Amendments
Objectives
• Learn the process by which the Constitution
can be changed.
• Learn some of the more significant
amendments.
Article V: Amending the
Constitution
Why?
Amendment Procedures
Congressional Proposal
• 2/3 of both houses of
congress adopt an
amendment.
• ¾ of the states must ratify
the amendment.
Constitutional Convention
• 2/3 of states must call for a
convention.
• 2/3 of delegates must adopt
the amendment.
• 3/4 of states must ratify the
amendment.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments are
known as the Bill of Rights.
Originally 12 were proposed, 10
were adopted on September 25,
1789. James Madison wrote the
amendments which were
modeled after George Mason’s
work on the Virginia Bill of
Rights. Virginia became the 10th
state to ratify the Bill of Rights
on December 15, 1791.
1st Amendment
The 1st Amendment guarantees five individual rights: Speech,
press, religion, petition, and assemble. These rights are not
absolute. Consequences can follow misuse or abuse of these rights.
2nd Amendment
The second amendment
guarantees the right to keep
and bear arms. This right is
also not absolute. It is illegal
to own certain types of
firearms and ammunition.
2nd Amendment
The second amendment guarantees the
right to keep and bear arms. This right
is also not absolute. It is illegal to own
certain types of firearms and
ammunition.
3rd Amendment
The Third Amendment protects citizens from having soldiers
kept in their homes without consent.
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4 Amendment
The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches
and seizures.
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5 Amendment
The Fifth Amendment guarantees due process of law and
protection against self incrimination.
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6 Amendment
Guarantees a fair and
speedy trial by jury. The
right to counsel.
7th Amendment
Guarantees trials by jury in civil cases.
8th Amendment
Protects against excessive
bail, fines, cruel, and
unusual punishment.
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9 Amendment
Proclaims people have
more rights that are not
spelled out in the
Constitution.
10th Amendment
Powers not specifically
delegated to the national
government are for the
states.
12th Amendment
After the issues of the election of 1800, the 12th Amendment
changed the way electors would vote for the President and Vice
President.
Post Civil War Period
Since the primary issue
of the Civil War was
slavery, a series of
amendments followed the
war to abolish slavery
and protect the rights of
former slaves.
13th Amendment
Ratified December 6, 1865, it abolished slavery in the United States.
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14 Amendment
Ratified July 9, 1868. It is the cornerstone of all civil rights
movements to follow. It defines what a citizen is and the rights
that come with citizenship.
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15 Amendment
Ratified February 2,
1870. Guaranteed all
male citizens, 21,
registered, could vote.
Voting Amendments
Since voting is such an
essential part of our
government, there have
been several amendments
ratified to ensure the right
to vote.
• 15th: Guaranteeing vote for blacks.
• 19th: Guaranteeing vote for women.
• 23rd: Giving vote to those living in
Washington D.C,
• 24th: Eliminating poll taxes.
• 26th: Lowering the voting age from
21 to 18.
Amending Amendments
One amendment has been repealed. The 18th , Prohibition, prohibited
the manufacture, distribution, sale, and consumption of alcohol. It
help lead to the rise of organized crime. The 21st Amendment,
ratified December 5, 1933, voided the 19th Amendment.
Ratification Deadlines
Recent amendments have had
to be ratified within a certain
number of years. The most
popular number of years has
been seven.
Critical Thinking Time
• If you could propose an amendment to the
constitution what would it be?