Amendments to the Constitution Chapter 4

Section 1 – The Bill of Rights A. Ratified in 1791 B. First Amendment: 1) Freedom of Religion- no official National religion. “Separation of Church and State” Limits: cannot break any other laws 2) Freedom of Speech- speak freely, without worry Limits: endanger others, slander, treason 3) Freedom of the Press- ability to publish written work Limits: libel 4) Freedom of Assembly- ability to gather and join any group you may want. Limits: gvmt. Can limit where and when 5) Freedom to Petition the Government- ability to ask questions to your lawmakers.

C. Second Amendment: The right to bear arms for the purpose of maintaining a “well regulated militia” D. Third Amendment: No quartering of soldiers in times of peace except with owners approval. If in times of war, only a law could overrule this. Protects from abuse of military authority. E. Fourth Amendment: Protects against unreasonable search and seizure. Search warrants must be issued by judge for specific items to be used as evidence in court. F. Fifth Amendment: Protects the rights of people accused of a crime. 1) Must first be indicted- formally accused by a grand jury who decided if there is enough evidence for a trial. 2) Double Jeopardy- cannot be tried twice for same crime 3) Due Process of Law- cannot be denied life, liberty, or property without due process of law; following procedures established by law guaranteed by the Constitution. 4) Eminent Domain- right of the gvmt. to take private property for public use is limited. Can do it for public good (highway, levee system)

G. Sixth Amendment: 1) requires accused to be formally charged 2) trial by a jury of your peers 3) speedy, public trial with impartial jury 4) right to hear and question witnesses against you 5) right to a lawyer; if you cannot afford one, then one will be appointed at the gvmt’s expense. H. Seventh Amendment: 1) guarantees a right to jury trial in civil cases where over $20 is involved 2) both sides can agree on a judge instead I. Eighth Amendment: 1) Prohibits excessive bail and fines. Bail based on type of crime, record of accused, and likelihood to appear in court. 2) forbids cruel and unusual punishment

J. Ninth Amendment: rights listed in Constitution are not the ONLY rights of the people. K. Tenth Amendment: Any powers not given by the Constitution to the National Gvmt. are reserved for the states

Section 2 – Bill of Rights Extended A. Eleventh Amendment (1795)- placed limits on lawsuits against states. B. Twelfth Amendment (1804)- revised procedure for electing the President and VP. Resulting from the Election of 1800 controversy. C. Thirteenth Amendment (1865)- abolished slavery. D. Fourteenth Amendment (1868)- defined US citizen as anyone “born or naturalized in the United States.” Required every state to give “equal protection of the law” to all citizens. Requires “due process of the law” for all citizens. Used in 1954 Brown v. Board of Education to declare segregation unconstitutional because it denied equal protection. E. Fifteenth Amendment (1870)- allowed African Americans (men only) the right to vote. States found new ways to stop black from voting – poll taxes, literacy tests

F. Sixteenth Amendment (1913)- gave Congress the power to levy income tax. G. Seventeenth Amendment (1913)- allowed direct election of Senators. Previously, state legislatures had chosen Senators. H. Eighteenth Amendment (1917)- prohibits the making, drinking, or selling of alcoholic beverages. I. Nineteenth Amendment (1920)- gives women the right to vote. Wyoming allowed women to vote in Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cody Stanton, and Lucretia Mott led fight. J. Twentieth Amendment (1933)- changes the date of Congressional and Presidential terms. 1) Set January 20 as Presidential Inauguration Day 2) January 3 at noon begins the new terms of Senators and Representatives. 3) Set succession of President and Vice President K. Twenty-first Amendment (1933)- repealed Prohibition. Only amendment ratified by special state conventions instead of state legislatures

L. Twenty-second Amendment (1951)- limits the President to 2 terms in office. FDR was elected 4 times. (1933,37,41,45) M. Twenty-third Amendment (1961)- Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia since not part of any state. N. Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964)- abolished poll taxes. Used in several southern states to prevent blacks from voting. Poll taxes also stopped poor whites from voting too. O. Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967)- Presidential succession procedure established. 1) Vice President- when moving to Pres,appoints new VP 2) if Pres. is unable to perform duties, the cabinet and VP can, after informing Congress, replace him with VP P. Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971)- lowered voting age to 18 for all national, state, and local elections. Q. Twenty-seventh Amendment (1992)- pay raises passed by Congress for themselves will not take effect until next session begins.