Amendments to the US Constitution

What changes have been made to the Constitution since it was ratified in 1788 and how have these changes affected the citizens of the USA?

The Bill of RightsGeneral name for

the first ten amendments

First: Five parts Freedom of:

1. speech 2. religion 3. press 4. assembly 5. petition

Limits on the First AmendmentCitizens cannot express

their freedoms at the same time they are infringing on the rights/freedoms of other citizens.

- Slander: knowingly and maliciously lying about someone

- Libel: knowingly and maliciously printing a lie about someone

The Rest of the Bill of Rights

Second: right to bear arms

Third: Citizens cannot be forced to quarter (house) soldiers

Fourth: no illegal search and seizure. Law enforcement must have a search warrant or probable cause

Fifth AmendmentRights of the Accused: 1. No one can be tried for a

felony unless indicted by a grand jury

2. No double jeopardy 3. Protection against self-

incrimination 4. Due Process: accused

must receive all parts of legal process

5. Eminent Domain: government must compensate citizens for taking their land

Sixth AmendmentRights of People on

Trial 1. Trial by jury 2. Speedy and

public trial 3. Right to confront

witnesses/accusers 4. Right to an

attorney

Seven Through TenSeventh: in civil cases worth more than $20,

you have the right to a juryEighth: no cruel and unusual punishment and

no excessive bailNinth: Rights not specifically taken away

from the people by the Constitution are automatically given to the people

Tenth: Powers not specifically given to the Federal govt. are given to state governments

Other Amendments

Eleventh: Sets the official jurisdiction of the Federal courts

Twelfth: President and Vice President run for office as a team instead of individuals

Slavery/Civil War AmendmentsThirteenth: abolition

of slaveryFourteenth: all

persons born or naturalized in the US are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection under the law

Fifteenth: no person can be denied the right to vote based on race

More AmendmentsSixteenth: allows the income taxSeventeenth: direct election of senators by

the peopleEighteenth: Prohibition of alcoholNineteenth: Women’s suffrage (vote)Twentieth: The Presidential inauguration was

moved to January 20Twenty-first: repealed ProhibitionTwenty-second: The President can only serve

two consecutive terms or 10 consecutive years

More AmendmentsTwenty-third: Citizens of

Washington, DC can vote in Presidential elections

Twenty-fourth: outlawed the poll tax

Twenty-fifth: Sets Presidential succession (Who becomes President if

the President dies/leaves office?)

Twenty-sixth: voting age decreased to 18 years

Twenty-seventh: Congress cannot pass a pay raise for themselves that will take effect in the same session as its passage