The 27 Amendments To The U.s. Constitution

Front 1

Protects freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government

Back 1

First Amendment

Front 2

Since the nation needed a militia of its citizens (there was no standing army in the late 1780s), this protects the right to keep and bear arms

Back 2

Second Amendment

Front 3

Prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during peace time

Back 3

Third Amendment

Front 4

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause

Back 4

Fourth Amendment

Front 5

Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy

Back 5

Fifth Amendment

Front 6

Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain legal counsel

Back 6

Sixth Amendment

Front 7

Provides for the right to trial by jury in civil cases in federal court, when the amount in dispute is over twenty dolars

Back 7

Seventh Amendment

Front 8

Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment

Back 8

Eighth Amendment

Front 9

protects all of the rights of the people which are not mentioned specifically elsewhere in the Constitution. It was a part of the original Bill of Rights drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1791. The rights protected are referred to as “unenumerated” rights, or those note already stated. This combines with the Tenth Amendment to protect the rights and situations not provided for in the previous eight amendments.

Back 9

Ninth Amendment

Front 10

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people; commonly known as the "States Rights Amendment"

Back 10

Tenth Amendment

Front 11

Immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders. Lays the foundation for sovereign immunity. Lawsuits against a state government, filed by a resident of another state, must take place in the courts of the state involved in the lawsuit.

Back 11

Eleventh Amendment

Front 12

Revises presidential election procedures; presidential electors receive one ballot for president, one ballot for vice president.

Back 12

Twelfth Amendment

Front 13

Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime

Back 13

Thirteenth Amendment

Front 14

Defines citizenship as anyone born or naturalized in the U.S., and deals with post–Civil War issues; guarantees civil rights, due process of law, and equal protection under the law, for all Americans

Back 14

Fourteenth Amendment

Front 15

Prohibits the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude

Back 15

Fifteenth Amendment

Front 16

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

Back 16

Sixteenth Amendment

Front 17

Requires senators to be directly elected by the people of each state

Back 17

Seventeenth Amendment

Front 18

Establishes the Prohibition Era; makes for the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, transportation of alcoholic beverages; later repealed

Back 18

Eighteenth Amendment

Front 19

Establishes women's suffrage

Back 19

Nineteenth Amendment

Front 20

Fixes the dates of term commencements for Congress (January 3) and the President (January 20); known as the "lame duck amendment"

Back 20

Twentieth Amendment

Front 21

Repeals the Eighteenth Amendment

Back 21

Twenty-first Amendment

Front 22

Limits the president to two terms, or a maximum of 10 years (i.e., if a Vice President serves not more than one half of a President's term, he can be elected to a further two terms)

Back 22

Twenty-second Amendment

Front 23

Provides for representation of Washington, D.C. in the Electoral College; voters in D.C. get to vote for president and vice president, have three electoral votes

Back 23

Twenty-third Amendment

Front 24

Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of poll taxes; voters cannot be required to pay a tax in order to vote

Back 24

Twenty-fourth Amendment

Front 25

Defines the process of presidential succession; outlines procedures in cases of presidential disability for vice president to assume power as temporary president

Back 25

Twenty-fifth Amendment

Front 26

Establishes 18 as the national voting age

Back 26

Twenty-sixth Amendment

Front 27

Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress

Back 27

Twenty-seventh Amendment