U.s. Constitution Amendments

Front 1

Amendment 1 (I) (1791)

Back 1

Protects/guarantees freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government.

Front 2

Amendment 2 (II) (1791)

Back 2

Protects/guarantees the right to keep and bear arms.

Front 3

Amendment 3 (III) (1791)

Back 3

Protects/guarantees that no soldiers will be kept in any house during times of peace or war without the house owner's consent.

Front 4

Amendment 4 (IV) (1791)

Back 4

Protects/guarantees citizens from having their private property searched by the police without a court order approving of the search/seizure upon probable cause of wrongdoing.

Front 5

Amendment 5 (V) (1791)

Back 5

Guarantees no one can be forced to testify against them self, people must be formally charged with a crime before being put on trial, no one can be put on trial for the same crime twice, and no one can face punishment without first receiving due process of law.

Front 6

Amendment 6 (VI) (1791)

Back 6

Guarantees accused criminals the right to a speedy and public trial by jury, and gives defendants the right to know what charges are being put against them, to cross-examine hostile witnesses, and be represented by a lawyer in court.

Front 7

Amendment 7 (VII) (1791)

Back 7

Non-criminal cases involving a dispute between private parties heard in federal courts are guaranteed trial by jury if the amount of money in the dispute is greater than twenty dollars.

Front 8

Amendment 8 (VIII) (1791)

Back 8

Guarantees the ban of "cruel and unusual punishments" for crimes, and doesn't allow "excessive" bails and fines.

Front 9

Amendment 9 (IX) (1791)

Back 9

Guarantees that just because a certain right isn't listed inside the Bill of Rights, it doesn't mean that those other rights not mentioned don't exist.

Front 10

Amendment 10 (X) (1791)

Back 10

Guarantees that any powers not explicitly given to the federal government can be assumed to belong to the states or to the people.

Front 11

Amendment 11 (XI) (1795)

Back 11

Made it so a citizen of one state (or foreign nation) cannot sue another state in a federal court.

Front 12

Amendment 12 (XII) (1804)

Back 12

in order to prevent another election from turning out like the presidential election of 1800, the 12th amendment split the balloting for the presidency from the vice-presidency ballot. Before this change, the runner-up for president was the Vice President.

Front 13

Amendment 13 (XIII) (1865)

Back 13

Slavery is banned throughout all of the United States.

Front 14

Amendment 14 (XIV) (1868)

Back 14

Guarantees that anyone born on American soil is guaranteed full American citizenship, no state can strip any of its residents of the full privileges of American citizenship, and all citizens are guaranteed "due process of law" and "equal protection of the laws" (cannot be discriminated against.) Also, the three-fifths clause (AI.S2.C3.) of the original Constitution is repealed, and all males (no matter their race) have a right to vote at 21 years or older. Also, former Confederate Leaders don't have the full rights of an American citizen and can only vote/hold federal office if two-thirds of Congress approve. Payment of any debt owed to the Confederate states and payment to former slaveholders for the loss of their human property is banned. Congress has the power to enforce the provisions of this article.

Front 15

Amendment 15 (XV) (1870)

Back 15

Guarantees the right for men of all races to vote will be protected. This was enforced by Congress.

Front 16

Amendment 16 (XVI) (1913)

Back 16

Altered Article 1, section 9 in order to make it possible for Congress to implement the modern income tax system.

Front 17

Amendment 17 (XVII) (1913)

Back 17

Ended the old voting system which involved Senators being elected by state legislatures. Allowed there to be a direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote (the people of the U.S. get to vote.)

Front 18

Amendment 18 (XVIII) (1919)

Back 18

The ban of the production and sale of liquor.

Front 19

Amendment 19 (XIX) (1920)

Back 19

Guarantees that women have the right to vote.

Front 20

Amendment 20 (XX) (1933)

Back 20

Inauguration Day was moved from March to January to shorten the waiting period that used to be necessary when long-distance communication was less advanced. This allowed both the president and members of congress to be inaugurated earlier. Congress must assemble at least once every year in early January. If the president dies before his Inauguration Day, the Vice President will take over.

Front 21

Amendment 21 (XXI) (1933)

Back 21

the 18th amendment is repealed. states do however have the right to regulate the use and distribution of alcohol inside their borders, so they can have rules stricter than the national government.

Front 22

Amendment 22 (XXII) (1951)

Back 22

A president can only serve two terms. So, a person can be a president for at most 8 years.

Front 23

Amendment 23 (XXIII) (1961)

Back 23

Guarantees that people living in Washington, D.C., have the right to vote for their president and gave them three presidential electors. Before they couldn't vote because D.C. isn't a state.

Front 24

Amendment 24 (XXIV) (1964)

Back 24

Guarantees that citizens of the United States attempting to vote cannot be denied by the United States or any state because they failed to pay a poll tax or other tax.

Front 25

Amendment 25 (XXV) (1967)

Back 25

If the president dies or resigns from office, the Vice President takes over. If the Vice President resigns or dies, the president can choose a new Vice President who must be confirmed by Congress. If the president submits s notice saying he cannot carry out the duties of his office, the Vice President takes over. If the VP and a majority of the cabinet all agree the president isn't capable of carrying out the duties of his office, the VP can temporarily take over as Acting President. If the president disputes his removal from office, Congress must decide if the president should regain his powers or if the VP should stay in charge.

Front 26

Amendment 26 (XXVI) (1971)

Back 26

Changes the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

Front 27

Amendment 27 (XXVII) (1992)

Back 27

Band members of Congress from voting to give themselves a pay raise. They may vote to raise congressional pay, but the increase can only take effect for the next session of Congress.