Amendments
26th amendment
18 year-olds are given the right to vote (voting age lowered from 21)
17th amendment
Establishes the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote
18th amendment
Establishes the prohibition of alcohol
20th amendment
Fixes the dates of term commencements for Congress (January 3) and the President (January 20); known as the "lame duck amendment"; reduces the amount of time between the election of the President and Congress and the beginning of their terms
6th amendment
Guarantees the right to a speedy, impartial public trial (trial by jury) in criminal cases with counsel and the right to cross examine. Also the right to a lawyer. Speedy, impartial PUBLIC trial, cross examination, and THE RIGHT TO A LAWYER
11th amendment
Immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders. Lays the foundation for sovereign immunity. 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.
27th amendment
Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress; limits the power of congress to increase its own salaries
24th amendment
Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of poll taxes; bans the poll tax as a method for qualifying people to vote in federal elections
12th amendment
Revises presidential election procedures: added the separation of the president and vice president onto two different ballots, establishes electoral college procedure
1st amendment
The Free Exercise Clause prohibits the government from interfering in people's religious practices. The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from setting up a national religion. "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.
What was the 10th amendment known as?
The Reserved Power Amendment to the States
What were the 13th-15th amendements knowns as?
The civil war amendments
13th amendment
abolishes slavery in the US, this amendment freed all slaves without compensation to the slaveowners. It legally forbade slavery in the United States
16th amendment
allowed the federal government to collect income tax
23rd amendment
citizens in DC are given the right to vote in the presidential election
14th amendment
declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed due process and equal protection of the laws
15th amendment
grants African American men the right to vote; citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude
5th amendment
guarantees due process (a legal proceeding carried out in according to established rules and principals) of law when a person is accused and tried of a crime. Also no double jeopardy (they can't be charged for the same crime more than once)
7th amendment
guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases involving more than $20 and asserts that cases may not be re-examined by another court.
22nd amendment
limits the number of times that someone can be elected president to two times (no more than 2 terms as president per person)
9th amendment
limits the power of the federal government to those powers granted to the government in the Constitution. It provides that the naming of certain rights in the Constitution does not take away from the people rights that are not named. _-PROBS SOME CLARITY TO COME_-essentially means that the rights listed in preceding amendments (e.g., speech, religion, fair trial) are not the only rights the people have; it recognizes that there are rights that were simply not mentioned and that unenumerated rights are no less important than enumerated ones.
8th amendment
prevents judges from setting excessive bail or handing out cruel unusual punishments. Most death penalty cases center around this amendment
25th amendment
procedures for determining presidential disability, presidential succession, and filling a vice-presidential vacancy
21st amendment
repeals the prohibition of alcohol (18th amendment)
4th amendment
right of the people to secure in their person, papers, house, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Deals with PRIVACY
10th amendment
the powers not delegated to the United States/ federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States or the people.
3rd amendment
the quartering of troops in homes is only permitted with the consent of the house owner
2nd amendment
the right to bear arms
19th amendment
women receive the right to vote