27 Amendments Flashcards
1st Amendment
Freedom of expression, religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
“Freedoms come 1st”
2nd Amendment
Protects the rights of individual citizens to keep and bear arms. Establishes a militia that is necessary for a free state
“2 bear arms”
3rd Amendment
Prohibits soldiers from temporarily residing (quartering) in private homes during peacetime without getting the permission and consent of the owner
4th Amendment
Protects people’s right to privacy, prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures by the government
“For a search”
5th Amendment
No person tried without the grand jury indictment or punished twice for the same offense, prohibits being a witness against yourself and guarantees “due process of law”
“Plead the 5th”
6th Amendment
Rights of accused in criminal cases, including legal representation and fair and speedy trial.
“Rights of accused in criminal cases (6 words)”
7th Amendment
Guarantees a trial by jury
“ Trial By (7 letters)
8th Amendment
Insures that punishments for crimes are not excessive, cruel, or unusual.
“Excessive (e for eighth), cruel, or unusual”
9th Amendment
People retain rights not listed in the United States Constitution
“People (9 letters)”
10th Amendment
Power not given to the federal government is given to the people or states
“States Rights”
11th Amendment
Individual cannot sue a state in federal courts.
“Individual (11)”
12th Amendment
Repeals part of the Article 2, Section 1, of the Constitution. Electoral College must cast separate ballots for president and vice president.
“Article 2, Section 1 (12)”
13 Amendment
Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.
“Lucky-Ended Slavery”
14th Amendment
All persons born or naturalized in the United States enjoy full rights. This was done to protect the rights of freed slaves and minorities after the Civil War, but it applies equally to all Americans.
15th Amendment
Protects the rights of Americans to vote in elections. States cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, creed, or color.
16th Amendment
Established Congress’s rights to impose a federal income tax.
“16yr. olds pay taxes”
17th Amendment
Provides for popular election for United States senators. Repeals part of Article 1, Section 3. In the past senators were elected by state legislatures.
18th Amendment
Prohibition. No alcoholic beverages to be bough or sold in the United States
“18yr. old can’t drink- Illegal”
19th Amendment
Woman suffrage. Some states had already given women the right to vote in some elections. This amendment provides all women, who are U.S citizens, the right to vote in all elections.
“Men could vote 18; women 19”
20th Amendment
Changed the date the president takes office from March 4th to January 20th. (4 year term) It also changed the start of Congress to January 3rd and ended the old second session.
“President starts January 20th: 20”
21st Amendment
Repealed prohibition and voided the 18th Amendment
“21 yr. old- Alcohol Legal”
22nd Amendment
No person shall be elected to the office of president more than twice
“Two Terms: TT: 22”
23rd Amendment
Gave residents of Washington, D.C, the right to vote in presidential elections.
“Washington-MJ: #23
24th Amendment
Anti-poll tax amendment. Forbids taxing voters before they vote in national elections.
“Can’t tax voters”
25th Amendment
Established the process by which an ailing president may pass the duties of the office to the vice president and fill the vice president’s office, when vacant. Any vacancy in the vice presidency is filled by appointment made by the president, with approval by a majority of both houses of Congress.
“pass duties to vice president”
26th Amendment
18-year-olds are allowed to vote in federal and state elections
27th
Prohibits Congress from voting itself mid-term pay raises
“end of Amendment-raise at the end
