27 Amendments
1st Amendment— Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition: Congress will not force religion on anyone or prevent people from practicing their religions. Congress will not interfere with people’s freedom to speak and publish ideas. Congress will not prevent people from meeting peacefully or complaining to the government when they are unhappy.
2nd Amendment— Right to Bear Arms: People have the right to have weapons because a strong militia is needed to protect a free country.
3rd Amendment—Quartering Soldiers: Soldiers can not be housed in people’s homes during peacetime or war without their permission. Congress will determine where soldiers will be housed.
4th Amendment—Protection Against Illegal Search and Seizure: People, as well as their homes, papers, and possessions, can not be searched or taken without a good reason. Warrants can only be issued when there are grounds for suspicion, and they must describe the places to be searched and the people and objects to be taken.
5th Amendment—Trial By Jury and Protection of Private Property: Individuals can not be arrested for serious crimes until they have been formally accused by a grand jury, unless the individual is in the military. Individuals can not be tried for the same crime twice. An individual does not have to say anything in court that will make him look guilty, and can not have his life, freedom, or property taken away without due process. Private property can not be taken for public use without fair compensation.
6th Amendment—The Rights of the Accused: An individual accused of committing a crime will have the right to a speedy, public trial by an unbiased jury in the state and district in which the crime occurred. The accused has the right to know the charge against him and why he is being charged. He has the right to listen to witnesses testify against him and to call witnesses in his defense. He also has the right to a defense attorney.
7th Amendment—Trial By Jury In Civil Cases: Juries will try all civil cases in which the disputed value is greater than twenty dollars. Other American courts can not overturn a jury’s decision, unless the law was applied incorrectly.
8th Amendment—Restrictions on Punishment: Individuals should not have to pay unreasonable bail or fines or suffer cruel and unusual punishment.
9th Amendment—Powers Left to the People: Just because this constitution specifies many rights does not mean that these are the only rights the people have. (Right to Privacy)
10th amendment—Powers Left to the States: The powers not mentioned in this Constitution that are not given to the federal government and are not forbidden to the states are left to the states and their people.
11th amendment—Restriction on the Federal Courts: Federal courts have no authority in lawsuits between a state government and citizens of another state or foreign country.
12th amendment—The Election of Presidents and Vice Presidents: Electors will meet in their respective states and cast separate ballots for President and Vice President. They will record the names of all individuals receiving votes for President on one list and another list for those receiving votes for Vice President. They will record the number of votes each person receives. They will then sign the list, seal it, and send it to the President of the Senate in D.C. The votes will be counted in front of the Senate and the House with the person receiving the majority of the appointed electors becoming President. If no candidate has a majority, the House of Representatives will elect the President from the top three vote getters.
13th Amendment—Slavery Outlawed (1865): Slavery and forced labor are abolished in the U.S. and its territories, except as a punishment for crimes.
14th Amendment—American Citizenship Defined (1868): Individuals who are born in the U.S. or who become U.S. citizens by choice are citizens of the U.S. and of the state in which they live. States can not make laws that alter or take away the privileges and rights of American citizenship. States can not take away an individuals life, freedom, or property illegally, and must protect their citizens equally under the law. (Equal Protection Under the Law)
15th Amendment—Voting Rights For All Citizens (1870): The U.S. and individual states can not take away or hinder the right of citizens to vote because of their race or color or because they used to be slaves.
16th Amendment—The Federal Income Tax (1913): Congress can establish and collect taxes on the money individuals make, however they make it, without regard to the population of the individual states.
17th Amendment—The Direct Election of Senators (1913): The people in each state will elect their Senators by direct popular vote instead of the state legislatures choosing. They will serve six-year terms and have one vote each.
18th Amendment—Prohibition (1919): The making, selling, and transporting of alcohol within the U.S., as well as importing and exporting alcohol to and from the U.S. and its territories, will be forbidden beginning one year after ratification.
19th Amendment—Voting Rights for Women (1920): The U.S. and individual states can not take away or hinder the right of citizens to vote because of their gender.
20th Amendment—Presidential and Congressional Terms (1933): Shortens the time between Presidential elections and inauguration by designating January 20th as inauguration day. It alsosets January 3rd as the date for the opening of a new Congress.
21st Amendment—Prohibition Repealed (1933): The 18th Amendment to the Constitution is repealed.
22nd Amendment—Two-Term Limitation for Presidents (1951): An individual can be elected to the Presidency only twice, and anyone who has served as President for more than two years during someone else’s term can only be elected to the Presidency once.
23rd Amendment—Voting Rights for Residents of WashingtonD.C. (1961): D.C. will appoint the same number of electors for the President and Vice President as the number of Senators and Representatives the district would have in Congress if it were a state. The district will never have more electors than the least populous state. The electors of D.C. will be added to the total number of electors appointed by other states and will be considered equal to electors appointed by states to elect Presidents and Vice Presidents.
24th Amendment—Poll Taxes Outlawed (1964): The federal government and the state governments can not require people to pay a tax before voting in primary elections or for the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives.
25th Amendment—The Order of Succession to the Presidency (1967): The Vice President will become President if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office. The new President will nominate a new person to serve as V.P. if a majority of the House and Senate approve. V.P. will take over also if President is no longer capable to perform his duties.
26th Amendment—Voting Rights for Youth (1971): The U.S. and individual states can not take away or hinder the right of all citizens, who are at least 18 years old, to vote because of their age.
27th Amendment—Congressional Salaries (1999): Laws that change the salaries of Senators and Representatives will take effect only after the next Congressional elections.