27 Amendments

Chapter 3

The BILL OF RIGHTS

1st ten amendments - all officially added in 1791

1 -1791

Freedom of

• speech
• religion
• press
• assembly
• petition

2 -1791

Right to bear arms and keep a militia for protection

3 -1791

Government cannot require citizens to quarter soldiers

4 - 1791

Right to private property- govt cannot search or seize property without a warrant (obtained with probable cause)

5 - 1791 -Rights of the accused

• No double jeopardy
• Evidence must be present for charge of serious crime
• No self-incrimination
• No denial of life, liberty, property without DUE PROCESS
• Govt has right to use eminent domain to get property

6 - 1791

More rights of the accused

• Get a speedy and public trial by JURY
• Right to a lawyer
• Must be told of which charge(s) facing
• Right to hear & question all witnesses testifying against
• Can subpoena witnesses (require to appear in court)

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gideon-v-wainwright-case-providing-defendants-an-attorney-turns-50/

7 - 1791

Right to a jury trial in federal courts if someone is sued for an amount over $20

8 -1791

• Punishments must fit the charge/crime
• No excessive bail
• No excessive fines
• No cruel & unusual punishment

9 -1791

All rights not already spelled out in the Constitution belong to the people.

10 -1791

All govt powers not spelled out in Constitution are reserved for the States & people

11 - 1795

State courts (not federal) must hold trials for states being sued by people or other countries

12 - 1804

Separate ballots are used in Electoral College for electing President and VP

The Reconstruction Amendments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2rxGbU1Z8c

Added in 1865 right after Civil War

13 - 1865

Slavery is illegal

14 -1868

• Anyone born on US soil is a US citizen
• Citizens in all states have equal protection under the law & can’t deprive anyone of life, liberty or property without DUE PROCESS

15 - 1870

All MEN have suffrage (right to vote), regardless of race

The Progressive Amendments

16 - 1913

Establishment of federal INCOME TAX

17 - 1913

People will directly elect their US senators (their state legislatures won’t anymore)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_CzhxLmXhE

18 - 1919

Manufacture & sale of alcohol is illegal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNQ_2_J7G2w

19 - 1920

Women gain suffrage (right to vote)

https://vimeo.com/29858198

The rest is [recent] history…

20 - 1933

Less “Lame Duck” - new President & VP will be inaugurated on January 20

If Pres-elect dies before inaugurated, VP-elect takes spot

21 -1933

Repeal 18th amendment - alcohol is legal again

22 - 1951

No one can serve more than 2 terms as President

(max years is 10 in case they hold another position that led them to be POTUS)

23 - 1961

Citizens of Washington, D.C. get their own electors in Electoral College

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayIao4DaQmI

24 - 1964

Poll taxes are illegal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvDfLh3Sw2o

25 - 1967

VP should take over for Pres if he/she becomes disabled (temp or perm)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCaWDyDCrpk

26 - 1971

National voting age 18

27 - 1992

Congress cannot increase their own salaries for the current year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8IUbYsd3y0