Amendment: (noun) a change madeto a law or document
Founders wanted Constitution to bea “living document”
(able to evolve with the nation)
Making changes to the Constitutionhad to be possible (but difficult)
Proposing an amendment requires:
2/3 of Congress, or
2/3 of states
Ratifying an amendment requires:
3/4 of states
First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respectingan establishment of religion, orprohibiting the free exercise thereof; …”
Government cannot:
support a specific religion
prevent people from practicing theirreligion
“Separation of Church and State”
First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respectingan establishment of religion, orprohibiting the free exercise thereof;
Or abridging the freedom of speech, orof the press;”
Government cannot:
limit free expression
limit the press’ ability to spreadinformation
First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respecting anestablishment of religion, or prohibitingthe free exercise thereof; or abridging thefreedom of speech, or of the press;
Or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition theGovernment for a redress ofgrievances.”
Government cannot:
prevent people from gatheringpeacefully
prevent people from complainingabout the gov.
Second Amendment
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to thesecurity of a free State, the right of the peopleto keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
Since a nation’s (or state’s) security depends
on an armed civilian army …
gov. can’t prevent people
from owning weapons
Third Amendment
“No Soldier shall, in time of peace bequartered in any house, without theconsent of the Owner, nor in time of war,but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”
Gov. can’t force people to
house soldiers in their homes
(unless there is a war and we
pass specific laws allowing it)
Fourth Amendment
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons,houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonablesearches and seizures, shall not be violated …
and no warrants shall issue, but upon probablecause, supported by oath or affirmation, andparticularly describing the place to be searched,and the persons or things to be seized.”
Government can’t search or seize
you or your property …
without “probable cause” (a reason
to believe they’ll find something illegal)
Fifth Amendment
“[No person shall] be subject for the sameoffense to be twice put in jeopardy of life orlimb; …”
Government cannot:
try a person twice for the same crime
(“Double jeopardy”)
Fifth Amendment
“… Nor shall be compelled in any criminalcase to be a witness against himself, …”
Government cannot:
force an accused person to testifyagainst themselves
“Right to remain silent”
“Pleading the fifth”
Fifth Amendment
“… Nor be deprived of life, liberty, orproperty, without due process of law; …”
Government cannot:
punish someone without giving them afair trial
“Due process”
Sixth Amendment
“In all criminal prosecutions, theaccused shall enjoy the right to aspeedy and public trial, by animpartial jury of the State anddistrict wherein the crime shall havebeen committed”
People accused of crimes
have the right to …
have a speedy and public trial
be judged by a fair jury of localpeople
Sixth Amendment
“[The accused shall enjoy the right] … to beinformed of the nature and cause of theaccusation; to be confronted with thewitnesses against him; and to have theAssistance of Counsel for his defense.”
People accused of crimes
have the right to …
be told what they’re accused of doing
question the people who say they did it
have a lawyer’s help
Seventh Amendment
“In [cases] where the value in controversyshall exceed twenty dollars, the right oftrial by jury shall be preserved …”
Civil cases (legal arguments) over morethan $20 will be settled by a jury
Eighth Amendment
“Excessive bail shall not be required, norexcessive fines imposed, nor cruel andunusual punishments inflicted”
Government cannot:
demand unreasonable amounts ofmoney for bail or fines
(When a person is charged with acrime, they can pay bail to go free untiltheir court date)
punish criminals in
“cruel and unusual” ways
Ninth Amendment
“The enumeration in the Constitution,of certain rights, shall not beconstrued to deny or disparageothers retained by the people.”
“Just because we’re listing certainrights doesn’t mean they’re theonly ones people have”
Tenth Amendment
“The powers not delegated to theUnited States by theConstitution, nor prohibited byit to the States, are reserved tothe States respectively, or tothe people.”
Any power the constitutiondoesn’t mention, belongs tothe states or the people(not to the federal gov.)
(LIMITED GOVERNMENT)