AMENDMENTS TO THE US CONSTITUION

AMENDMENTS TO THE US CONSTITUION Can also be found in the appendix of your text.

1st Amendment Religious and Political Freedom (1791) • Freedom of Speech is a basic right in America- verbal or symbolic • Religion • Press • Assembly • Redress of Grievances ( right to complain and ask for change)

2nd Amendment • Right to Bear Arms (1791) • “ A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” • Many people now believe this Amendment means: Everyone has the right to own a weapon. • An "Informal Change" or "Informal Amendment" to the Constitution is one where the interpretation of the Constitution is changed by a Supreme Court ruling, rather than by a formal constitutional amendment or change of wording.

3rd Amendment • No Quartering Troops in citizens homes (1791) • During the American Revolution this was an issue

4th Amendment • No unlawful Search and Seizure (1791) • Probable cause – the police can search due to probable cause (belief there is a problem or law being broken)

5th Amendment • Rights of Accused Persons (1791) • “ No Double Jeopardy” Can’t be tried for the same crime twice • No forced confessions: may remain silent • A Grand Jury will decide if the government has enough evidence to press charges

6th Amendment • Right to a Speedy, Public Trail (1791) • Miranda Rights- Miranda Warning (1966) • Gideon v. Wainright- added right to an attorney

7th Amendment • Trail by Jury in Civil Cases (1791) • Rules of Common Law • Individuals/ groups/ businesses suing each other or the government for damages. • Not a Criminal Issue. • Goldman v. Simpson ( $) A family sued for damages for wrongful death. • Jones v. Clinton ( $) A former Arkansas employee sued the former governor for money due to alleged sexual harassment.

8th Amendment • Limits of Fines and Punishment (1791) • NO Excessive Bail • No Excessive Punishments: • To date the death sentence is not cruel. • Each state decides the method for the state. • Current methods used throughout the USA • Lethal Injection, Electric chair, Hanging, Gas Chamber, Firing Squad. • The Federal Government will only use Lethal Injection for Federal Death Sentences

9th Amendment • Rights of People (1791) • You have more rights than are written down • The Right of Privacy ( Implied) • The right to travel freely with out government papers (custom)

10th Amendment • Powers of State and People (1791) • The Federal Government is limited in that some powers are reserved for the states and the people. • This is a states rights amendment

11th Amendment • Lawsuits Against States (1795)

12th Amendment • Election of Executives (1804) • President and Vice-President Elected as a Team

13th Amendment • Slavery Abolished (1865)

14th Amendment • Civil Rights (1868) • If born in the United States, you are a citizen of the United States.

15th Amendment • Right to Vote (1870)

16th Amendment • Income Tax (1913)

17th Amendment • Direct Election of Senators (1913)

18th Amendment • Prohibition (1919) • No Alcohol • No Buying , Selling, or Manufacturing of Alcohol

19th Amendment • Woman Suffrage (1920) • Right to Vote

20th Amendment • “Lame Duck” Sessions (1933) • Lessons Time from the election to taking office

21st Amendment • Repeal of Prohibition (1933) • Alcohol is O.k.

22nd Amendment • Limit on Presidential Terms (1951) • Two term limit

23rd Amendment • Voting in District of Columbia (1961)

24th Amendment • Abolition of Poll Taxes (1964)

25th Amendment • Presidential Disability, Succession (1967)

26th Amendment • 18-Year-Old Vote (1971)

27th Amendment • Congressional Pay (1992)

AMENDMENTS TO THE US CONSTITUION