Major Amendments to the Constitution

The Constitution

• Has only been amended (changed) 27 times.

• The first 10: The Bill of Rights

• They’re all important, but some have had a bigger influence on history than others have.

When England and King George ruled the Colonies:

• The people felt they had no rights.• Before the leaders of the new country would agree to

a new government, they wanted to make sure that wouldn’t happen again.

• They insisted on a “Bill of Rights” to be added to their new Constitution (written plan for government).

1st Amendment(lists 5 freedoms people have by being here)

A. Freedom of religion: you can be any religion you wish – or none if you wish (goes back to the Church of England being tied in directly with the British government).

B. Freedom of speech: as long as it is true

C. Freedom of the press: as long as it’s true

D. Freedom of assembly: people can get together for any reason (peaceful, or even in protests)

E. Freedom of petition: the government should help you out if you “petition” them (ask them).

2nd Amendment

• People have the right to “keep and bear arms”

• This was written 230 years ago

• The question today is what they really meant:

• For hunting?

• For protection?

• For rebelling against your government if you need to?

• Guns are much different today than in 1776

3rd Amendment• Soldiers cannot stay in your home without your

permission

• This comes from colonial times – when the British government couldn’t afford food and places to stay for all it’s soldiers in the colonies – so they sometimes could live in citizen’s homes and those people “supported” them.

4th Amendment

• Police need a search warrant to enter your home.• Police need a court order to take any of your

property.

5th Amendment• No one can be tried for the same

crime more than once.

(except – criminal and civil cases are different)

• No-one can be forced to testify against themselves.

(You are innocent until you’re proven guilty)

• The government can’t take your property without paying a fair price for it.

(Such as your land to build a new…)

• People must have fair trials.

6th Amendment

• If you are charged with a crime… you have the right to:

1. a jury trial

2. a speedy trial

3. know why you’ve been arrested

7th Amendment

• A person involved in a lawsuit can have a jury trial if they want one.

8th Amendment• Bail cannot be too high

(the amount of money you pay to get out of jail)• Fines and punishments for crimes must be fair and

proportionate.

9th Amendment• There are many rights that aren’t put in the constitution.

10th Amendment• Powers not given to the United States government in

the constitution, are given to the states and the people .

(Has to do with Reserved Powers, Implied Powers, etc… which we’ll look at later)

The Civil War AmendmentsAll were ratified (approved) at the end of the Civil War

• 13th Amendment• 14th Amendment• 15th Amendment

• All slaves would now be free.

• Formers slaves were now American citizens (and should be treated equally).

• Former slaves had the right to vote (men).

Others

• 16th Amendment

(43 years after 13/14/15th) Congress can collect a tax on people’s income.

18th Amendment (1919): Prohibition: Illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol in any way.

21st Amendment: (1932)Did away with the 18thAmendment.

More…

• 22nd Amendment:

No one can ever be elected President more than twice.

24th Amendment:

Poll taxes are illegal.

And…• 25th Amendment:

1. If the President can’t be in power, the Vice President takes over.

2. If there’s no Vice President, the President can name a new one (approved by the Senate)

3. If the President is sick, he can temporarily give power to the Vice President.

• 26th Amendment:

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 (in 1971 – during Vietnam War time)

Presidential Succession1.Vice President - 2.Speaker of the House 3.President Pro Tempore of the Senate 4.Secretary of State 5.Secretary of the Treasury 6.Secretary of Defense 7.Attorney General 8.……(there’s a lot more)

The 27th Amendment(the last one that was passed)

• Congress cannot vote itself a pay raise – any pay raise only counts for the next Congress

The rest:• 17: Senators elected by popular vote.• 19: (in 1920) Women could vote (suffrage).• 20: Presidential and Congressional dates to take office.• 23: The District of Columbia can vote for President.

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People Amendment 11 - Judicial Limits Amendment 12 - Choosing the President, Vice President Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote Amendment 16 - Status of Income Tax Clarified Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote Amendment 18 - Liquor Abolished Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage Amendment 20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms Amendment 21 - Amendment 18 Repealed Amendment 22 - Presidential Term Limits Amendment 23 - Presidential Vote for District of Columbia Amendment 24 - Poll Taxes Barred Amendment 25 - Presidential Disability and Succession Amendment 26 - Voting Age Set to 18 Years Amendment 27 - Limiting Congressional Pay Increases