27 Amendments

18th Amendment

Abolished the sale or manufacture of alcohol in the United States. Alcohol is prohibited.

3rd Amendment

Guarantees that the army cannot force homeowners to give them room and board. No military in your home except in war time.

16th Amendment

Authorizes the United States to collect income taxes. The Federal Income Tax is established. Congress has the right to levy federal income taxes

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the entire United States. Emancipation: all slaves are free

27th Amendment

Any law that increased the pay of legislators may not take effect until after an election. Congressmen cannot vote to give themselves a raise in the same term It ensures that congressional pay raises will not take effect until an election is held after the raise has been approved.

15th Amendment

Ensured that a person's race could not be used as criteria for voting. All men get the right to vote, including ex-slaves. illegal to deny someone the right to vote based on race or color. It also prevents states from denying the right to vote to freed slaves.

24th Amendment

Ensured that no tax could be charged to vote for any federal office. You may not charge people money so that they can register to vote. The twenty-fourth amendment abolishes the poll tax, a tax paid for the right to vote

26th Amendment

Ensures that any person 18 or over may vote. You can vote at the age of 18.

19th Amendment

Ensures that sex could not be used as a criteria for voting. Women get the right to vote. Women cannot be denied the right to vote in federal or state elections

25th Amendment

Establishes rules for the President who becomes unable to perform his duties while in office. Lays down the rules for who becomes president if the president dies/ resigns etc. The twenty-fifth amendment establishes the chain of authority if the president is unable to perform his duties.

23rd Amendment

Grants the Washington D.C. the right to three electors in Presidential Elections. Washington DC can vote for the president. Washington D.C. is allotted the right to send electors to the electoral college for the election of the president of the United States according to the same rules that apply to individual states.

7th Amendment

Guarantees a jury trial in federal civil court cases. This type of case is normally no longer heard in federal court. The right to a jury trial in civil matters of $20 and over.

6th Amendment

Guarantees a speedy trial, an impartial jury, and that the accused can confront witnesses against them, and that the accused must be allowed to have a lawyer. The right to a speedy and public trial.

8th Amendment

Guarantees that punishments will be fair, and not cruel, and that extraordinarily large fines will not be set. (Protection from cruel and unusual punishment.) The right to a jury in civil matters of $20 and over.

14th Amendment

People had rights on the federal level and on the state level, too. Foreign born citizens can vote. broadens the definition of citizenship to include former slaves. It prohibits states from denying United States citizens rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The fourteenth amendment prohibits Confederate officials from holding public office, repealable by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress. The fourteenth amendment prohibits financial restitution to Confederate soldiers and slaveholders.

5th Amendment

Protects people from being held for committing a crime unless they are properly indicted, that they may not be tried twice for the same crime, and that you need not be forced to testify against yourself. It also contains due process guarantees. The right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself.

4th Amendment

Protects the people from the government improperly taking property, papers, or people, without a valid warrant based on probably cause (good reason) (Search and Seizure) No unreasonable searches.

1st Amendment

Protects the people's right to practice religion, to speak freely, to assemble (meet), to address the government and of the press of publish. Freedom of religion, press, speech, assembly.

12th Amendment

Redefines how the President and Vice-President are chosen by the Electoral College. The electoral college must have two separate elections for president and vice president. it retains the electoral college and changes the process for electing the President and Vice President. each electoral college voter must cast a distinct ballot for both president and vice president. The two may not live in the same state. If the electoral college vote does not produce a majority then the House of Representatives chooses a president. If the electoral college does not produce a majority vote for Vice President, the Senate chooses one.

21st Amendment

Repealed the 18th Amendment. (Alcohol). It is no longer illegal to drink alcohol. the 18th amendment is struck down. The sale and consumption of alcohol in the United States is no longer illegal

11th Amendment

Says how someone from one state can sue another state. You cannot sue another state except with permission by that states's judicial system. In other words A citizen cannot sue a state if he or she is not a resident of that state. It also prohibits citizens of foreign countries from suing the United States or any state.

10th Amendment

Says that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to to states. State rights: any right not given in the constitution is given to the states to legislate.

22nd Amendment

Set a limit on the number of times a President could be elected - 2 four year terms. A president can only have two terms in office. The twenty-second amendment limits the president of the United States to two terms. Those assuming office may be elected twice only if they serve in the capacity of president for less than two years as the replacement president.

20th Amendment

Set new start dates for the terms of the Congress and the President. January 20th is the day that the new President takes office.

17th Amendment

Shifted the choosing of Senators from the state legislatures to the people in the states. The people elect their own US Senators. changes the method of electing United States senators. Senators are no longer chosen by state legislatures; they are now elected by popular vote.also creates the process for replacing senators who cannot fulfil their term: the governor of the state will call for an election and may, with approval from the state legislature, appoint a temporary replacement

9th Amendment

Simply a statement that other rights aside from those listed may exist, and just because they are not listed doesn't mean they can be violated. Individual Rights. Rights that are not in the constitution are still rights given to citizens.

2nd Amendment

The right to bear arms (Guns).