US Constitutional Amendments Summary

US Constitutional Amendments Summary

• Second Amendment: Protects the right to bear arms.
• Third Amendment: Prevents the government from forcing people to quarter soldiers.
• Fourth Amendment: Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
• Fifth Amendment: Guarantees the right to remain silent, protects against double jeopardy, and ensures due process.
• Sixth Amendment: Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.
• Seventh Amendment: Grants the right to a trial by jury in certain civil cases.
• Eighth Amendment: Protects against cruel and unusual punishment.
• Ninth Amendment: States that people have rights beyond those listed in the Constitution.
• Tenth Amendment: Says that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people.
• Eleventh Amendment: Limits lawsuits against states.
• Twelfth Amendment: Changed the presidential election process for clarity.
• Thirteenth Amendment: Abolished slavery.
• Fourteenth Amendment: Granted citizenship to all born in the U.S. and guaranteed equal protection under the law.
• Fifteenth Amendment: Gave African American men the right to vote, regardless of race.
• Sixteenth Amendment: Allowed Congress to collect income taxes.
• Seventeenth Amendment: Allowed for the direct election of Senators.
• Eighteenth Amendment: Banned alcohol (Prohibition).
• Nineteenth Amendment: Granted women the right to vote.
• Twentieth Amendment: Changed the start date of the President's term to January 20th.
• Twenty-First Amendment: Repealed the Eighteenth Amendment (ending Prohibition).
• Twenty-Second Amendment: Limited the President to two terms.
• Twenty-Third Amendment: Gave Washington, D.C. electoral votes.
• Twenty-Fourth Amendment: Banned poll taxes as voting requirements.
• Twenty-Fifth Amendment: Explains presidential succession.
• Twenty-Sixth Amendment: Lowered the voting age to 18.
• Twenty-Seventh Amendment: Prevents Congress from giving itself a pay raise until after the next election.

Structure of the US Government

• The Articles of Confederation were too weak, leading to the Constitution.
• The Preamble states the goals of the Constitution.
• "We the People" are the first three words of the Preamble.
• The US government has three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
• The Legislative Branch creates laws and is led by Congress.
• The Executive Branch enforces laws and is led by the President.
• The Judicial Branch interprets laws and is led by the Supreme Court.
• The Great Compromise created a two-house Congress: The House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (equal representation for each state).