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Amending the U.S. Amending the U.S. ConstitutionConstitution
Social StudiesSocial Studies
Mrs. RobertsMrs. Roberts
Amendment?Amendment?Page 1Page 1
Any change to the Constitution is an Any change to the Constitution is an amendment.amendment.
Amendment ProcessAmendment ProcessPage 1Page 1
The Framers of the Constitution wanted to make The Framers of the Constitution wanted to make the Constitution flexible, but not so easy to the Constitution flexible, but not so easy to amend that it would not be respected.amend that it would not be respected.
Writers deliberately made the amendment Writers deliberately made the amendment process difficult.process difficult. Any small change could have dramatic effects on U.S. Any small change could have dramatic effects on U.S.
government.government. Cannot be changed without the overwhelming support Cannot be changed without the overwhelming support
of the PEOPLE!of the PEOPLE!
Amendment ProcessAmendment ProcessPage 2Page 2
The ability to change (amend) the The ability to change (amend) the Constitution is clearly necessary. Constitution is clearly necessary. They safeguard many freedoms we take for They safeguard many freedoms we take for
granted, such as the abolition of slavery and granted, such as the abolition of slavery and the right to vote for women.the right to vote for women.
Amendment ProcessAmendment Process
In the Declaration of Independence, In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson stated that people have Thomas Jefferson stated that people have the right to overthrow a government that the right to overthrow a government that does not protect their rightsdoes not protect their rights If the Constitution could not have been If the Constitution could not have been
amended to protect the rights of African amended to protect the rights of African Americans and women, our government Americans and women, our government would not have survived.would not have survived.
Amendment ProcessAmendment ProcessPage 3Page 3
Draw the amendment process that can be Draw the amendment process that can be found on page 127 in your textbook.found on page 127 in your textbook.
Amendment ProcessAmendment ProcessPage 4Page 4
Article V in the Constitution explains the two Article V in the Constitution explains the two steps in the amendment process: steps in the amendment process:
1.1. An amendment must first be proposed.An amendment must first be proposed.• An amendment can be proposed by vote of two-An amendment can be proposed by vote of two-
thirds of members of both houses of Congress.thirds of members of both houses of Congress.
OROR• Amendment proposed by national convention called Amendment proposed by national convention called
at the request of two-thirds of state legislatures. at the request of two-thirds of state legislatures. This has never happened.This has never happened.
Amendment ProcessAmendment Process
Amendment Process Continued…Amendment Process Continued…2.2. Amendment must be ratified (approved).Amendment must be ratified (approved).• Approved by ¾ of state legislatures.Approved by ¾ of state legislatures.
OROR• Approved by ¾ of ratifying conventions held Approved by ¾ of ratifying conventions held
in each state.in each state.
RatificationRatification
Only one amendment, the 21Only one amendment, the 21stst amendment, was ratified by state amendment, was ratified by state conventions.conventions.
More than 9,000 amendments have been More than 9,000 amendments have been proposed. Only 27 have been ratified.proposed. Only 27 have been ratified.
Bill of RightsBill of RightsPage 5Page 5
The Bill of Rights is the first ten The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.amendments to the U.S. Constitution.Describes the powers and rights of American Describes the powers and rights of American
citizens.citizens.Reflect the belief of limited government.Reflect the belief of limited government.Place strict limits on how the national Place strict limits on how the national
government can use its power over the government can use its power over the people.people.
Bill of RightsBill of RightsPage 6Page 6
First AmendmentFirst Amendment Freedom of religion, Freedom of religion,
speech, press, speech, press, assembly, and assembly, and petition.petition.
Second AmendmentSecond Amendment Right to bear arms.Right to bear arms.
Bill of RightsBill of Rights
Third AmendmentThird Amendment Quartering TroopsQuartering Troops
The federal government The federal government cannot force citizens to cannot force citizens to quarter, or house, quarter, or house, soldiers.soldiers.
Fourth AmendmentFourth Amendment Search and SeizureSearch and Seizure
Protects citizens Protects citizens against against unreasonable unreasonable search and seizures.search and seizures.
Bill of RightsBill of Rights
Fifth AmendmentFifth AmendmentRights of an Accused PersonRights of an Accused Person
No one can be put on trial without being indicted, No one can be put on trial without being indicted, or formally accused, by a group of citizens called a or formally accused, by a group of citizens called a grand jury.grand jury.
Double jeopardyDouble jeopardyRight to remain silent.Right to remain silent.Guarantees that people cannot be forced to testify Guarantees that people cannot be forced to testify
against themselves.against themselves.
Bill of RightsBill of Rights
Fifth Amendment continued…Fifth Amendment continued…No one may be denied life, liberty, or property No one may be denied life, liberty, or property
without without due process of law.due process of law.This means following procedures of law and This means following procedures of law and
guaranteed by the Constitution.guaranteed by the Constitution.
Protects a person’s property rights.Protects a person’s property rights.Limits the government’s power of Limits the government’s power of eminent eminent
domaindomain.. Eminent domainEminent domain is the right of government to take is the right of government to take
private property (usually land) for public use.private property (usually land) for public use.
Bill of RightsBill of RightsPage 7Page 7
Sixth AmendmentSixth AmendmentRight to a Speedy, Fair TrialRight to a Speedy, Fair Trial
Requires that the accused be told of the exact Requires that the accused be told of the exact nature of the charges against them.nature of the charges against them.
Must be allowed a trial by jury.Must be allowed a trial by jury.Right to hear and question all witnesses against Right to hear and question all witnesses against
them.them.Permitted to call witnesses in their defense.Permitted to call witnesses in their defense.Entitled to a lawyer.Entitled to a lawyer.
If the person cannot afford a lawyer, the government will If the person cannot afford a lawyer, the government will appoint one.appoint one.
Bill of RightsBill of Rights
Seventh AmendmentSeventh AmendmentCivil SuitsCivil Suits
The right to a jury trial in civil cases if the amount The right to a jury trial in civil cases if the amount of money involved is more than $20.00.of money involved is more than $20.00.
Bill of RightsBill of Rights
Eighth AmendmentEighth AmendmentBail and PunishmentBail and Punishment
Forbids excessive bailForbids excessive bailForbids “cruel and unusual punishment.”Forbids “cruel and unusual punishment.”
The punishment should be in proportion to the crime.The punishment should be in proportion to the crime.
Bill of RightsBill of Rights
Ninth AmendmentNinth Amendment Powers Reserved to Powers Reserved to
the Peoplethe People The rights spelled out in The rights spelled out in
the Constitution are not the Constitution are not the only rights of the the only rights of the American people.American people.
Tenth AmendmentTenth Amendment Powers Reserved to Powers Reserved to
the Statethe State Any powers the Any powers the
Constitution does not Constitution does not specifically give to the specifically give to the federal government are federal government are reserved for the states reserved for the states or the people.or the people.
Amendment 11Amendment 11Page 8Page 8
Suits Against StatesSuits Against StatesA lawsuit brought by a citizen of the United A lawsuit brought by a citizen of the United
States or a foreign nation against a state must States or a foreign nation against a state must be tried in a state court, not a federal court.be tried in a state court, not a federal court.
Amendment 12Amendment 12
Election of President and Vice PresidentElection of President and Vice PresidentPassed to prevent a tie between the President Passed to prevent a tie between the President
and Vice President.and Vice President.People now vote for them as a set, not People now vote for them as a set, not
separate!separate!
Amendment 13Amendment 13
Abolition of SlaveryAbolition of SlaveryProhibits slavery of any form.Prohibits slavery of any form.
Amendment 14Amendment 14
Rights of CitizensRights of CitizensGrants citizenship to all people born in the Grants citizenship to all people born in the
United States.United States.Guarantees due process of law.Guarantees due process of law.
Amendment 15Amendment 15
African American SuffrageAfrican American SuffrageRight to vote for African AmericansRight to vote for African Americans
Amendment 16Amendment 16Page 9Page 9
Income TaxIncome TaxCongress has the power to tax the citizens of Congress has the power to tax the citizens of
the United States.the United States.
Amendment 17Amendment 17
Direct Election of SenatorsDirect Election of SenatorsThe right to elect senators was given directly The right to elect senators was given directly
to the people of each state.to the people of each state.
Amendment 18Amendment 18
Prohibition of AlcoholProhibition of AlcoholProhibited the production, sale, or Prohibited the production, sale, or
transportation of alcoholic beverages in the transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States.United States.
Amendment 19Amendment 19
Woman SuffrageWoman SuffrageGave all women the right to vote.Gave all women the right to vote.
Amendment 20Amendment 20
““Lame Duck” AmendmentLame Duck” AmendmentShortened the time between the President’s Shortened the time between the President’s
and Vice President’s election and and Vice President’s election and inauguration.inauguration.
Ended “lame duck” sessions of Congress.Ended “lame duck” sessions of Congress. ““Lame ducks” are Presidents and members of Lame ducks” are Presidents and members of
Congress waiting to leave office after retiring Congress waiting to leave office after retiring or failing to gain reelection. They no longer or failing to gain reelection. They no longer had any political power.had any political power.
Amendment 21Amendment 21Page 10Page 10
Repeal of Prohibition Amendment (18)Repeal of Prohibition Amendment (18)Repealed the 18Repealed the 18thth amendment which forbade amendment which forbade
the production, sale, and transportation of the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.alcoholic beverages.
Amendment 22Amendment 22
Limit on Presidential TermsLimit on Presidential TermsA President cannot serve more than two A President cannot serve more than two
terms in office.terms in office.Passed after President Roosevelt was elected Passed after President Roosevelt was elected
to four terms as President.to four terms as President.
Amendment 23Amendment 23
Presidential Electors for the District of Presidential Electors for the District of ColumbiaColumbiaGrant people living in Washington D.C. the Grant people living in Washington D.C. the
right to vote in presidential elections.right to vote in presidential elections.
Amendment 24Amendment 24
Abolition of the Poll TaxAbolition of the Poll TaxA poll tax was a fee that people were required A poll tax was a fee that people were required
to pay to vote in a number of Southern States.to pay to vote in a number of Southern States.This amendment ended poll taxes as a This amendment ended poll taxes as a
requirement to vote in any election.requirement to vote in any election.A form of racial discrimination!A form of racial discrimination!
Amendment 25Amendment 25
Presidential Disability and SuccessionPresidential Disability and SuccessionThe Vice President become President if the The Vice President become President if the
President dies, resigns, or is removed from President dies, resigns, or is removed from office.office.
The new President will then appoint a Vice The new President will then appoint a Vice President with the approval of Congress.President with the approval of Congress.
Amendment 26Amendment 26
Eighteen-Year Old VoteEighteen-Year Old VoteMade 18-year-olds eligible to vote in all Made 18-year-olds eligible to vote in all
elections.elections.Until this amendment in 1971, you had to be Until this amendment in 1971, you had to be
21.21.Many people used the Vietnam War to justify Many people used the Vietnam War to justify
the adoption of the 26the adoption of the 26thth amendment. They amendment. They argued that those old enough to fight and die argued that those old enough to fight and die for their country were also old enough to vote.for their country were also old enough to vote.
Amendment 27Amendment 27
Restraint on Congressional SalariesRestraint on Congressional SalariesStates that any increase in salaries of the States that any increase in salaries of the
members of Congress will take effect in the members of Congress will take effect in the next session of Congress.next session of Congress.