1. Amendments to the Constitution
The Bill of Rights
1-10

2. Amendment 1: Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, and Assembly (1791)
It protects five basic freedoms that are essential to the American way of life.
Congress cannot pass any laws that take away:
Freedom of religion
Freedom of speech
Freedom of press
The people’s right to assemble peacefully
The people’s right to petition the government
The 1st Amendment freedoms are not absolute, however. They are limited by the rights of other individuals.

3. Amendment 2: Right to Bear Arms (1791)
The purpose of this amendment is to guarantee states the right to keep a militia. Today, the National Guard has taken the place of the state militias.
People have the right to keep arms (weapons) for recreational hunting and self-defense.
Congress and the states have the right to regulate the sale and use of firearms or forbid the sale and use of certain kinds of weapons.

4. Amendment 3: Quartering Troops (1791)
Limits the power of the national government to force Americans to quarter, or house, soldiers.
People do not have to let soldiers stay in their homes during peacetime.
This amendment is based on the principle that people have a right to privacy in their own homes.

5. Amendment 4: Searches and Seizures (1791)
Sometimes known as the Privacy Amendment
People, their homes or their possessions cannot be searched or taken by the government without a good reason.
In most cases the police must first get a warrant before they can arrest someone or conduct a search.
A warrant is written permission by a judge.
The Supreme Court has ruled that evidence seized illegally without a search warrant may not be used in court.

6. Amendment 5: Rights of Accused Persons (1791)
A person who is arrested for breaking a law must first be indicted, or formally accused, by a group of citizens called a Grand Jury.
A person cannot be tried more than once for a crime for which they have already been found innocent (double jeopardy).
People accused of crimes do not have to testify (give evidence) against themselves. Accused persons have the right to remain silent, or refuse to answer questions on the grounds that the answers might tend to incriminate them.
The Fifth Amendment limits the government’s power of eminent domain. Eminent domain is the right of the government to take private property (usually land) for public use. If the government takes a person’s property for the use of the public, it must pay a fair price.

7. Amendment 6: Right to a Speedy, Fair Trial (1791)
The requirement of a “speedy” trial ensures that an accused person will not be held in jail for a lengthy period as a means of punishing the accused without a trial.
A “fair” trial means that the trial must be open to the public and that a jury must hear witnesses and evidence on both sides before deciding the guilt or innocence of a person charged with a crime.
It also requires that the accused be told the exact nature of the charges against them.
Accused individuals must have the right to hear and question all witnesses against them.
They must also be permitted to call witnesses in their own defense.
Finally, they are entitled to a lawyer. If the accused person cannot afford to hire a lawyer, the government must provide one.

8. Amendment 7: Civil Suits (1791)
In civil cases, where a person sues someone, people have the right to a jury trial when the amount is more than $20.00.

9. Amendment 8: Bail and Punishment (1791)
Bail is money that an accused person provides to the court as a guarantee that he or she will be present for trial.
This amendment ensures that neither bail nor punishment for a crime shall be unreasonably severe.

10. Amendment 9: Powers Reserved to the People (1791)
The rights spelled out in the Constitution are not the only rights of the American people

11. Amendment 10: Powers Reserved to the States (1791)
Federalism is a system of government in which the power to govern is shared between the national government and the states.
Any powers the Constitution does not specifically give to the national government are reserved for the states or for the people.

12. AMENDMENTS 11-27
Amendment 11 says that people who live in other states or foreign countries cannot sue a state in federal court. In what year was this amendment ratified?
1795
Amendment 12 describes how the President and Vice-President are chosen. What system is used today?
Electoral college
What did Amendment 13 end in the United States?
slavery

13. AMENDMENTS 11-27
Amendment 14 tells about U.S. citizenship. All citizens are protected and given due process of law
What will happen if a state denies the right to vote to any group of citizens? States representation in congress will be altered
5. What right did Amendment 15 give to Black Americans? What kind of tax does Amendment 16 give Congress the power to collect? vote

14. AMENDMENTS 11-27
What kind of tax does Amendment 16 give Congress the power to collect?
Income
7. The Constitution stated that members of state legislatures elect Senators. Amendment 17 changed that by having the people elect senators. How many senators are elected for each state? How long is a senator’s term? 6 How many votes does each senator get? 1

15. AMENDMENTS 11-27 8. Amendment 18 stopped the sale of _____ cigarettes
__X__ alcohol
_____ fireworks
What right did women finally receive as a direct result of Amendment 19?
Voting rights

16. AMENDMENTS 11-27 10. Amendment 20 tells
_____ how the President is elected
_____ how old the president must be
__X__ when the President takes office
11. Amendment 20 says that if the President-elect dies,
_____ the House of Representatives chooses a new President
_____ there is a special election to choose a new President
__X__ the Vice-President elect becomes President

17. AMENDMENTS 11-27
12. What amendment did Amendment 21 repeal or remove from the law?
18th -Prohibition
Amendment 22 tells about the President’s term of office. How many times can a person be elected President?
Twice (2)
Amendment 23 gives what place the right to vote for President and Vice-President?
Washington D.C.

18. AMENDMENTS 11-27 Look at Amendment 24. What does Amendment 24 forbid?
Poll tax
Amendment 25 tells about replacing the President and Vice-President. Who nominates (names) a new Vice-President?
President
Amendment 26 lowers the voting age to 18
Amendment 27 states that congressional pay raises will start
At the start of a new session