Amendments

Question 1

First Amendment

Answer 1

Prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Question 2

Second Amendment

Answer 2

Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

Question 3

Third Amendment

Answer 3

Places restrictions on the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner’s consent, prohibiting it during peacetime.

Question 4

Fourth Amendment

Answer 4

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause as determined by a neutral judge or magistrate.

Question 5

Fifth Amendment

Answer 5

Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

Question 6

Sixth Amendment

Answer 6

Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel.

Question 7

Seventh Amendment

Answer 7

Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law.

Question 8

Eight Amendment

Answer 8

Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment.

Question 9

Ninth Amendment

Answer 9

Protects rights not enumerated in the Constitution.

Question 10

Tenth Amendment

Answer 10

Reinforces the principle of federalism by stating that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated to it by the states or the people through the Constitution.

Question 11

Eleventh Amendment

Answer 11

Makes states immune from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders; lays the foundation for sovereign immunity.

Question 12

Twelfth Amendment

Answer 12

Revises presidential election procedures.

Question 13

Thirteenth Amendment

Answer 13

Abolishes slavery, and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

Question 14

Fourteenth Amendment

Answer 14

Defines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post-Civil War issues.

Question 15

Fifteenth Amendment

Answer 15

Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Question 16

Sixteenth Amendment

Answer 16

Permits Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the United States Census.

Question 17

Seventeenth Amendment

Answer 17

Establishes the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote.

Question 18

Eighteenth Amendment

Answer 18

Prohibited the manufacturing or sale of alcohol within the United States.
(Repealed December 5, 1933)

Question 19

Nineteenth Amendment

Answer 19

Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on sex.

Question 20

Twentieth Amendment

Answer 20

Changes the date on which the terms of the President and Vice President (January 20) and Senators and Representatives (January 3) end and begin.

Question 21

Twenty-First Amendment

Answer 21

Repeals the 18th Amendment and gives the States the power to prohibit or regulate the transportation or importation of alcohol for delivery or use.

Question 22

Twenty-Second Amendment

Answer 22

Limits the number of times that a person can be elected president: a person cannot be elected president more than twice, and a person who has served more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected cannot be elected more than once.

Question 23

Twenty-Third Amendment

Answer 23

Grants the District of Columbia electors (the number of electors being equal to the least populous state) in the Electoral College.

Question 24

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Answer 24

Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of a poll tax or any other tax.

Question 25

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

Answer 25

Addresses succession to the Presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, as well as responding to Presidential disabilities.

Question 26

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Answer 26

Prohibits the denial of the right of US citizens, eighteen years of age or older, to vote on account of age.

Question 27

Twenty-Seventh Amendment

Answer 27

Delays laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of representatives.