Bill Of Rights & Other Amendments

Question 1

Constitution of the United States

Answer 1

The Constitution of the United States sets forth 27 Amendments that do two important things: establishes limited power to the government and protects citizens’ rights.

Question 2

Bill of Rights (United States)

Answer 2

The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.

Question 3

01st Amendment

Answer 3

Freedom of religion, speech, and press. This guarantees the freedom of religion, speech, press, and peaceable assembly. (1791)

Question 4

02nd Amendment

Answer 4

Right to bear arms. (1791)

Question 5

03rd Amendment

Answer 5

Right to refuse to quarter soldiers. (1791)

Question 6

04th Amendment

Answer 6

Freedom from unlawful search or seizures. (1791)

Question 7

05th Amendment

Answer 7

Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination (this only applies if the answer implicates you in a crime), double Jeopardy, use of a grand jury of ~16-20 people selected to examine the validity of an accusation before trial, and eminent domain (the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use with just compensation) [1791]

Question 8

06th Amendment

Answer 8

Rights of those accused of a crime: right to a speedy and public trial, a jury, an attorney, to be informed of charges, to confront witnesses, and have counsel. (1791)

Question 9

07th Amendment

Answer 9

Right to a jury trial in a civil case. Realize that civil cases aren’t the same as criminal cases. Civil cases are when people sue each other. If a civil case is over a lot of money, the seventh amendment says it is to be tried by a jury. Civil court can’t send you to jail, but they can make you pay. It only takes a majority decision to be found in the wrong for civil cases. (1791)

Question 10

08th Amendment

Answer 10

Freedom from excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment. (1791)

Question 11

09th Amendment

Answer 11

Guarantees other rights of people. Rights not listed may exist, and just because they are not listed doesn’t mean they can be violated. (1791)

Question 12

10th Amendment

Answer 12

Gives power to states. The powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution are retained by the states. (1791)

Question 13

11th Amendment

Answer 13

The amendment specifically prohibits federal courts from hearing cases in which a state is sued by an individual from another state or another country. (1795)

Question 14

12th Amendment

Answer 14

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 produced a new structure for the Electoral College. The most important part of the 12th amendment is that instead of casting two votes for President, each elector must pick a President and his running mate (Vice President) on his or her ballot. This ensures that the President will be paired with his running mate after the election. This has been the way we have operated the Electoral College since 1804. (1804)

Question 15

13th Amendment

Answer 15

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. (1865)

Question 16

14th Amendment

Answer 16

The 14th Amendment was put forward as the country was healing itself from the Civil War and was ratified in 1868. It stated that all persons born or naturalized in the United States - including African Americans - are citizens of the country. Its Due Process Clause also stated that local and state governments cannot deprive any citizen of ‘life, liberty, or property’ without due cause. (1868)

Question 17

15th Amendment

Answer 17

Ratified in 1870, the 15th Amendment gave the right to vote to any male, regardless of race, color, or belief. After the Civil War, Amendment 5 plus 10, said, ‘Yes!’ to all men. (1870)

Question 18

16th Amendment

Answer 18

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration. (1913)

Question 19

17th Amendment

Answer 19

Respecified the requirements and limitations of U.S. Senators. There must be an election by the state every 6 years, the executive of a state must hold an election for senators if there is a vacancy and possibly make temporary appointments, etc. (1917)

Question 20

18th Amendment

Answer 20

Prohibition. (1919)

Question 21

19th Amendment

Answer 21

Made official in 1920, the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. Women who fought for the vote were known as suffragettes. With their help, #19 put women on the scene! (1920)

Question 22

20th Amendment

Answer 22

The Twentieth Amendment (Amendment XX) to the United States Constitution moved the beginning and ending of the terms of the president and vice president from March 4 to January 20, and of members of Congress from March 4 to January 3. It also has provisions that determine what is to be done when there is no president-elect. The Twentieth Amendment was adopted on January 23, 1933. (1933)

Question 23

21st Amendment

Answer 23

The Twenty-first Amendment (Amendment XXI) to the United States Constitution repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which had mandated nationwide Prohibition on alcohol on January 16, 1919. The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933. It is unique among the 27 amendments of the U.S. Constitution for being the only one to repeal a prior amendment and to have been ratified by state ratifying conventions. (1933)

Question 24

22nd Amendment

Answer 24

Roosevelt’s unprecedented lengthy presidency led to the enactment of the 22nd Amendment, which limits the United States presidency to no more than two elections. (1951)

Question 25

23rd Amendment

Answer 25

The Twenty-third Amendment (Amendment XXIII) to the United States Constitution extends the right to vote in the presidential election to citizens residing in the District of Columbia by granting the District electors in the Electoral College, as if it was a state; though the district can never have more electors than the least-populous state. The amendment was proposed by the 86th Congress on June 16, 1960. Ratification by the requisite 38 of the 50 states was completed on March 29, 1961. (1961)

Question 26

24th Amendment

Answer 26

Ratified in 1964, the 24th Amendment made poll taxes illegal. Poll taxes were taxes or fees charged to vote. These taxes were used to dissuade certain people groups from voting. Fortunately, #24 said, 'Pay no more!' (1964)

Question 27

25th Amendment

Answer 27

The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution deals with 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. It supersedes the ambiguous wording of Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution, which does not expressly state whether the Vice President becomes the President or Acting President if the President dies, resigns, is removed from office, or is otherwise unable to discharge the powers of the presidency. The Twenty-fifth Amendment was adopted on February 10, 1967. (1967)

Question 28

26th Amendment

Answer 28

The 26th Amendment changed the federal voting age to 18. Becoming law during the Vietnam War, its passage allowed soldiers who were being sent to war to actually vote for those sending them. Being ratified in 1971, #26 was the soldiers' fix! (1971)

Question 29

27th Amendment

Answer 29

The Twenty-seventh Amendment (Amendment XXVII) to the United States Constitution prohibits any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress from taking effect until the start of the next set of terms of office for Representatives. The amendment is the most recent to be adopted, but one of the first proposed. (1992)