Device: Suffrage for Women

• Amendment $20$

  • Description: Sets the Start dates for terms of Congress and the pres.
  • Mnemonic Device: Terms changed

• Amendment $21$

  • Description: Repealed Prohibition
  • Mnemonic Device: Usually happy hr is $5\,\text{pm}$

Constitutional Amendments 22 Through 27: Modern Terms, Voting Rights, and Governance

• Amendment $22$

  • Description: Limits president to two terms
  • Mnemonic Device: Voted in $2$

• Amendment $23$

  • Description: Grants electoral votes to. D.C.
  • Mnemonic Device: Washington D.C Votes

• Amendment $24$

  • Description: Prohibits Doll taxes in federal elections.
  • Mnemonic Device: xed out poll tax

• Amendment $25$

  • Description: Clarifies presidental succession & disability
  • Mnemonic Device: Your next

• Amendment $26$

  • Description: Lowers the voting age to $18$
  • Mnemonic Device: Seniors can vote

• Amendment $27$

  • Description: Limits Congressional pay raises until an intervening election occurs.
  • Mnemonic Device: Congress $$ gets salary