Amending the U.S. Constitution

Objective 2.04

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

11stst 10 Amendments to the 10 Amendments to the U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

Objective 1.07Objective 1.07

Amendment IAmendment IFreedoms of:Freedoms of:

R: ReligionR: ReligionA: AssemblyA: AssemblyP: PetitionP: PetitionP: PressP: PressS: SpeechS: Speech

Limits Freedom of Limits Freedom of SpeechSpeechCannot provoke riotsCannot provoke riotsCannot speak or write in a Cannot speak or write in a

way that immediately leads to way that immediately leads to criminal activity or efforts to criminal activity or efforts to overthrow the governmentoverthrow the government

Cannot spread lies to hurt Cannot spread lies to hurt ones reputationones reputationSlander: spoken liesSlander: spoken liesLibel: printed liesLibel: printed lies

Limits on Freedom of Limits on Freedom of ReligionReligionGovernmentGovernment

Establishment Clause – government Establishment Clause – government may not establish an official religionmay not establish an official religion

Free Exercise Clause – government Free Exercise Clause – government may not prohibit people from may not prohibit people from exercising (practicing) their religionexercising (practicing) their religion

PeoplePeopleMay not break laws with religionMay not break laws with religion

Amendment IIAmendment II

Right to bear Right to bear arms: own arms: own firearmsfirearms

Right to a state Right to a state militia (We now militia (We now call the militia call the militia the National the National Guard)Guard)

Amendment IIIAmendment III

No quartering (providing No quartering (providing food and shelter) of troops food and shelter) of troops during peacetime, and only during peacetime, and only with authorization of with authorization of Congress during war.Congress during war.

Amendment IV Amendment IV No illegal search and No illegal search and seizure (the searching seizure (the searching and taking of items)and taking of items)

Search warrant must be Search warrant must be provided, unless probable provided, unless probable cause is evidentcause is evident

Amendment VAmendment V1. Cannot be put on trial for a crime w/o a 1. Cannot be put on trial for a crime w/o a

formal charge by a grand jury.formal charge by a grand jury.2. Protection from double jeopardy, being 2. Protection from double jeopardy, being

put on trial for the same charge twice.put on trial for the same charge twice.3. Right to remain silent (plead the 53. Right to remain silent (plead the 5thth), ),

cannot be forced to perform self-cannot be forced to perform self-incrimination (testify against incrimination (testify against themselves)themselves)

4. May not be denied “life, liberty, or 4. May not be denied “life, liberty, or property” w/o due process (following property” w/o due process (following established legal procedures)established legal procedures)

5. Limits powers of eminent domain, the 5. Limits powers of eminent domain, the right of the government to take private right of the government to take private property for public useproperty for public use

Amendment VIAmendment VI

Right to speedy and public Right to speedy and public trial by jury in a criminal casetrial by jury in a criminal case

Right to an attorneyRight to an attorney

Amendment VII

Right to trial by jury in a civil case Right to trial by jury in a civil case (when a person sues another)(when a person sues another)

Amendment VIIIAmendment VIII

Prohibits:Prohibits:Excessive bails and finesExcessive bails and finesCruel and unusual Cruel and unusual punishmentpunishment

Amendment IXAmendment IXAny rights not listed are Any rights not listed are still protectedstill protected

Example: privacy, Example: privacy, government interference government interference with our personal liveswith our personal lives

Amendment XAmendment XAny powers not listed in Any powers not listed in the Constitution are the Constitution are reserved for the states.reserved for the states.

11th Amendment (1795)

Limits suits brought against states

Citizens of one state cannot bring a lawsuit against another state

12th Amendment (1804)

Electoral College must vote for President and V.P. separately

No more 1st and 2nd place winners

13th Amendment (1865)

Bans slavery and forced labor

NOT the same as the Emancipation Proclamation!

14th Amendment (1868)

Declared all former slaves to be U.S. citizens

Guaranteed equal rights to ALL citizens

15th Amendment (1870)

Stated that race cannot be used to deny voting rights, in other words, African Americans were given the right to vote

Amendments 13-15 are known as the Civil War Amendments.

16th Amendment (1895)

Gives the authority for the federal government to collect income taxes

17th Amendment (1913)

The people, instead of state legislators, elect their Senators

18th Amendment (1919)

Prohibition was established—banning the sale, consumption, and production of alcohol

X

19th Amendment (1920)

Granted women suffrage (the right to vote)

20th Amendment (1933)

Set new date for Congress to begin its term (Jan. 3rd) and for the inauguration of the President and V.P. (Jan. 20th)

21st Amendment (1933)

Repealed (got rid of) the prohibition of alcohol

22nd Amendment (1951)

Limits president to only serving 2 terms

23rd Amendment (1961)

Gave residents of Washington D.C. votes in the Electoral College

24th Amendment (1964)

Prohibits poll taxes so that even the poor can vote

25th Amendment (1967)

Defines the succession of the president

How a new V.P. is named if the president dies

26th Amendment (1971)

Lowered the voting age to 18

27th Amendment (1992)

Members of Congress cannot get pay raises until the beginning of a new term

Took 74,003 days to pass!