The Constitutional Amendments

Question 1

The 1st Amendment

Answer 1

Prohibits laws establishing religion and prohibiting free exercise, free speech, freedom of the press, right to assemble and petition the government

Question 2

The Second Amendment

Answer 2

Right to keep and bear arms

Question 3

The Third Amendment

Answer 3

No quartering soldiers in peoples’ homes without consent!

Question 4

The Fourth Amendment

Answer 4

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Search warrants need probable cause and a judge’s signature.

Question 5

The 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

The 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

The Seventh Amendment

Answer 7

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

Question 8

The Eighth Amendment

Answer 8

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

Question 9

The Ninth Amendment

Answer 9

Protects rights not enumerated in the Constitution.

Question 10

The 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

The 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

The Twelfth Amendment

Answer 12

Revises presidential election procedures.

Question 13

The Thirteenth Amendment

Answer 13

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

Question 14

The 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

The Fifteenth Amendment

Answer 15

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

Question 16

The 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

The Seventeenth Amendment

Answer 17

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

Question 18

The Eighteenth Amendment

Answer 18

Prohibited the manufacturing or sale of alcohol within the United States.

Question 19

The Nineteenth Amendment

Answer 19

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

Question 20

The 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

The Twentyfirst Amendment

Answer 21

Repeals the 18th Amendment and prohibits the transportation or importation into the United States of alcohol for delivery or use in violation of applicable laws.

Question 22

The Twentysecond 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

The 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

The 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

The 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

The 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

The Twenty Seventh Amendment

Answer 27

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