Have you ever been accused of breaking a rule? Were you treated fairly? In the United States, there are laws that all citizens must follow to keep everyone safe. Sometimes citizens are accused of breaking these laws. 

The Bill of Rights has a process in place to protect the rights of those who are accused of breaking a law. It is called “due process”. Due process protects those who are accused and those who are in jail for breaking laws. Here are some examples of the rights of citizens who are accused of breaking a law: 

• be considered innocent until proven guilty

• be told what law they are accused of breaking

• be present at his or her trial

• be able to defend themselves at a fair trial

There are also rights to protect citizens who are found guilty of breaking a law. 

• The consequence must also be similar to the consequences given to other citizens who broke the same law. 

• The consequence must be fair and reasonable. 

For example, paying a fine for riding a bike on the sidewalk is reasonable. Spending six months in jail for riding on the sidewalk is not reasonable. The punishment must fit the crime committed.  

Due Process of Law is an important part of our democratic government. These rights and processes protect citizens’ rights. Due process works to make sure everyone is treated fairly when accused of a crime. 

          In 1787, the framers (creators) of The Constitution knew that the government would need to be edited over the years. They made the Constitution a living document. That means it can be changed to meet the needs of the country. The framers created an amendment process so changes could be made to the Constitution.

The amendment process is easy to remember, but it is hard to do in real life. It is challenging on purpose. The framers did not want one person or one group of people to be able to change the Constitution. The process protects citizens by making them a part of it. 

Here is the process used most often for amending (changing) the Constitution:

1. An amendment is suggested by two-thirds ( ⅔) of Congress. 

2. Then, three-fourths (¾), or 38 out of 50, of the state legislatures must ratify (approve) the amendment. 

     There have only been 27 amendments to the Constitution in nearly 240 years. Some of the amendments include the following: 

• Ending slavery

• Protecting our civil rights

• Protecting us from unfair state laws

• Giving more people the right to vote

The 15th Amendment

The 15th amendment was passed in 1870 after the Civil War. This amendment granted African American men the right to vote. This included formerly enslaved men. Unfortunately, the right to vote for African Americans was limited when some states passed laws making it hard for them to vote. Many African American men were forced to pay poll taxes or pass literacy tests to vote. 

The 19th Amendment

Women were denied the right to vote for the first 144 years of the United States’ time as a country.  The 19th amendment was passed in 1920 because of the efforts of the Suffrage Movement. This amendment gave all women the right to vote. However, many African American women were forced to pay poll taxes or pass literacy tests to vote.

The 23rd Amendment

The ratification of the 23rd amendment happened in 1961. It gave residents of Washington, D. C. representatives in the Electoral College which gives them a voice in the election of the president. Before the 23rd Amendment, people living in Washington, D.C., had no voice in the election of a president. 

The 24th Amendment

The 24th amendment was ratified in 1964. This amendment eliminated poll taxes in elections. A poll tax was a fee that some states required citizens to pay in order to vote. Poll taxes were originally created to keep low income citizens and African Americans from participating in elections. 

The 26th Amendment

The 26th amendment was ratified in 1971. It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Men as young as 18 could be drafted (forced to join the military) by the government. Citizens complained that it was unfair for young men to have to go to war when they were not allowed to vote. When the 26th amendment was ratified, the voting age and draft age for military service became 18 years old.