Constitutional Amendments

The Bill of Rights (1791)

  1. First Amendment

    • Protection of basic freedoms

    • Freedoms: Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.

    • Key Clauses: Establishment Clause (no official religion), Free Exercise Clause (practice religion freely).

    • Mnemonic: RAPPS – Religion, Assembly, Petition, Press, Speech.

  2. Second Amendment

    • Right to bear arms.

    • Mnemonic: 2 arms = 2nd Amendment.

  3. Third Amendment

    • No quartering of soldiers in private homes.

    • Mnemonic: 3’s a crowd in my house.

  4. Fourth Amendment

    • No unreasonable searches or seizures; warrants are required.

    • Mnemonic: What are you searching 4?

  5. Fifth Amendment

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

    • Mnemonic: I plead the 5th!

  6. Sixth Amendment

    • Rights of the accused: Speedy trial, jury of peers, right to attorney.

    • Mnemonic: 6 and speedy!

  7. Seventh Amendment

    • Right to jury trial in civil cases.

    • Mnemonic: 7 and be civil

  8. Eighth Amendment

    • No excessive bail, no cruel or unusual punishment.

    • Mnemonic: You 8 that, but no excessive punishment

  9. Ninth Amendment

    • People retain rights not listed in the Constitution.

    • Mnemonic: 9 = Mine!

  10. Tenth Amendment

    • Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.

    • Mnemonic: Federal gov says no? States got the glow

Other Key Amendments

  1. Eleventh Amendment (1798)

    • Restricts lawsuits against states in federal court.

    • Mnemonic: 1 state sue 1 state = 11.

  2. Twelfth Amendment (1804)

    • Separate electoral ballots for President and Vice President.

    • Mnemonic: 1 ballot + 2 jobs = 12.

  3. Thirteenth Amendment (1865)

    • Abolished slavery.

    • Mnemonic: 13 = Unlucky for slavery.

  4. Fourteenth Amendment (1868)

    • Citizenship for all born or naturalized in the U.S.; due process and equal protection clauses.

    • Mnemonic: For ALL teens (and people).

  5. Fifteenth Amendment (1870)

    • Right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous servitude.

    • Mnemonic: 15, your vote is scene (racial equality at the polls).

  6. Sixteenth Amendment (1913)

    • Income tax established.

    • Mnemonic: Sweet 16 gets taxed

  7. Seventeenth Amendment (1913)

    • Direct election of U.S. Senators by citizens.

    • Mnemonic: Seventeen-year-olds WISH they could vote for senators

  8. Eighteenth Amendment (1919)

    • Prohibition of alcohol.

    • Mnemonic: 18 = Can't drink (prohibition).

  9. Nineteenth Amendment (1920)

    • Women's suffrage (right to vote).

    • Mnemonic: 19 = Women's 1st vote!

  10. Twentieth Amendment (1933)

    • Moved presidential inauguration to January 20th.

    • Mnemonic: 20 = Jan. 20th start date.

  11. Twenty-First Amendment (1933)

    • Repealed prohibition (18th Amendment).

    • Mnemonic: 21 = Legal drinking age = alcohol is back!

  12. Twenty-Second Amendment (1951)

    • Presidential term limits (two terms).

    • Mnemonic: 22 = Two terms.

  13. Twenty-Third Amendment (1961)

    • D.C. residents can vote for President.

  14. Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964)

    • No poll taxes for voting.

    • Mnemonic: No poll taxes 4 you!

  15. Twenty-Fifth Amendment (1967)

    • Established presidential succession and VP replacement.

    • Mnemonic: 25 = If he ain’t alive, we survive.

  16. Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971)

    • Voting age lowered to 18.

    • Mnemonic: 2 + 6 = 8-teen votes.

  17. Twenty-Seventh Amendment (1992)

    • No congressional pay raises during the current term.

    • Mnemonic: 27 = Don’t raise yo pay till we have our say.