Constitutional Amendments

27 Amendments Review Sheet


  1. Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

  2. The right to a militia. The right to bear arms.

  3. No quartering of troops in a private citizen's home during peacetime without the consent of the

homeowner.

  1. No unreasonable searches and seizures. (People and their personal property cannot be searched

without a search warrant issued by a judge.)

  1. Provides for the due process of law (can’t be deprived of life, liberty or property without a fair

trial); Prevents self-incrimination (you do not have to testify against yourself if called as a

witness); No double jeopardy; eminent domain (government cannot take property without fair

payment)

  1. The right to a fair and speedy trial by an impartial jury of his/her peers. The right to see

witnesses testify against you & to have witnesses in your defense. The right to have a lawyer

for your defense.

  1. In a civil suit, the defendant has the right to a trial by jury if the amount in question is over $20

dollars.

  1. Prohibits excessive bail; prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

  2. Guarantees people rights not specified in the Constitution

  3. Powers not specifically granted to the national government are to be reserved by the states and

people.

  1. A citizen from one state cannot sue a citizen in another state in federal court.

  2. Electors will vote for President and Vice President on separate ballots.

  3. Abolished slavery. (Prohibits involuntary servitude.)

  4. Granted citizenship rights to former slaves; States cannot deprive the due process of law; The

states have to provide equal protection of the laws to all citizens (including the former slaves).

  1. African American males were guaranteed the right to vote.

  2. Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on individual’s incomes.

  3. The direct election of U. S. Senators was granted to the people of each of the states.

  4. Banned the manufacture, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages.

  5. The right to vote cannot be denied because of a person's gender. (Women were given the right

to vote.)

  1. The Presidential inauguration day moved back from March 4 to January 20. Congress is sworn in

on January 3rd of odd-numbered years.

  1. Repealed the 18th Amendment and ended Prohibition. (Alcohol could be manufactured,

transported & sold in areas where it was still not prohibitied, i.e. “dry counties.”)

  1. The President of the U.S. now limited to serving no more than two full terms in office.

(Maximum of 10 years)

  1. Granted three electoral votes to the District of Columbia.

  2. Abolished poll taxes. People cannot be denied the right to vote in federal elections because they

had not paid a tax on voting.

  1. Established procedures to follow in the case of presidential death and/or disability. Also provides

for vice presidential vacancies too.

  1. 18 year olds were given the right to vote. (Established the minimum age requirement for voting

in federal elections at 18 years as a result of the Vietnam War.)

  1. If Congress votes itself a pay raise, it does not take effect until the next election of the House of

Representatives. (These occur every 2 years!) *Also written by James Madison