Amendments

Bill of Rights (1791)

  1. First Amendment – Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

  2. Second Amendment – Right to bear arms.

  3. Third Amendment – No quartering of soldiers in private homes.

  4. Fourth Amendment – Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

  5. Fifth Amendment – Protection against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process.

  6. Sixth Amendment – Right to a fair and speedy trial, legal counsel, and to confront witnesses.

  7. Seventh Amendment – Right to a jury trial in civil cases.

  8. Eighth Amendment – Protection against excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

  9. Ninth Amendment – Rights not specifically listed in the Constitution are still retained by the people.

  10. Tenth Amendment – Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.

11th-27th Amendments

  1. Eleventh Amendment (1795) – Limits lawsuits against states.

  2. Twelfth Amendment (1804) – Revises the presidential election process (separate ballots for president and vice president).

  3. Thirteenth Amendment (1865) – Abolishes slavery.

  4. Fourteenth Amendment (1868) – Defines citizenship and guarantees equal protection under the law.

  5. Fifteenth Amendment (1870) – Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race.

  6. Sixteenth Amendment (1913) – Establishes federal income tax.

  7. Seventeenth Amendment (1913) – Direct election of U.S. senators by the people.

  8. Eighteenth Amendment (1919) – Prohibits alcohol (Prohibition).

  9. Nineteenth Amendment (1920) – Grants women the right to vote.

  10. Twentieth Amendment (1933) – Changes the presidential inauguration date to January 20.

  11. Twenty-First Amendment (1933) – Repeals Prohibition (18th Amendment).

  12. Twenty-Second Amendment (1951) – Limits the president to two terms.

  13. Twenty-Third Amendment (1961) – Grants Washington, D.C. electoral votes.

  14. Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) – Bans poll taxes in federal elections.

  15. Twenty-Fifth Amendment (1967) – Establishes presidential succession and procedures for handling vacancies.

  16. Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971) – Lowers the voting age to 18.

  17. Twenty-Seventh Amendment (1992) – Delays congressional pay raises until the next election cycle.