• Has only been amended
(changed) 27 times.
• The first 10: The Bill of
Rights
• They ’ re all important, but some have had a bigger influence on history than others have.

• The people felt they had no rights.
• Before the leaders of the new country would agree to a new government, they wanted to make sure that wouldn ’ t happen again.
• They insisted on a “ Bill of Rights ” to be added to their new Constitution (written plan for government).

st
(lists 5 freedoms people have by being here)
A.
Freedom of religion : you can be any religion you wish – or none if you wish (goes back to the Church of England being tied in directly with the
British government).
B.
Freedom of speech : as long as it is true
C.
Freedom of the press : as long as it ’ s true
D.
Freedom of assembly : people can get together for any reason (peaceful, or even in protests)
E.
Freedom of petition : the government should help you out if you “ petition ” them (ask them).

nd
• People have the right to
“ keep and bear arms ”
• This was written 230 years ago
• The question today is what they really meant:
• For hunting?
• For protection?
• For rebelling against your government if you need to?
• Guns are much different today than in 1776

rd
• Soldiers cannot stay in your home without your permission
• This comes from colonial times – when the British government couldn ’ t afford food and places to stay for all it ’ s soldiers in the colonies – so they sometimes could live in citizen ’ s homes and those people “ supported ” them.

th
• Police need a search warrant to enter your home.
• Police need a court order to take any of your property.

th
• No one can be tried for the same crime more than once.
(except – criminal and civil cases are different)
• No-one can be forced to testify against themselves.
(You are innocent until you ’ re proven guilty)
• The government can ’ t take your property without paying a fair price for it.
(Such as your land to build a new…)
• People must have fair trials.

th
• If you are charged with a crime… you have the right to:
1.
a jury trial
2.
a speedy trial
3.
know why you ’ ve been arrested

th
• A person involved in a lawsuit can have a jury trial if they want one.

th
• Bail cannot be too high
(the amount of money you pay to get out of jail)
• Fines and punishments for crimes must be fair and proportionate.

th
• There are many rights that aren ’ t put in the constitution.

th
• Powers not given to the United States government in the constitution, are given to the states and the people .
(Has to do with Reserved Powers, Implied Powers, etc… which we ’ ll look at later)

All were ratified (approved) at the end of the Civil War
th
th
th
• All slaves would now be free.
• Formers slaves were now American citizens
(and should be treated equally).
• Former slaves had the right to vote (men).

• 16 th Amendment
(43 years after 13/14/15th)
Congress can collect a tax on people ’ s income.
18 th Amendment (1919):
Prohibition: Illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol in any way.

21st Amendment:
(1932)
Did away with the
18thAmendment.

• 22 nd Amendment:
No one can ever be elected
President more than twice.
24 th Amendment:
Poll taxes are illegal.

• 25 th Amendment:
1.
If the President can ’ t be in power, the Vice President takes over.
2.
If there ’ s no Vice President, the President can name a new one (approved by the
Senate)
3.
If the President is sick, he can temporarily give power to the Vice President.
• 26 th Amendment:
Lowered the voting age from
21 to 18 (in 1971 – during
Vietnam War time)
Presidential Succession
1.Vice President -
2.Speaker of the House
3.President Pro Tempore of the Senate
4.Secretary of State
5.Secretary of the Treasury
6.Secretary of Defense
7.Attorney General
8.
……(there’s a lot more)

th
(the last one that was passed)

• 17: Senators elected by popular vote.
• 19: (in 1920) Women could vote (suffrage).
• 20: Presidential and Congressional dates to take office.
• 23: The District of Columbia can vote for President.

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms
Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure
Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings
Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses
Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution
Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People
Amendment 11 - Judicial Limits
Amendment 12 - Choosing the President, Vice President
Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished
Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights
Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote
Amendment 16 - Status of Income Tax Clarified
Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote
Amendment 18 - Liquor Abolished
Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage
Amendment 20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms
Amendment 21 - Amendment 18 Repealed
Amendment 22 - Presidential Term Limits
Amendment 23 - Presidential Vote for District of Columbia
Amendment 24 - Poll Taxes Barred
Amendment 25 - Presidential Disability and Succession
Amendment 26 - Voting Age Set to 18 Years
Amendment 27 - Limiting Congressional Pay Increases