The Amendments to the Constitution

1. The Amendments to the Constitution Unit 4

2. Bill of Rights 4-1 • First 10 amendments to the Constitution • Guarantees personal rights to life, liberty, and property • Added to ensure that all states would ratify the Constitution • Most of the amendments relate to specific complaints against the British rule

3. First Amendment • Freedom of: • Religion • Establishment Clause – the government cannot make us all one religion • The government cannot prohibit expressions of religion • Speech • When does a person’s freedom intrude on someone else’s rights?

5. First Amendment • Press • The Press acts as a watchdog over the government • Freedom of press can be limited to prevent lies and protect people’s safety • To assemble or protest peacefully • Means you have the right to criticize the government, as long as it does not interfere with others • Topetition the government • You can contact your government with complaints, concerns, or ideas

6. Second Amendment • Grants the right to own a gun for militia purposes • Gun ownership can serve as anothercheck and balance on the government • Are restrictions on gun ownership constitutional?

7. Third Amendment • The government may not house soldiers in private homes

8. Fourth Amendment • Searches and seizures must be reasonable • Requires warrants or just cause for searches

9. Fifth Amendment • Protects the rights of accused people • A Grand Jury must indict a person if there is enough evidence • A person may not be tried more than once for the same crime (double jeopardy) • People cannot be forced to testify against themselves (“I plead the fifth”)

10. Sixth Amendment • The right to a speedy and public trial • The right to know all of the accusations against you and the accusers • Legal counsel must be provided to defendants

11. Seventh Amendment • Says that jury trials are available for civil suits • Civil Cases are lawsuits that do NOTresult in criminal punishment

12. Eighth Amendment • No excessive fines • No cruel and unusual punishment • Directly relates to the debate over the death penalty as people disagree over what’s cruel and unusual.

13. Ninth Amendment • People’s rights are notlimited to thosementioned in the Constitution

14. Tenth Amendment • The state retains all powers not expressed or prohibited in the Constitution

15. Changes in Government Functions #11 Amendment– Federal courts cannot rule in lawsuits against states #12 Amendment– Changes to the electoral college process #13 Amendment– Abolished slavery #14 Amendment– Equal protection of the laws to all races #15 Amendment– Black males given the right to vote #16 Amendment– Income tax

16. Changes in Government Functions #17 Amendment– Direct election of senators #18 Amendment– Prohibition of alcohol #19 Amendment– Women’s right to vote #20 Amendment– Changes dates for inauguration and start of a new session of Congress #21 Amendment– Repeal of prohibition of alcohol, Amendment # 18

17. Changes in Government Functions #22 Amendment– Limits president to two terms #23 Amendment– Electoral votes for Washington, D.C. #24 Amendment– Outlawed poll taxes –tax charged for voting #25 Amendment– Presidential disability and line of succession

18. Changes in Government Functions #26 Amendment– 18 yr. old right to vote #27 Amendment– Limits on Congressional pay raises