Our Govenment
The Constitution by Amendments
There are 27 amendments. The first 10 are the Bill of Rights.
Preamble
We The People
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Amendments
Bill of Rights
Government can’t establish an official religion or stop you from practicing yours.
Protects freedom of speech and the press.
Protects the right to peacefully assemble and to petition the government to fix problems.
Protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms.
In peacetime, soldiers can’t be housed in private homes without the owner’s consent.
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Police generally need a warrant based on probable cause.
Right to grand jury indictment in serious federal cases.
No double jeopardy (can’t be tried twice for the same offense after acquittal/conviction).
Right against self-incrimination (you don’t have to testify against yourself).
No deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
Government must pay just compensation if it takes private property (takings clause).
Right to a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases.
Right to be informed of the charges, confront witnesses, have compulsory process for witnesses, and have assistance of counsel (a lawyer).
Preserves the right to a jury trial in many federal civil cases.
Juries’ factual findings generally can’t be reexamined except as allowed by common law.
- No excessive bail or fines.
- No cruel and unusual punishments.
- The fact that certain rights are listed doesn’t mean people don’t have other rights too.
Federal government only has the powers given to it by the Constitution.
All other powers are reserved to the states or the people.
Limits when a state can be sued in federal court (generally protects states from certain lawsuits by citizens of other states or foreign countries).
Electors cast separate votes for President and Vice President.
Fixes the old system that created problems like the election of 1800.
Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime after conviction.
- Anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. is a citizen of the U.S. and of their state.
- States cannot deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
- States must give equal protection of the laws to all persons.
- Deals with apportionment of representatives, former Confederates, and the public debt.
Federal and state governments cannot deny or limit the right to vote because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Allows Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the Census.
Senators are elected directly by the people of each state, rather than by state legislatures.
Banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the U.S.
Later repealed by the 21st Amendment.
Federal and state governments cannot deny or limit the right to vote because of sex (women’s suffrage).
Changes the start dates of presidential and congressional terms (President/VP to Jan. 20; Congress to Jan. 3).
Clarifies what happens if a President-elect dies or isn’t qualified by Inauguration Day.
Repeals the 18th Amendment.
Gives states significant control over alcohol regulation.
Limits a person to two elected terms as President.
If someone serves more than two years of someone else’s term, they can only be elected once more.
Gives Washington, D.C. presidential electors (like a state), but no more than the least populous state.
Bans poll taxes in federal elections (you can’t be charged a fee to vote for President, VP, Senator, or Representative).
Clarifies what happens if the President dies, resigns, is removed, or is unable to perform duties.
VP becomes President if the office is vacant.
Sets a process for appointing a new VP.
Sets procedures for the VP and Cabinet (or another body) to declare a President unable to serve, and for the President to contest that.
Lowers the voting age to 18 in all elections (federal, state, local).
Any law that changes the pay of Senators and Representatives can’t take effect until after the next House election (so they can’t give themselves an immediate raise).