Amendment I – Freedom of Assembly, Petition, Press, Religion, and Speech
Amendment II – Right to Bear Arms
Amendment III – Quartering Troops
Amendment IV – Searches and Seizures
Supreme Court ruled that evidence seized illegally without a search warrant may not be used in court.
Amendment V – Rights of an Accused Person
Indictment by Grand Jury (This means that formal charges have been brought against the accused. The
Grand Jury will then decide if there is enough evidence to go to trial.)
Double Jeopardy – can’t be tried for the same crime twice
Members of armed services are subject to military law and may be tried in a court martial.
A person may not be forced in any criminal case to be a witness against themselves. (I plead the 5 th
.)
Amendment VI – Right to a Speedy, Fair Trial
Speedy – will not be held in jail for a lengthy period of time
Fair – trial open to the public and a jury must hear witnesses and evidence on both sides
Legal counsel must be provided to a defendant.
Amendment VII – Civil Suits
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In civil cases where one person sues another for more than $20, a jury trial is provided for…however, federal courts do not hear civil cases unless they involve a great deal of money.
Amendment VIII – Bail and Punishment
Neither bail or punishment for a crime shall be unreasonable
Amendment IX – Powers Reserved to the People
People’s rights are not limited to those listed in the Constitution.
Amendment X – Powers Reserved to the States
States and people retain all rights except those specifically denied them in the Constitution.
Amendment XI – Suits against States
Suits brought against states will be tried in that state.
Amendment XII – Election of President and Vice-President
Electors cast different ballots for the President and the Vice-President.
Electors can’t vote for 2 candidates from their home state.
Amendment XIII – Abolition of Slavery
Amendment XIV – Rights of Citizens
Granted citizenship to anyone born in the United States of America which meant it was granted to former slaves
All citizens are entitled to equal protection of the laws.
Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas 1954, Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional because it denied equal protection.
If a state denied its citizens the right to vote, it would have the number of Representatives reduced.

Amendment XV – Right to vote
African Americans were given the right to vote. This amendment takes that right away from the states.
Ways that former slaves were denied the right to vote: Grandfather clause, poll tax, and literacy tests
Amendment XVI – Income Tax
Amendment XVII – Direct Election of Senators
People were given the power to directly elect Senators.
Vacancies: Governor calls a special election to fill a vacancy in the Senate.
Amendment XVIII – Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverages
Prohibited the production, sale, or transportation of alcoholic beverages in the US
Amendment XIX – Woman Suffrage (Right to Vote)
Amendment XX – “Lame Duck” Amendment
Lame Duck is a Congressman who failed to be reelected but still had a while to serve out his term of office.
Changed the start of Congress from December to January 3 rd
.
The Presidential inauguration was changed from March 4 th
to January 20 th
.
If President-elect dies before taking office, then the Vice-President-elect will become President.
Amendment XXI – Repeal of Prohibition Amendment
Only amendment to do away with a previous amendment
Amendment XXII – Limits Presidential Term
Limits the number of times a person can become President to two
If a Vice-President becomes President due to death, etc. and serves more than two years, then they can only run for President one more time.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was elected four times as President. The only one to be elected more than twice.
Amendment XXIII – Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia
People who live in the District of Columbia were given 3 electoral votes which allowed them to participate in electing the President. They are still without representation in Congress.
Amendment XXIV – Abolition of Poll Tax
Amendment XXV – Presidential Disability and Succession
Succession of President (President, Vice-President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore, then the members of the President’s cabinet)
Once the Vice-President takes over as President, he may select a new Vice-President with the approval of Congress.
If President informs Congress that he can no longer carry out the duties, then the Vice President becomes the Acting President.
The Vice-President and the Cabinet can inform Congress if they feel that President is unable to carry out his duties.
Amendment XXVI – Eighteen Year-Old Vote
Amendment XXVII – Restraint on congressional Salaries
- Any increase in Congressional salaries will take effect the subsequent session of Congress.