Amendments AP Gov
PART I: THE 27 AMENDMENTS
1st Amendment
Original purpose: Protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
In your own words: The government cannot establish a religion or unfairly restrict your religion, speech, press, right to gather, or right to petition the government.
2nd Amendment
Original purpose: Protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
In your own words: Protects an individual's right to possess and carry weapons, subject to constitutional and legal limits.
3rd Amendment
Original purpose: Prevents soldiers from being housed in private homes without the owner's consent during peacetime.
In your own words: The government cannot force you to let soldiers live in your home.
4th Amendment
Original purpose: Protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures and requires warrants to be based on probable cause.
In your own words: Police generally need a good legal reason, and often a warrant, to search you or your property.
5th Amendment
Original purpose: Protects due process, grand jury rights, protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination, and requires compensation when private property is taken for public use.
In your own words: You have important protections when accused of a crime, including the right to remain silent and the right to fair legal procedures.
Key phrase: "I plead the Fifth."
6th Amendment
Original purpose: Guarantees rights of people accused of crimes, including a speedy and public trial, impartial jury, notice of charges, witnesses, and assistance of counsel.
In your own words: Criminal defendants have the right to a fair and speedy trial and a lawyer.
7th Amendment
Original purpose: Protects the right to a jury trial in certain civil cases.
In your own words: People can have a jury decide certain lawsuits involving civil disputes.
8th Amendment
Original purpose: Prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.
In your own words: Punishments and fines cannot be excessively harsh or inhumane.
9th Amendment
Original purpose: States that people have rights beyond those specifically listed in the Constitution.
In your own words: Just because a right isn't written in the Constitution doesn't mean people don't have it.
10th Amendment
Original purpose: Powers not given to the federal government, or prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people.
In your own words: Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people.
Key idea: Federalism.
11th Amendment
Original purpose: Limits the ability of individuals to sue states in federal court.
In your own words: States have certain protections from being sued in federal court by people from another state or country.
12th Amendment
Original purpose: Requires electors to cast separate votes for President and Vice President.
In your own words: The Electoral College votes separately for President and Vice President so they are elected as separate offices.
13th Amendment
Original purpose: Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
In your own words: Slavery was made illegal in the United States.
Key idea: Ended slavery.
14th Amendment
Original purpose: Establishes citizenship for people born or naturalized in the United States and guarantees due process and equal protection under the law.
In your own words: It defines U.S. citizenship and requires states to treat people fairly and equally under the law.
Key ideas: Citizenship, Due Process, Equal Protection.
15th Amendment
Original purpose: Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
In your own words: The government cannot deny someone the right to vote because of their race.
Key idea: Voting rights for formerly enslaved men and Black men.
16th Amendment
Original purpose: Gives Congress the power to collect a federal income tax.
In your own words: The federal government can legally tax people's income.
17th Amendment
Original purpose: Requires direct election of U.S. senators by the people.
In your own words: Voters directly elect their senators instead of state legislatures choosing them.
18th Amendment
Original purpose: Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.
In your own words: Established Prohibition and made most alcohol production and sales illegal.
Key idea: Prohibition.
19th Amendment
Original purpose: Prohibits denying the right to vote based on sex.
In your own words: Women gained constitutional protection for their right to vote.
20th Amendment
Original purpose: Changes the dates when presidential and congressional terms begin and reduces the "lame duck" period.
In your own words: Moves the start of presidential terms to January 20 and congressional terms to January 3.
Key idea: "Lame Duck Amendment."
21st Amendment
Original purpose: Repeals the 18th Amendment.
In your own words: Ended Prohibition and made alcohol legal again under federal constitutional law.
Key idea: Repealed Prohibition.
22nd Amendment
Original purpose: Limits the President to being elected to two terms.
In your own words: A President generally cannot be elected more than twice.
Key number: 2 terms.
23rd Amendment
Original purpose: Gives Washington, D.C. electoral votes in presidential elections.
In your own words: Residents of Washington, D.C. can participate in presidential elections through Electoral College votes.
24th Amendment
Original purpose: Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.
In your own words: The government cannot require people to pay a tax to vote in federal elections.
Key idea: Eliminated poll taxes.
25th Amendment
Original purpose: Establishes procedures for presidential succession and what happens when the President is unable to perform their duties.
In your own words: Explains what happens if the President dies, resigns, is removed, or temporarily cannot do the job.
Key idea: Presidential succession/disability.
26th Amendment
Original purpose: Prohibits denying citizens 18 or older the right to vote based on age.
In your own words: Citizens can vote beginning at age 18.
Key number: 18.
27th Amendment
Original purpose: Prevents congressional pay raises from taking effect until after the next election of the House of Representatives.
In your own words: Congress cannot immediately benefit from a pay increase it gives itself; voters get a chance to respond first.