The Constitutional Amendments

The Amendments Beyond the Bill of Rights The first ten Amendments are called the Bill of Rights More Amendments were added to expand these rights The 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th amendments countered the big “isms” and expanded voting rights.

The Two Big “Isms” Racism Sexism Prejudice against people because of their race or ethnicity Sexism Prejudice against people because of their gender

Flexibility of the Constitution The Constitution can be very “Flexible” and is considered a “Living Document” because it can be changed. It can be changed 2 ways 1. Interpretation 2. Amendment Process

The Civil War Amendments All 3 of these amendments dealt with the issue of SLAVERY. 13th Amendment (1865) 14th Amendment (1868) 15th Amendment (1870)

13th Amendment (1865) Ended Slavery in the United States after the Civil War. People cannot be forced to work against their will unless they have been tried for and convicted of a crime for which this means of punishment is ordered.

14th Amendment (1868) All citizens must be protected equally by law. All persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they live. Guarantees due process of law According to due process of law, no state may take away the rights of a citizen.

The 14th Amendment has extended many rights to many people, not just freed slaves.

15th Amendment (1870) The right of citizens to vote cannot be based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This guarantees all people, regardless of their race or color of their skin, the right to vote.

16th Amendment ( 1913) Allowed the federal government to tax people’s incomes. Congress has the power to collect taxes on its citizens, based on their personal incomes rather than on the number of people living in a state.

Al Capone and the 16th Amendment Even though Capone broke laws with prostitution, bootlegging, and even murder, he went to prison for tax evasion!!!

18th Amendment (1919) This was called the “Moral Experiment” Alcohol was banned. It was called Prohibition. Ironically more people drank alcohol in the U.S. than in any other time in American history because of bootleggers like Al Capone.

Homer was devastated with the news of Prohibition.

19th Amendment (1920) Granted women the right to vote. Also known as SUFFRAGE! Susan B. Anthony led the fight for women’s rights.

Many People Think SUFFRAGE is a bad word!

21st Amendment (1933) Prohibition is Repealed. In other words, Drinking is legalized.

22nd Amendment (1951) Presidential Term Limits Limits the President to 2 term limits or a maximum of 10 years. Franklin Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than 2 terms. He served 4.

23rd Amendment (1961) Allowed people in Washington, DC the right to vote in national elections. Up until 1961, DC could not vote for the President because it was not a state. Our nation’s capital is now worth 3 Electoral votes.

Washington, D.C.

24th Amendment (1964) Prohibits a Poll Tax Up until 1964, many states made you pay a tax in order to vote. Poll taxes kept poor people from voting.

25th Amendment (1967) Settled the dispute of presidential succession. It listed the order of becoming president after the vice president. Prez, VP, Speaker, Prez pro temp, Sec of State, and on down the cabinet.

Succession of the President Secretary of Labor – Hilda Solis Secretary of Health and Human Services – Kathleen Sebelius Secretary of Housing and Urban Development – Shaun Donovan Secretary of Transportation – Ray LaHood Secretary of Energy – Stephen Chu Secretary of Education – Arne Duncan Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Eric Shensiki Secretary of Homeland Security – Janet Napolitano The Vice President – Joseph Biden Speaker of the House – Nancy Pelosi President pro tempore of the Senate – Robert Byrd Secretary of State – Hillary Clinton Secretary of the Treasury – Timonthy Geithner Secretary of Defense – Robert Gates Attorney General – Eric Holder Secretary of the Interior – Ken Salazar Secretary of Agriculture – Tom Vilsack Secretary of Commerce – Gary Locke

26th Amendment (1971) Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. The primary reason was because of the Vietnam War. Men under the age of 21 were fighting for their country, but they were unable to have a say in their government.