Constitutional
Amendments
Links in this power point take you
to the website:
www.usconstitution.net
How is the Constitution Amended?
 The
Congress, whenever two thirds of
both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall
propose Amendments to this Constitution,
 or, on the Application of the Legislatures of
two thirds of the several States, shall call a
Convention for proposing Amendments,
 when ratified by the Legislatures of three
fourths of the several States, or by
Conventions in three fourths thereof, as
the one or the other Mode of Ratification
may be proposed by the Congress;
Bill of Rights
 1-10
amendments
 The Constitution was passed without them
 The guarantee of a bill of rights was a key
factor in convincing some states to ratify
the constitution.
 North Carolina and Rhode Island were the
two big hold outs
 North Carolina failed to ratify the
Constitution on its first vote.
1st Amendment
 Freedom
of Religion, Press, Expression
 Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
2nd Amendment
 Right
to Bear Arms
 A well regulated Militia, being necessary to
the security of a free State, the right of the
people to keep and bear Arms, shall not
be infringed.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
3rd Amendment
 Quartering
of Soldiers
 No Soldier shall, in time of peace be
quartered in any house, without the
consent of the Owner, nor in time of war,
but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
4th Amendment

Search and Seizure
 The right of the people to be secure in their
persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not
be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but
upon probable cause, supported by Oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be
seized.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
5th Amendment



Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the
land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual
service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any
person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any
criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process
of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.
Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
6th Amendment

Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses
 In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of
the State and district wherein the crime shall have been
committed, which district shall have been previously
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and
cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the
witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
7th Amendment
 Trial
by Jury in Civil Cases
 In Suits at common law, where the value in
controversy shall exceed twenty dollars,
the right of trial by jury shall be preserved,
and no fact tried by a jury, shall be
otherwise re-examined in any Court of the
United States, than according to the rules
of the common law.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
8th Amendment
 Cruel
and Unusual Punishment
 Excessive bail shall not be required, nor
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishments inflicted.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
9th Amendment
 Construction
of Constitution
 The enumeration in the Constitution, of
certain rights, shall not be construed to
deny or disparage others retained by the
people.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
10th Amendment
 Powers
of the States and People
 The powers not delegated to the United
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved to the
States respectively, or to the people.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791
11th Amendment

Judicial Limits
 The Judicial power of the United States shall not
be construed to extend to any suit in law or
equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of
the United States by Citizens of another State,
or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
 Someone from one state can’t sue someone in
another state.
 Proposed: 3/4/1794 Ratified 2/7/1795
12th Amendment

Choosing the President, Vice-President
 Solved a problem in electing the president and vice
president.
 The electoral college now casts separate votes for the
President and the Vice President
 The way it was: Article 2 section 1 paragraph 3: “In every
Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person
having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall
be the Vice President.”
 It meant that the runner up would be vice president. IE:
Al Gore would have been George Bush’s V.P.
 Proposed 12/9/1803 Ratified 6/15/1804
Civil War Amendments
13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
 Passed to ensure the civil liberties of
former slaves.
 The
13th Amendment
 Slavery Abolished
 Neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude,
except as a punishment for crime whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted,
shall exist within the United States, or any
place subject to their jurisdiction.
 Proposed 1/31/1865 Ratified 12/6/1865
14th Amendment

Citizenship Rights


No State shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor
deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

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

All persons born in the US are citizens (former slaves)
Restructured how representatives would be apportioned
Denied all leaders of the Confederacy from holding office
The US is not responsible for the debts of the Confederacy
Proposed 6/13/1866 Ratified 7/9/1868
15th Amendment
 Race
No Bar to Vote
 Suffrage for former slaves
 The right of citizens of the United States to
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on account
of race, color, or previous condition of
servitude.
 Proposed 2/26/1869 Ratified 2/3/1870
16th Amendment
 Income
Tax
 The Congress shall have power to lay and
collect taxes on incomes, from whatever
source derived, without apportionment
among the several States, and without
regard to any census or enumeration.
 Proposed 7/12/1909 Ratified 2/3/1913
17th Amendment




Senators Elected by Popular Vote
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of
two Senators from each State, elected by the people
thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one
vote. The electors in each State shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous
branch of the State legislatures.
What it was: A-1, S-3, P-1: “The Senate of the United
States shall be composed of two Senators from each
State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years;
and each Senator shall have one Vote.”
Proposed 5/13/1912 Ratified 4/8/1913
18th Amendment

Prohibition (Liquor Abolished)
 After one year from the ratification of this article
the manufacture, sale, or transportation of
intoxicating liquors within, the importation
thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the
United States and all territory subject to the
jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is
hereby prohibited.
 Proposed 12/18/1917 Ratified 1/16/1919
19th Amendment
 Women's
Suffrage
 The right of citizens of the United States to
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on account
of sex.
 Proposed 6/4/1919 Ratified 8/18/1920
20th Amendment


Presidential, Congressional Terms
“Lame Duck Amendment”





When the terms of President and Vice President end
(Noon Jan 20th)
When the terms of Senators and Representatives end
(Noon Jan 3rd)
Presidential succession when the president elect
dies, or fails to qualify for the office.
The Vice President becomes president or holds the
office until the President elect meets the
qualifications. IE: the president elect will not be 35
years old until the 21st of January.
Proposed 3/2/1932 Ratified 1/23/1933
21st Amendment
 Ended
Prohibition
 The eighteenth article of amendment to
the Constitution of the United States is
hereby repealed
 Proposed 2/20/1933 Ratified 12/5/1933
22nd Amendments

Presidential Term Limits
 No person shall be elected to the office of the
President more than twice, and no person who
has held the office of President, or acted as
President, for more than two years of a term to
which some other person was elected President
shall be elected to the office of the President
more than once.
 Proposed 3/21/1947 Ratified 2/27/1951
23rd Amendment

Presidential Vote for District of Columbia
 The District constituting the seat of Government
of the United States shall appoint in such
manner as the Congress may direct: A number
of electors of President and Vice President equal
to the whole number of Senators and
Representatives in Congress to which the
District would be entitled if it were a State,
 Proposed 6/17/1960 Ratified 3/29/1961
24th Amendment

- Poll Tax Barred
 The right of citizens of the United States to vote
in any primary or other election for President or
Vice President, for electors for President or Vice
President, or for Senator or Representative in
Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or any State by reason of failure to
pay any poll tax or other tax.
 Proposed 8/27/1962 Ratified 1/23/1964
25th Amendments
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
Presidential Disability and Succession
In case of the removal of the President from office or of
his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become
President.
2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice
President, the President shall nominate a Vice President
who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority
vote of both Houses of Congress.
3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro
tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that he is unable
to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until
he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary,
such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice
President as Acting President.
Proposed 7/6/1965 Ratified 2/10/1967
26th Amendment
 Voting Age
Set to 18 Years
 The right of citizens of the United States,
who are eighteen years of age or older, to
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on account
of age.
 Proposed 3/23/1971 Ratified 7/1/1971
27th Amendment
 Limiting
Congressional Pay Increases
 No law, varying the compensation for the
services of the Senators and
Representatives, shall take effect, until an
election of Representatives shall have
intervened.
 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 5/7/1992