Constitutional Amendments Why These 27 Laws Became More Important Than Others

Constitutional Amendments

What is an AMENDMENT? A Constitutional Amendment is “a change to the constitution of a nation or a state” A Constitutional Amendment is “a change to the constitution of a nation or a state” Amendments can be added via: Amendments can be added via:  RATIFICATION  CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION  REFERENDUM  SUCCESSIVE MAJORITY

Original Bill of Rights The original Bill of Rights had 12 amendments The original Bill of Rights had 12 amendments The two discarded amendments dealt with the size of Congress and with how much Congress could be paid The two discarded amendments dealt with the size of Congress and with how much Congress could be paid

Multiple Issue Amendments 1 ST Amendment (Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Grievances) 5 TH Amendment (War-Time Trials, Double Jeopardy, Self- Incrimination, and Personal Property)

Legal Protection Amendments 4 TH Amendment  Warrantless Searches 6 TH Amendment  Trial by Jury 7 TH Amendment  Civil Trials 8 TH Amendment  Cruel Punishment 11 TH Amendment  Sovereign Immunity

Elections & Voting Amendments Legal protection was of primary concern, but it is not covered in the most amendments…that distinction goes to elections and voting, which is covered in no less than EIGHT amendments Legal protection was of primary concern, but it is not covered in the most amendments…that distinction goes to elections and voting, which is covered in no less than EIGHT amendments

Civil Rights Amendments 13 th Amendment removed the “3/5ths of a person” clause 13 th Amendment removed the “3/5ths of a person” clause 14 th Amendment gave former slaves more freedom 14 th Amendment gave former slaves more freedom 15 th Amendment “guaranteed” the right to vote 15 th Amendment “guaranteed” the right to vote

Prohibition Amendments “I think this would be a good time for a beer” ~ FDR

War Amendments The individual argument about guns and the 2 nd Amendment did not appear until 1803 The individual argument about guns and the 2 nd Amendment did not appear until 1803 The 3 rd Amendment protects private homeowners AND those enlisted in military service The 3 rd Amendment protects private homeowners AND those enlisted in military service

No-Topic Amendments The 9 th Amendment guaranteed rights not mentioned in the Constitution were still held by the people The 9 th Amendment guaranteed rights not mentioned in the Constitution were still held by the people The 10 th Amendment gave any powers not already given to the federal government to the states The 10 th Amendment gave any powers not already given to the federal government to the states

Federal Income Tax America passed legislation instituting an income tax in 1894 amid a fanfare that rivaled a football victory America passed legislation instituting an income tax in 1894 amid a fanfare that rivaled a football victory Supreme Court disagreed one year and overturned it Supreme Court disagreed one year and overturned it

Amendment Facts  Only one failed amendment has come back from the dead (27 th )  Six current amendments have been subject to a repeal demand  The total number of failed amendments is in the 1000s