Constitution Review Material
The Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any
form of Government, becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
People to alter or abolish it”
Preamble to the Constitution: We the people of the United States, in Order to form
a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish the Constitution of
the United States of America.
(The preamble sets forth the general purposes for which the gov’t was established
& declares the power of gov’t comes from the people)
1st Amendment
5 Freedoms: religion, speech, the press, assembly, to petition
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms-- Interpreted two ways: Some believe it gives ordinary citizens the right
to possess firearms. Others believe it only gives each state the right to maintain its own
militia.
3rd Amendment
Housing (Quartering) of Soldiers—in response to former acts of quartering soldiers in
private homes
4th Amendment
Search & seizure warrants—but upon probable cause, by oath or affirmation, &
particularly describing persons or things to be seized
5th Amendment
 Indictment of grand jury
 No double jeopardy
 Cannot witness against self
 Due process of law
6th Amendment
Rights to a fair trial
 Speedy & public trial
 Impartial jury of state
 Have the assistance of counsel
7th Amendment
Rights in Civil Cases
 The right of a trial by jury shall be preserved –amount exceeds $20
8th Amendment
Bails, fines, & punishments
 Excessive bail shall not be required
 Nor excessive fines imposed
 No “cruel & unusual” punishments
9th Amendment
Rights retained by the states and the people—shall not be construed to mean that other
rights not listed were protected
10th Amendment
Powers retained by the states & the people—powers not delegated to the U.S. by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to
the people
11th Amendment
Lawsuits against States—makes it possible for a citizen of one state to sue another state in
federal court
12th Amendment
Election of the President—members of the electoral college vote for one person for pres.
and for another for vice pres. –resulted from election of 1800
13th Amendment
Abolition of slavery
14th Amendment
Civil Rights—“equal protection of the laws”—to make former slaves citizens of the U.S. --any state who restricts voting will have less representation in Congress---Congress has
power to enforce
15th Amendment
Black Suffrage—ratified 1870 Feb 3
16th Amendment
Income Taxes—Congress shall have power to lay & collect taxes on incomes
17th Amendment
Direct election of Senators—elected by the people for 6 years
(before they were elected by state legislators)
18th Amendment
Prohibition of Alcohol
19th Amendment
Woman’s Suffrage
20th Amendment
Terms of the President & Congress
21st Amendment
Repeal of Prohibition
22nd Amendment
Limitation of Presidents to 2 terms or 10 years
23rd Amendment
Suffrage in the District of Columbia—gain 3 electoral votes
24th Amendment
Outlawed Poll Taxes—right to vote shall not be denied because of poll taxes
25th Amendment
Presidential disability & succession
26th Amendment
Suffrage for 18 year olds
27th Amendment
Congressional Salaries—prevents congress from passing immediate salary increases for
itself—salary changes cannot take affect until after the next congressional election