Amendments
1st Amendment
Protects the freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
Allows individuals to express themselves freely without government interference.
Ensures the right to practice any religion or none at all.
Guarantees a free press to inform the public and hold the government accountable.
2nd Amendment
Protects the right to keep and bear arms.
Acknowledges the importance of a militia for the security of a free state.
Has been subject to various interpretations regarding individual ownership versus collective rights.
3rd Amendment
Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent during peacetime.
Reflects concerns stemming from British colonial practices.
Protects the privacy and property rights of homeowners.
4th Amendment
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Requires warrants to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause.
Establishes the importance of privacy and security in personal property.
5th Amendment
Ensures the right to due process of law.
Protects individuals from double jeopardy (being tried twice for the same offense).
Prohibits self-incrimination, meaning one cannot be forced to testify against oneself.
Requires just compensation for the taking of private property (eminent domain).
6th Amendment
Guarantees the rights to a fair and speedy trial.
Affords the accused the right to an impartial jury.
Ensures individuals are informed of the charges against them.
Provides rights to confront witnesses and have legal counsel.
7th Amendment
Provides for the right to trial by jury in civil cases.
Ensures that common law decisions are preserved and respected.
8th Amendment
Prohibits excessive bail and fines.
Forbids cruel and unusual punishment.
Emphasizes the dignity of individuals in the legal system.
9th Amendment
Asserts that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.
Recognizes the existence of unenumerated rights that may not be explicitly listed.
10th Amendment
Declares that powers not delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people.
Supports the principle of federalism and states' rights.
14th Amendment:
Grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, ensuring that citizenship is not contingent on race, ethnicity, or parent's citizenship status.
Ensures that no state can deny any person equal protection of the laws, providing a broad guarantee against discrimination and affirming the principle of equality under the law.
Includes the Due Process Clause, which protects individuals from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by the states without due process of law.
Has been crucial in civil rights advancements, influencing important Supreme Court decisions that addressed issues such as segregation, voting rights, and gender equality.
15th Amendment
Prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Aims to protect the voting rights of African American men post-Civil War.
17th Amendment
Establishes direct election of United States Senators by popular vote.
Intended to reduce corruption and increase accountability.
19th Amendment
Grants women the right to vote.
Represents a significant milestone in the women's suffrage movement.
23rd Amendment
Grants residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections.
Acknowledges the unique status of the capital.
24th Amendment
Prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.
Addresses barriers to voting practices that disproportionately affected minorities and low-income citizens.
26th Amendment
Lowers the voting age to 18 years old.
Responds to arguments for the rights of younger citizens, especially during the Vietnam War.