A. Amendment: a change to the Constitution
B. Two ways to propose an amendment
1. Congress may propose an amendment if it
has been approved by 2/3 vote in Senate and
House
2. A national convention can be called for by 2/3
of state legislatures
a.
Has not been used
C. Two ways to pass an amendment
1. Ratified by state legislatures of ¾ of
states
2. Ratified by conventions held in ¾ of
states
A. Protections of Individual Freedoms
1. First Amendment: Freedom of
religion, speech, press, assembly,
petition
B. Protections against abuses of power
1. Second Amendment: Right to bear arms
2. Third Amendment: Government can’t
require people to house soldiers during
peacetime
3. Fourth Amendment: Protects people from
unnecessary search and seizure
4. Fifth Amendment: Requires government
pay owners a fair price for property
C. Protections of the accused
1. Fifth Amendment: Protects accused of self-
incrimination and from being tried twice for the
same crime
2. Sixth Amendment: Right to a speedy, public and
fair trial by jury for most criminal cases
3. Seventh Amendment: Right to a trial by jury in
most civil cases
4. Eighth Amendment: Prohibits excessive bail,
fines and cruel and unusual punishment
D. Protection of other rights
1. Ninth Amendment: Declares that rights
not mentioned in the Constitution belong
to the people
2. Tenth Amendment: Declares that powers
not given to the national government
belong to the states or to the people
A. Thirteenth Amendment (1865): Abolished
slavery
B. Fourteenth Amendment (1868):
A. “Naturalizes” (grants citizenship to) anyone born
in the US
B. Prevents state and local governments from
denying people of life, liberty and property
w/out taking certain steps (due process)
C. State must provide equal protection under the
law to all people
A. Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Gives right to vote to
African Americans
B. Seventeenth Amendment (1913): Direct election of
Senators
C. Nineteenth Amendment (1920): Gives right to vote to
women
D. Twenty-third Amendment (1961): Establishes
electoral votes for Washington, D.C.
E. Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964): Abolishes poll
taxes
F. Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971): Lowers voting age
to 18
A. Twelfth Amendment (1804): Provides for
separate voting of President and Vice President
B. Twentieth Amendment (1933): Shortened time
between the election and when the president,
VP and members of Congress take office
C. Twenty-second Amendment (1951): Limits
President to two terms in office
D. Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967): Provides for
what should happen on the death, disability,
removal or resignation of a president
A. Eighteenth Amendment (1919): Prohibition
of alcohol
B. Twenty-first Amendment (1933): Repeal of
Eighteenth Amendment
1. Eleventh Amendment (1795) - Gives the
Supreme Court authority to hear a suit against a
state brought by a citizen of another state
2. Sixteenth Amendment (1913) – Established a
graduated income tax
3. Twenty-Seventh Amendment (1992) – Requires
that any law to increase congressional pay may
not take effect until after an election
States with the death penalty
Information about the death penalty
A case of mistaken identity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Buying a registered pistol
Receiving an unregistered pistol from a friend
Bringing a concealed pistol into a hospital
Bringing a pistol into a hospital
Keeping a loaded pistol openly on a table next to your bed
Hiding a loaded pistol in a drawer in a cabinet next to your
bed
7. Keeping a disassembled pistol on the mantel of your living
room
8. Buying a machine gun
1. How do you interpret the Second Amendment? Address
specifically
a.
b.
The connection between "a well-regulated militia" and "the
right of the people to keep and bear arms“ and
The meanings you give to "people" and "arms" and why
2. Does your interpretation of the Second Amendment
allow for any restrictions on gun ownership? If so, what
and why? If not, why not?
3. What is your opinion of the Heller ruling? What are
your reasons?