( Chapter 6 Notes )

First Amendment

• Freedoms of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

Second Amendment

• Individuals have the right to keep firearms in their homes and have a licensed gun for personal safety.

Third Amendment

• Bans people from taking care of soldiers in their houses without permission of the owner

Fourth Amendment

• No officer of government can search or take a person’s property without probable cause that is involved in a crime. Officers must have a search warrant from court and only take items listed.

Fifth Amendment

• Without an indictment, no one can be tried for a serious crime; members of the grand jury must hold trial and review evidence against the accused who may or may not be guilty.

• Blocks the government from putting people on trial more than once for the same crime (No double jeopardy)

• People cannot be made to testify against themselves

  • No one can be denied “life, liberty, or property” without due process of law

• Limits government power of taking private property without a fair price

Sixth Amendment

• The accused is allowed trial by jury or to be tried by a judge and must be clearly told what charges are against them.

  • Trial- speedy, public, and fair; can be held in the place where the crime was committed

• The accused can hear/question witnesses against them and is allowed to call a witness in defense or a lawyer. (If they cannot afford a lawyer, The Supreme Court must pay for one)

Seventh Amendment

• Guarantees right to jury trial specifically about disputes about property worth $20.

• Sets different roles for judges and juries

  • Judge- duty is to solve issues of law and determines which evidence is allowed

  • Juries- listens to evidence and considers facts to draw reasonable conclusions; if both parties in a conflict agree, trial can be without jury and judge takes the jury’s job.

Eighth Amendment

• During the months before a trial can be held, the accused can pay bail that is decided by a judge and be free as long as they appear at trial. (Bail is returned when the accused appears and is lost if they don’t appear)

• Bans “excessive bail”; Judge must weigh the type of crime committed, accused’s record, and likelihood of appearance in court to set bail.

  • Judge may refuse bail if accused is likely to flee

• Forbids “cruel and unusual punishment” if the accused is guilty

Ninth Amendment

• Prevents government from saying people only have rights listed in the Bill of Rights; citizens have rights beyond those listed and cannot be taken away.

Tenth Amendment

• Powers not specifically given to the federal government belong to the states and people; the U.S. government only has power given by the people

Eleventh Amendment

• Places limits on lawsuits against states; 1795

Twelfth Amendment

• Revises procedure for electing the president and vice president; 1804

Thirteenth Amendment

• Outlaws slavery and bans forced labor unless it’s legal punishment; 1865

Fourteenth Amendment

• Protects African Americans and gives them rights; 1868

• Defines U.S. citizenship as anyone “born or naturalized in the U.S.”

  • State must give citizens “equal protection of the laws" and end unfair laws that hurt African Americans.

• Forbids state government from unreasonable action or interference with U.S. citizens

  • States cannot take a person’s “life, liberty, or property” without due process

Fifteenth Amendment

• No state may deny a person’s right to vote because of race (Aimed for African American men only); 1870

Sixteenth Amendment

• Gives Congress power to levy an income tax; 1913

Seventeenth Amendment

• Allows voters to elect their senators directly giving Americans a greater voice in government; 1913

Eighteenth Amendment

• Prohibits making, transporting, selling, importing, and exporting alcoholic drinks; 1917

Nineteenth Amendment

• Protects the woman’s right to vote in national and state elections; 1920

Twentieth Amendment

• Changes dates of congressional and presidential terms; 1933

Twenty-First Amendment

• Repeals prohibition of the 18th amendment; 1933

Twenty-Second Amendment

• Limits presidents to two terms in office; 1951

Twenty-Third Amendment

• People in Washington D.C. may vote for president and vice president and have the same number of electoral votes as small states (Cannot vote a representative in Congress); 1961

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

• Gave African Americans right to vote and made poll taxes illegal; 1964

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

• Establishes procedures for succession to the presidency; 1967

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

• If you are 18 or older you can register to vote; 1971

Twenty-Seventh Amendment

• Delays congressional pay raises until the term following their passage; 1992