The US Constitution: Articles and Amendments

How many amendments are there to the US Constitution (as of now)?

27

The 7th Amendment (1791)

A person has the right to a jury trial for civil cases.

The 6th Amendment (1791)

A person has the right to a public and speedy trial by jury, to be presented with their charges, to have a lawyer, and utilize witnesses.

The 11th Amendment (1795)

Citizens cannot sue states in federal courts, with some exceptions (these exceptions are some very specific circumstances).

The 15th Amendment (1870)

Citizens have the right to vote regardless of race or previous conditions of servitude.

The 16th Amendment (1913)

Congress can create income taxes.

Article 1 Content

Congress makes the laws for the United States, and it has two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Most of its powers appear in the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause.

The 25th Amendment (1967)

If the president dies or cannot serve (even if just temporarily), the vice president becomes president. This amendment better defined the line of succession.

Article 7 Content

In order to be made law, the Constitution must be ratified by nine of the original thirteen states.

The 24th Amendment (1964)

It is illegal to make a citizen pay a poll tax in order to vote.

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: LEG

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial (the first three articles of the Constitution in order)

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: "I plead the 5th."/"Pleading the 5th"

Part of the 5th Amendment states that people cannot be forced to testify against themselves

The 2nd Amendment (1791)

People have the right to bear arms.

The 18th Amendment (1919)

Prohibited the sale, manufacturing, and transpiration of alcohol.

Article 4 Main Topic

Relations Among States

How many articles are there in the U.S. Constitution?

Seven

The 3rd Amendment (1791)

Soldiers/the military cannot take or live in a person's house.

Article 4 Content

States have the power to make and carry out their own laws. States respect other state laws, as per the Full Faith and Credit Clause, and work together with other states to fix regional problems.

Article 6 Main Topic

Supremacy, Debts, and Oaths

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: Cannot 1 v. 1 states

The 11th Amendment only allows citizens to sue states in federal courts with certain specific circumstances.

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: At 18 you are too young to drink, but you have other rights.

The 18th Amendment prohibited the sale, manufacturing, and transportation of alcohol in 1919.

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: At 21, one can drink legally.

The 21st Amendment overturned the 18th Amendment in 1933.

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: 23 helps DC.

The 23rd Amendment gave Washington D.C. three Electoral College votes for president in 1961.

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: If you get stopped at the door, check 24.

The 24th Amendment made it illegal to make a citizen pay a poll tax in order to vote.

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: If the president dies, check 25./If they ain't alive, check 25.

The 25th Amendment better defined the line of succession. If the president dies or cannot serve (even if just for a little while), the vice president becomes president.

Article 5 Main Topic

The Amendment Process

What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution known as?

The Bill of Rights

Article 5 Content

The Constitution can be changed. (This allows the Constitution to be a "living" document). Changes can be made by a 2/3 vote in Congress and 3/4 ratification by the states or by a Constitutional Convention.

The 9th Amendment (1791)

The Constitution does not include all of the rights of the people and of the states.

Article 2 Main Topic

The Executive Branch

Article 3 Main Topic

The Judicial Branch

Article 1 Main Topic

The Legislative Branch

Article 2 Content

The President, Vice-President, Cabinet, and the Departments under the Cabinet Secretaries carry out the laws that Congress makes. The president is selected by electoral vote (the Electoral College).

Article 7 Main Topic

The Ratification of the Constitution

The 26th Amendment (1971)

The voting age is changed from 21 to 18.

The 17th Amendment (1913)

This establishes the direct election of senators.

The 21st Amendment (1933)

This overturned the 18th Amendment. (This overturned the 18th Amendment 20 years after it was added to the Constitution).

The 23rd Amendment (1961)

Washington D.C. is granted three Electoral College votes for president.

The 13th Amendment (1865)

Abolishes slavery except as punishment for a crime.

Remembering Parts of the Constitution: 4th through 8th

Amendments 4 through 8 are the interactions of people with the courts system in procedural order.

The 10th Amendment (1791)

Any powers that the Constitution does not give to the federal government are given to the states.

The 27th Amendment (1992)

Changes to the salary for members of Congress will start after the next election.

The 14th Amendment (1868)

Everyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, and immigrants can become naturalized citizens. All citizens have equal protection under the law (all citizens have equal citizenship to each other under the law) and the right to due process at the state and the federal level.

The 19th Amendment (1920)

Extends voting rights to women.

Article 6 Content

The Supremacy Clause states that the Constitution and federal laws are higher than state and local laws. Also, all laws must agree with the U.S. Constitution. This article also outlines debts owed to the government and how oaths of office will work (no one will ever have to take a religious oath of office).

Article 3 Content

The Supreme Court is the highest federal court in the United Sates and the other federal courts are created by Congress. State courts are created by states. The courts under the Supreme Court decide criminal and civil court cases according to the correct federal, state, and local laws.

The 1st Amendment (1791)

The freedom of religion (the free exercise clause and the establishment clause (the U.S. will never have a state religion)), speech, assembly, press, and the right to petition the government.

The 8th Amendment (1791)

The government cannot demand excessive bail or fines or use any cruel and unusual punishment ("cruel and unusual punishment" was not defined in the Constitution).

The 4th Amendment (1791)

The government cannot search and seize property unless there is "probable cause" demonstrated with a warrant signed by a judge.

The 5th Amendment (1791)

The government must follow fair and equal rules (due process) when accusing someone of a crime or seizing their property. These include providing a jury, not forcing anyone to testify against themselves, only charging them once (double jeopardy), and using court procedures.

The 12th Amendment (1804)

The president and the vice president are elected on a single ticket.

The 22nd Amendment (1951)

The president can serve two terms of four years or for ten years.

The 20th Amendment (1933)

The president is inaugurated, and Congress will begin their session, in January. (This shortened the lame duck season).