1. Amendment
process

2. What is an Amendment? Amend is to change the Constitution
Process begins with a proposal
2 ways:
- 2/3 of house of Congress can vote to propose
- Or 2/3 of states can request special conventions to propose amendment

3. Next Step Must be ratified
¾ of states must vote for the amendment before it becomes part of the Constitution
Only 27 Amendments since the Constitution was created 200 years ago
10 in the first year

4. Bill of Rights James Madison wrote it
Believed they were natural or basic rights of the people
People already have these rights
Government may not take them away

5. What are some of the Bill of Rights?
1st - Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
2nd - Right to Bear Arms
3rd - Lodging Troops in Private Homes
4th - Search and Seizure
5th - Rights of the Accused
6th - Right to Speedy Trial
7th - Jury Trial in Civil Cases
8th - Bail and Punishment
9th - Powers Reserved to the People
10th - Powers Reserved to the States

6. Other Important Amendments
deal with the rights of slaves
13th - ended slavery
14th - guaranteed slaves citizenship and constitutional rights
15th - gave African Americans the right to vote

7. Other Important Amendments
19th - gave women the right to vote
18th & 21st - deal with prohibition
26th - set age of voting to 18