1. Constitutional Amendments Links in this power point take you to the website: www.usconstitution.net

2. How is the Constitution Amended?  The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution,  or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments,  when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;

3. Bill of Rights  1-10 amendments  The Constitution was passed without them  The guarantee of a bill of rights was a key factor in convincing some states to ratify the constitution.  North Carolina and Rhode Island were the two big hold outs  North Carolina failed to ratify the Constitution on its first vote.

4. 1 st Amendment  Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression Expression  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. redress  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

5. 2 nd Amendment  Right to Bear Arms  A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. infringed  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

6. 3 rd Amendment  Quartering of Soldiers  No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. quartered  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

7. 4 th Amendment  Search and Seizure  The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

8. 5 th Amendment  Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings  No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb depriveddue processbe subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb depriveddue process  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

9. 6 th Amendment  Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses  In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. impartialdefenceimpartialdefence  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

10. 7 th Amendment  Trial by Jury in Civil Cases  In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

11. 8 th Amendment  Cruel and Unusual Punishment  Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

12. 9 th Amendment  Construction of Constitution  The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. enumeration  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

13. 10 th Amendment  Powers of the States and People  The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

14. 11 th Amendment  Judicial Limits  The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.  Someone from one state can’t sue someone in another state.  Proposed: 3/4/1794 Ratified 2/7/1795 Ratified 2/7/1795Ratified 2/7/1795

15. 12 th Amendment  Choosing the President, Vice-President  Solved a problem in electing the president and vice president.  The electoral college now casts separate votes for the President and the Vice President  The way it was: Article 2 section 1 paragraph 3: “In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President.”  It meant that the runner up would be vice president. IE: Al Gore would have been George Bush’s V.P.  Proposed 12/9/1803 Ratified 6/15/1804 Ratified 6/15/1804Ratified 6/15/1804

16. Civil War Amendments  The 13 th, 14 th, and 15 th Amendments  Passed to ensure the civil liberties of former slaves.

17. 13 th Amendment  Slavery Abolished  Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. jurisdiction  Proposed 1/31/1865 Ratified 12/6/1865 Ratified 12/6/1865Ratified 12/6/1865

18. 14 th Amendment  Citizenship Rights All persons born in the US are citizens (former slaves) All persons born in the US are citizens (former slaves)  No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. deprivedue processjurisdictiondeprivedue processjurisdiction Restructured how representatives would be apportioned Restructured how representatives would be apportioned Denied all leaders of the Confederacy from holding office Denied all leaders of the Confederacy from holding office The US is not responsible for the debts of the Confederacy The US is not responsible for the debts of the Confederacy  Proposed 6/13/1866 Ratified 7/9/1868 Ratified 7/9/1868Ratified 7/9/1868

19. 15 th Amendment  Race No Bar to Vote  Suffrage for former slaves  The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.  Proposed 2/26/1869 Ratified 2/3/1870 Ratified 2/3/1870Ratified 2/3/1870

20. 16 th Amendment  Income Tax  The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. apportionmentenumerationapportionmentenumeration  Proposed 7/12/1909 Ratified 2/3/1913 Ratified 2/3/1913Ratified 2/3/1913

21. 17 th Amendment  Senators Elected by Popular Vote  The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.  What it was: A-1, S-3, P-1: “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.”  Proposed 5/13/1912 Ratified 4/8/1913 Ratified 4/8/1913Ratified 4/8/1913

22. 18 th Amendment  Prohibition (Liquor Abolished)  After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. jurisdiction  Proposed 12/18/1917 Ratified 1/16/1919 Ratified 1/16/1919Ratified 1/16/1919

23. 19 th Amendment  Women's Suffrage Suffrage  The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.  Proposed 6/4/1919 Ratified 8/18/1920 Ratified 8/18/1920Ratified 8/18/1920

24. 20 th Amendment  Presidential, Congressional Terms  “Lame Duck Amendment” When the terms of President and Vice President end (Noon Jan 20 th ) When the terms of President and Vice President end (Noon Jan 20 th ) When the terms of Senators and Representatives end (Noon Jan 3 rd ) When the terms of Senators and Representatives end (Noon Jan 3 rd ) Presidential succession when the president elect dies, or fails to qualify for the office. Presidential succession when the president elect dies, or fails to qualify for the office. The Vice President becomes president or holds the office until the President elect meets the qualifications. IE: the president elect will not be 35 years old until the 21 st of January. The Vice President becomes president or holds the office until the President elect meets the qualifications. IE: the president elect will not be 35 years old until the 21 st of January.  Proposed 3/2/1932 Ratified 1/23/1933 Ratified 1/23/1933Ratified 1/23/1933

25. 21 st Amendment  Ended Prohibition  The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed  Proposed 2/20/1933 Ratified 12/5/1933 Ratified 12/5/1933Ratified 12/5/1933

26. 22 nd Amendments  Presidential Term Limits  No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.  Proposed 3/21/1947 Ratified 2/27/1951 Ratified 2/27/1951Ratified 2/27/1951

27. 23 rd Amendment  Presidential Vote for District of Columbia  The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State,  Proposed 6/17/1960 Ratified 3/29/1961 Ratified 3/29/1961Ratified 3/29/1961

28. 24 th Amendment  - Poll Tax Barred Poll Tax BarredPoll Tax Barred  The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. poll taxpoll tax  Proposed 8/27/1962 Ratified 1/23/1964 Ratified 1/23/1964Ratified 1/23/1964

29. 25 th Amendments  Presidential Disability and Succession  In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.  2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.  3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.  Proposed 7/6/1965 Ratified 2/10/1967 Ratified 2/10/1967Ratified 2/10/1967

30. 26 th Amendment  Voting Age Set to 18 Years  The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.  Proposed 3/23/1971 Ratified 7/1/1971 Ratified 7/1/1971Ratified 7/1/1971

31. 27 th Amendment  Limiting Congressional Pay Increases  No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.  Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 5/7/1992 Ratified 5/7/1992Ratified 5/7/1992