Amendments
Mrs. Alls
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# of Articles - 7; # of Amendments - 27
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The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are called Bill of Rights.
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Reserved powers are any powers not specifically denied to the states or given to
Congress.
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1st Amendment:
This picture is an
example of which
freedom of the 1st
amendment?
Assembly or
protesting
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writing a letter to the editor that will be printed in your local newspaper
placing a bumper sticker on your car supporting a presidential candidate
attending a political rally
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2nd Amendment – right to bear arms
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3rd Amendment protects from housing soldiers in private homes.
Quartering troops is restricted in
the Constitution. Quartering
troops means housing them in
private homes.
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4th Amendment was an attempt to protect citizens against unlawful searches and
seizures.
o A court order allowing an individual or his property to be searched and seized is
called a warrant.
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5th Amendment –
o entitles you to a lawyer
o (I plead the 5th!) This amendment guarantees that persons may not be forced in
any criminal case to be a witness against themselves
o Miranda rights - The "Miranda warning" reminds people who are arrested for a
crime that they have the right to remain silent.
o Double jeopardy – can’t be tried for the same crime twice
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6th Amendment – right to a speedy trial
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7th Amendment – the right to a jury trial
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8th Amendment protects against cruel and unusual punishment/treatment.
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9th Amendment – protects rights not mentioned in the constitution.
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10th Amendment – give rights to the states and the people in area where the Constitution
is not specific. Education is an example.
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11th Amendment – suits against the states –provides that a lawsuit brought by a citizen of
the US or a foreign nation against a state must be tried in a state court, not a feveral
court.
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12th Amendment – Election of President and Vice President – Electors have to cast their
ballots separately for the two offices because of the tie between
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13th Amendment abolishes/ended slavery. Why wasn’t it enough to provide civil rights for
all Americans?
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o Citizens constantly seek to improve their government.
o The American government constantly adjusts to meet the needs of the citizens.
o The Constitution continues to adapt to the needs of the citizens.
th
14 Amendment talks about the rights of citizens; in 1954 the Supreme Court ruled in
what case that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional because it denied equal
protection? Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas_
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15th Amendment gave African Americans the right to vote.
o Poll Tax - fee paid in order to vote.
o Suffrage means the right to vote.
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18th Amendment ended the sale of alcohol and production of alcohol in the U.S.
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19th Amendment gave suffrage to women.
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20th Amendment is also called the Lame Duck Amendment.
o A lame duck is a Congressman who has not been reelected but is still participating
in the Congressional session.
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21st Amendment was the only amendment to repeal a prior amendment. Which
amendment did it repeal? 18th
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22nd Amendment put limits on the number of terms a president can serve.
o Which president had the biggest impact on the limit of terms a president could
serve? Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)
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26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
REVIEW ITEMS:
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Who has the sole power of impeachment? House of Representatives
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Who has the power to declare laws unconstitutional? U.S. Supreme Court
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Implied powers are also called expressed powers.
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Terms of office: President – 4 yrs; Supreme Court - life; House – 2 yrs; Senate – 6 yrs
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How is the representation of the Senate determined? 2 per state
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Qualifications of office: Senate – at least 30 yrs. Old; U.S. citizen for 9 yrs.;
resident of the state in which you are elected
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Who is the President of the Senate? Vice President of the USA
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What is the main job of the President of the USA? To enforce/carry out the laws
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Powers of the President –
o
o
o
Granting reprieves and pardons
Executing laws
Vetoes
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How many justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are there? 9
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Who admits new states? Congress
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How is the number of electors decided? # of Representatives + # of Senators from
that state
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What is eminent domain? Government takes private property for public use and gives
just compensation
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Who protects the rights listed in the U. S. Constitution? Federal courts
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What are checks and balances? Ensures that one branch doesn’t become too powerful
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What is the presidential veto? Where the president may veto any bill so that it will
not become a law