Making an Amendment National Convention PROPOSE (Suggest) An amendment can be proposed by Congress with a vote of 2/3 in each house An amendment can be proposed by National Convention with a vote of 2/3 of the states RATIFY (Pass) An amendment can be ratified by State Legislatures with a vote of 3/4 An amendment can be ratified by State Conventions with a vote of 3/4

The Amendments The first amendment protects the right to…  Freedom of Religion  Freedom of Speech  Freedom of the Press (newspaper, magazines, radio, television, internet)  Freedom of Assembly (to have meetings)  Freedom to Petition the Government (ask for changes) Amendment 1

The Amendments Gives people the right to… bear arms which means that people can own and use guns for hunting and defense of their life and property. Amendment 2 Protects the people from the government… stationing soldiers in their homes except in the case of a national emergency. Amendment 3

The Amendments Protects people from… unreasonable searches and seizures of their home, person, or property. We call this our right to PRIVACY Amendment 4

Criminal Justice Protections The Amendments Criminal Justice Protections  People have the right to “remain silent”  People have the right to have a grand jury decide if there is enough evidence for a trial.  People are protected from double jeopardy (being tried for the same crime twice)  People cannot have their life, liberty, or property taken away without a trial. Amendment 5

The Amendments The sixth amendment protects peoples’ right to...  a speedy and public trial.  have a lawyer during questioning and during a trial.  an unbiased and impartial judge and a jury trial.  to know what you’ve been accused of  to question any witness brought in to testify against you. Amendment 6

The Amendments This gives people the right to… a jury trial in civil cases which involve over $20. Amendment 7 This amendment protects citizens from... excessive fines and bail and cruel and unusual punishments. Amendment 3

The Amendments People have... rights not listed in the Constitution. 9 States have powers… not given to the national government and not denied to the states in the Constitution. Amendment 10

The Amendments This amendment... made slavery illegal in the United States. Amendment 13 The amendment guarantees... Equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal protection under the law. It also guarantees due process. Amendment 14

The Amendments This amendment gave voting rights to... former slaves (men only). Amendment 15 The amendment gave voting rights (suffrage) to... Women. Amendment 19

The Amendments This amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. 26