Amendment Review Questions
1. These amendments were ratified during the progressive era – 16-19th
2. In Plessy v Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruled that laws requiring separate train cars based on race did
NOT violate this part of the 14th Amendment– Equal Protection of the law
3. The Supreme Court rules that this amendment now protected Christopher Simmons and other minors
from being executed for crimes that they committed before 18. 8th
4. Name two limits to free speech as granted by the First Amendment – Slander, Libel, Threats, Inciting
Panic, Imminent lawless action
5. If you are sued in Federal district court, a jury will hear your case due to the ______________
amendment? 7th
6. A tie between Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson in the electoral vote of 1800 led to this addition to the
Constitution? 12th
7. An increase in crime rate, changing American culture and enforcement challenges led to the repeal of this
amendment? 18th was repealed by the 21st
8. This amendment strengthened the principle of popular sovereignty and ended the “millionaire’s club”
nickname in one branch of government? 17th
9. Name four amendments that directly impact the President/Presidency AND describe how each changed
the position:
12th – Separate ballots for President and Vice President in the electoral college
20th – Changes start date from March to Jan for Pres. And Congress
22nd – Limits President to (2) 4 year terms or 10 total years
23rd – Allows Washington D.C. 3 electoral votes for President
25th – Determines disability of President, clarifies Presidential succession and allows for replacement of
Vice President if the office becomes vacant
10. The Vietnam War draft was largely responsible for the quick ratification of this Amendment? 26th
11. This Amendment created a new, direct tax on the American people? 16th
12. Poll taxes, literacy tests and grandfather clauses were popular responses to the ratification of this
amendment? 15th
13. Though part of the Bill of Rights, this amendment has really not come into play since it was ratified? 3
14. The Supreme Court has ruled that the standards of this amendment are weaker for students in school
than it is for them when outside of school? 1st, 4th
15. Ensures that the people have more rights than the first 10 amendments? 9th
16. The Volstead Act was passed by Congress to put this Amendment into effect? 18th
17. This amendment provides you with the right to an attorney? 6th
18. If you are found not guilty of a crime you may not be put on trial again for the same crime? 5th
19. This amendment determines when the President is disabled and what to do in those situations? 25th
20. This Bill of Rights amendment best shows the principle of Federalism in action? 10th
21. A member of the House of Representatives will have to be re-elected in order to see a raise that they vote
in favor of? 27th
22. The movement for this Amendment began in the 1840's but this voting amendment wasn't ratified until
1920, following World War I? 19th
23. This amendment eliminated a tax charged on some Americans? 24th Poll Taxes
24. Limits time that the President, Vice President and Congress spend as “lame ducks” 20th
25. If the Vice President dies or resigns, allows the President to choose a replacement with the approval of
Congress? 25th
26. Prohibits the government from establishing a national religion? 1st
27. You cannot be put on trial for a crime without first being charged/indicted due to this amendment? 5th
28. Provides residents of Washington D.C. with the same number of electoral votes for the President as the
smallest state? 23rd, currently 3 electoral votes
29. Though not directly stated in the amendment, the Supreme Court ruled that this protected the Tinker
children's right to wear black armbands to school in protest of the Vietnam War? 1st
30. This amendment protects you against excessive bail being imposed by a judge? 8th
31. These are known as the Civil War Amendments? 13-15th
32. This amendment came to be due to upgrades in transportation and communication 20th
33. This was the only Amendment to pass through Congress while Abraham Lincoln was President, though he
passed away before it was ratified. 13th
34. This amendment repealed a progressive era amendment? 21st, repealed the 18th
35. Barring the unexpected, these TWO amendments will force President Obama to leave office and be
replaced on January 20th, 2017? 20th (Jan. 20th date), 22nd (must be done after 2 terms)
36. Name the 5 main freedoms of the First Amendment: Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly, Petition
37. Provided citizenship to "anyone born or naturalized in the United States? 14th
38. This amendment is specifically designed to limit the power of the Federal government compared to the
states? 10th
39. This amendment states that the Vice President is next to become President? 25th
40. Guarantees you the right to a speedy trial where the crime took place as well as the right to question
witnesses against you? 6th
41. Requires Presidential electors to cast a separate ballot for President and Vice President? 12th
42. Can also be referred to as the “Lame Duck Amendment”? 20th
43. Prohibits the quartering of soldiers during peacetime? 3rd
44. In many cases you may prohibit a police officer from searching your home unless they have a warrant due
to this amendment? 4th
45. The government cannot take your property from you without paying a fair price? 5th/Eminent Domain
46. Brown vs. Board of Education changed the way that this Amendment could be interpreted (Explain how)?
14th Equal Protection of the Law – Overturned the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that allowed for
separate public facilities based on race, when it came to public schools
47. Anti-Saloon leagues and the populist party are among the groups that favored the passage of these four
Amendments? 16-19th Progressive Era Amendments,
48. This amendment allowed Gerald Ford to become both Vice President and President of the U.S. without
being elected to either position? 25th Amendment, He was promoted to V.P. to fill a vacancy there and
then became President when Nixon resigned
49. This amendment increased the size of the electoral college by three votes? 23rd
50. This amendment was proposed around the same time as the first 10, however ratification took more than
200 years? 27th
51. Newly elected Presidents and members of Congress have less time to wait before taking office? 20th
52. Lyndon Johnson serving as President for more than a year with heart problems and no Vice President
prompted the ratification of this amendment? 25th
53. You can be sued for spoken or written words that are considered to be slander or libel? 1st
54. The punishment must fit the crime that has been committed due to this amendment? 8th
55. These two amendments form the backbone of what we know as “Miranda rights.” 5th 6th
56. A case will be tried in the area where the crime was committed due to the? 6th
57. This is the most common method of adding an amendment to the constitution?
Proposed by 2/3 of the House and Senate (Congress), then ratified by ¾ of the States
58. Forces states to respect due process of the law? 14th
59. This amendment was added to the Constitution due to the appearance of political parties prior to the
election of 1800? 12th
60. This amendment limits the ability of a state to be sued in Federal Court? 11th
61. Many Americans gained citizenship upon the ratification of this amendment? 14th
62. George Washington set the unofficial standard for time served as President that would later become this
amendment? 22nd
63. The Supreme Court ruling in the Brown vs. Board of Education case ruled that separate but equal school
buildings were no longer considered equal under this amendment? 14th
64. Before this amendment was ratified, the President and Vice President could likely come from different
political parties. 12th
65. Prior to the passage of the 17th amendment, the responsibility of choosing U.S. Senators was given to
what group? State Legislators (lawmakers)
66. The Supreme Court Ruling in Chisholm v. Georgia led to this amendment being added to the Constitution
shortly thereafter. 11th
67. What did the Chisholm v. Georgia ruling say, and how did the amendment answer above (#66) change
that ruling? The court ruled that the lawsuit brought against Georgia was allowable in Federal Court,
the 11th was added following the ruling to prevent this from happening in the future
68. Despite the precedent set by George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt was elected to the Presidency four
times, leading to this amendment? 22nd
69. What is the difference between your jury rights in the 5th, 6th, and 7th Amendments?
5th – Grand Jury called together in larger crimes to decide if there will be a trial
6th – Jury of peers will decide a criminal case
7th – Jury of peers will decide a civil case
70. These Amendments expanded suffrage rights for American citizens? (Explain how each did as well)
15th – States cannot restrict voting based on race
17th – Americans can vote directly for Senators
19th – States cannot restrict voting based on gender
23rd – Residents of Washington D.C. are allowed to vote for President/V.P. (currently have 3 electoral
votes)
24th – Abolishes poll taxes as a condition for voting
26th – States cannot restrict voting based on age if at least 18