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Constitutional Constitutional AmendmentsAmendments

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www.usconstitution.netwww.usconstitution.net

How is the Constitution Amended?How is the Constitution Amended?

The Congress, whenever two thirds of The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, propose Amendments to this Constitution,

or, on the Application of the Legislatures of or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, Convention for proposing Amendments,

when ratified by the Legislatures of three when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;may be proposed by the Congress;

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

1-10 amendments1-10 amendments The Constitution was passed without themThe Constitution was passed without them The guarantee of a bill of rights was a key The guarantee of a bill of rights was a key

factor in convincing some states to ratify factor in convincing some states to ratify the constitution.the constitution.

North Carolina and Rhode Island were the North Carolina and Rhode Island were the two big hold outstwo big hold outs

North Carolina failed to ratify the North Carolina failed to ratify the Constitution on its first vote.Constitution on its first vote.

11stst Amendment Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Press, Freedom of Religion, Press, ExpressionExpression Congress shall make no law respecting an Congress shall make no law respecting an

establishment of religion, or prohibiting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a and to petition the Government for a redressredress of grievances. of grievances.

Proposed 9/25/1789 Proposed 9/25/1789 Ratified 12/15/1791Ratified 12/15/1791

22ndnd Amendment Amendment

Right to Bear Arms Right to Bear Arms A well regulated Militia, being necessary to A well regulated Militia, being necessary to

the security of a free State, the right of the the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be be infringedinfringed. .


33rdrd Amendment Amendment

Quartering of Soldiers Quartering of Soldiers No Soldier shall, in time of peace be No Soldier shall, in time of peace be

quarteredquartered in any house, without the in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. but in a manner to be prescribed by law.


44thth Amendment Amendment

Search and SeizureSearch and Seizure The right of the people to be secure in their The right of the people to be secure in their

persons, houses, papers, and effects, against persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.seized.


55thth Amendment Amendment Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or

otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limbof life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a ; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be witness against himself, nor be depriveddeprived of life, liberty, or of life, liberty, or property, without property, without due processdue process of law; nor shall private of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just property be taken for public use, without just compensation. compensation.



Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the

right to a speedy and public trial, by an right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartialimpartial jury of jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his Assistance of Counsel for his defencedefence. .



Trial by Jury in Civil CasesTrial by Jury in Civil Cases In Suits at common law, where the value In Suits at common law, where the value

in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules United States, than according to the rules of the common law.of the common law.



Cruel and Unusual Punishment Cruel and Unusual Punishment Excessive bail shall not be required, nor Excessive bail shall not be required, nor

excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.unusual punishments inflicted.



Construction of Constitution Construction of Constitution The The enumerationenumeration in the Constitution, of in the Constitution, of

certain rights, shall not be construed to certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the deny or disparage others retained by the people.people.



Powers of the States and People Powers of the States and People The powers not delegated to the United The powers not delegated to the United

States by the Constitution, nor prohibited States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.States respectively, or to the people.



Judicial Limits Judicial Limits The Judicial power of the United States shall not The Judicial power of the United States shall not

be construed to extend to any suit in law or be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

Someone from one state can’t sue someone in Someone from one state can’t sue someone in another state.another state.

Proposed: 3/4/1794 Proposed: 3/4/1794 Ratified 2/7/1795Ratified 2/7/1795


Choosing the President, Vice-PresidentChoosing the President, Vice-President Solved a problem in electing the president and vice Solved a problem in electing the president and vice

president.president. The electoral college now casts separate votes for the The electoral college now casts separate votes for the

President and the Vice PresidentPresident and the Vice President The way it was: Article 2 section 1 paragraph 3: “In every The way it was: Article 2 section 1 paragraph 3: “In every

Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President.”shall be the Vice President.”

It meant that the runner up would be vice president. IE: It meant that the runner up would be vice president. IE: Al Gore would have been George Bush’s V.P.Al Gore would have been George Bush’s V.P.


Civil War AmendmentsCivil War Amendments

The 13The 13thth, 14, 14thth, and 15, and 15thth Amendments Amendments Passed to ensure the civil liberties of Passed to ensure the civil liberties of

former slaves.former slaves.


Slavery Abolished Slavery Abolished Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,

except as a punishment for crime whereof except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their place subject to their jurisdictionjurisdiction..



Citizenship RightsCitizenship Rights All persons born in the US are citizens (former slaves)All persons born in the US are citizens (former slaves)

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State United States; nor shall any State deprivedeprive any person of any person of life, liberty, or property, without life, liberty, or property, without due processdue process of law; nor of law; nor deny to any person within its deny to any person within its jurisdictionjurisdiction the equal the equal protection of the laws.protection of the laws.

Restructured how representatives would be apportionedRestructured how representatives would be apportioned Denied all leaders of the Confederacy from holding officeDenied all leaders of the Confederacy from holding office The US is not responsible for the debts of the ConfederacyThe US is not responsible for the debts of the Confederacy



Race No Bar to Vote Race No Bar to Vote Suffrage for former slavesSuffrage for former slaves The right of citizens of the United States to The right of citizens of the United States to

vote shall not be denied or abridged by the vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. servitude.



Income TaxIncome Tax The Congress shall have power to lay and The Congress shall have power to lay and

collect taxes on incomes, from whatever collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without source derived, without apportionmentapportionment among the several States, and without among the several States, and without regard to any census or regard to any census or enumerationenumeration..



Senators Elected by Popular Vote Senators Elected by Popular Vote The Senate of the United States shall be composed of The Senate of the United States shall be composed of

two Senators from each State, elected by the people two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. branch of the State legislatures.

What it was: A-1, S-3, P-1: “The Senate of the United What it was: A-1, S-3, P-1: “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.”and each Senator shall have one Vote.”



Prohibition (Liquor Abolished)Prohibition (Liquor Abolished) After one year from the ratification of this article After one year from the ratification of this article

the manufacture, sale, or transportation of the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the States and all territory subject to the jurisdictionjurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. prohibited.



Women's Women's SuffrageSuffrage The right of citizens of the United States to The right of citizens of the United States to

vote shall not be denied or abridged by the vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account United States or by any State on account of sex.of sex.


2020thth Amendment Amendment Presidential, Congressional TermsPresidential, Congressional Terms ““Lame Duck Amendment”Lame Duck Amendment”

When the terms of President and Vice President end When the terms of President and Vice President end (Noon Jan 20(Noon Jan 20thth))

When the terms of Senators and Representatives end When the terms of Senators and Representatives end (Noon Jan 3(Noon Jan 3rdrd))

Presidential succession when the president elect dies, Presidential succession when the president elect dies, or fails to qualify for the office.or fails to qualify for the office.

The Vice President becomes president or holds the The Vice President becomes president or holds the office until the President elect meets the office until the President elect meets the qualifications. IE: the president elect will not be 35 qualifications. IE: the president elect will not be 35 years old until the 21years old until the 21stst of January. of January.


2121stst Amendment Amendment

Ended ProhibitionEnded Prohibition The eighteenth article of amendment to The eighteenth article of amendment to

the Constitution of the United States is the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed hereby repealed


2222ndnd Amendments Amendments

Presidential Term Limits Presidential Term Limits No person shall be elected to the office of the No person shall be elected to the office of the

President more than twice, and no person who President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. more than once.


2323rdrd Amendment Amendment

Presidential Vote for District of Columbia Presidential Vote for District of Columbia The District constituting the seat of Government The District constituting the seat of Government

of the United States shall appoint in such of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: A number manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, District would be entitled if it were a State,

Proposed 6/17/1960 Ratified 3/29/1961Proposed 6/17/1960 Ratified 3/29/1961


- Poll Tax Barred - Poll Tax Barred The right of citizens of the United States to vote The right of citizens of the United States to vote

in any primary or other election for President or in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. pay any poll tax or other tax.


2525thth Amendments Amendments Presidential Disability and Succession Presidential Disability and Succession In case of the removal of the President from office or of his In case of the removal of the President from office or of his

death or resignation, the Vice President shall become death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.President.

2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.Houses of Congress.

3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.as Acting President.



Voting Age Set to 18 YearsVoting Age Set to 18 Years The right of citizens of the United States, The right of citizens of the United States,

who are eighteen years of age or older, to who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account United States or by any State on account of age. of age.



Limiting Congressional Pay Increases Limiting Congressional Pay Increases No law, varying the compensation for the No law, varying the compensation for the

services of the Senators and services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have election of Representatives shall have intervened.intervened.


constitutional amendments links in this power point take you to the website:

Documents

jeopardy of life

nd amendment

amendment freedom of

th amendment trial

th amendment search

process of law

time of war

proposing amendments