Our Amendments at Work
Name _________________________________
Below are “living” examples of Constitutional amendments at work.
Your task is to read each paragraph and then decided which amendment is at work.
1. ______________________ John is a legitimate, qualified law officer. He comes to the home of Chris and demands
entry into his house. Disregarding whether or not Chris has something to hide, he tells John to “Leave my house! You
don’t even have a search warrant!”. Which constitutional amendment allows Chris this protection?
2. ________________________ Any member of any minority who qualifies properly can vote in the USA because of this
amendment. Which one is it?
3. ________________________ Women are now allowed to vote just as men. Such was not always the case. In fact, it
took a Constitutional amendment to win the right to vote. Which amendment was it?
4. ________________________ Officer Hanson arrests Jackson for speeding and Jackson claims he is innocent. This is
Jackson’s third offence in a year, so if he is found guilty, he will lose his license. Jackson demands a jury trial because
he believes he is innocent. Where in the Constitution is Jackson promised this right?
5. ________________________ I can say what I want, write what I want, worship as I please, call together a group of my
friends to criticize the government, and can petition if I please. These rights that belong to us are all provided for in
which amendment?
6. ________________________ Donahue and McMillan are at odds over the location of a boundary line dividing their
property. Since they can’t agree on a financial settlement, they have decided to put the matter before a jury in a court
of law. They can do this because of which constitutional amendment?
7. _______________________ The election of 1800 made it clear that the framers made a mistake having the VicePresident become the man who had the second highest number of votes for President. That was all changed in 1804
by which amendment?
8. _______________________ Nate Williams is a poor black man who lives in the state of Louisiana. A few years back,
Nate was not allowed to vote in elections because he could not afford to pay his poll tax. Which amendment allowed
Nate to vote because it forbids the use of a poll tax in elections?
9. _______________________ Ronald Reagan became the nation’s 40th President on Tuesday, January 20th at 12:00
noon when he was sworn into office by the Chief Justice. Under the original Constitution, he would have had to wait
until March 4th to take over as President. This ‘lame duck’ amendment came to us through the ratification of which of
our Constitutional amendments?
10. _______________________ Gallagher was tried and found innocent for the murder of Silas McGee. Later, the courts
tried to bring him back in and try him for the murder again. Which amendment prohibits them from doing this?
11. _______________________ Henry Knott keeps a gun in his closet to defend himself against anyone who may try to rob
him. Although some may disagree with this, Henry’s right to keep the weapon for defense his a result of which
constitutional amendment?
12. _______________________ As long as we enjoy domestic peace, we do not have to let soldiers live in our homes if we
don’t want them there. This privilege is part of which constitutional amendment?
13. _______________________ The power of Congress to levy a tax against the incomes of those who work in order to
pay for all of the services of the federal government is clearly pointed out in which amendment?
14. _______________________ Which of the amendments gives 18 year olds the right to vote, a right that was formerly
reserved for those 21 and older?
15. _______________________ The citizens of D.C. are now allowed to vote for their President. This right had been
previously denied to them. Which amendment changed this and allows all citizens of our nation’s capital to vote in
Presidential elections?
16. _______________________ Arnold Gross, formerly of Athens, Georgia, now living in Jackson, Mississippi, lodges a
protest against the state of Georgia because he feels his business was unfairly taxed when he lived in Georgia. He even
attempts to file a formal lawsuit against the state of Georgia. The fact of the matter is that the federal courts will not
hear cases involving citizens of one state suing another. This is clearly pointed out in which amendment?
17. _______________________ Former President Nixon was elected twice by the people. Even though he resigned before
his second term was finished, he could not have been elected to serve another term. Which of the constitutional
amendments forbids a President from being elected to more than two terms of office?
18. _______________________ The rights of Americans to consume alcoholic beverages was taken away from them in
1919 by a constitutional amendment. However, because of public protest and the difficulty to enforce this rule, the
amendment was later repealed. Which amendment attempted to stop Americans from drinking?
19. _______________________ It is legal to consume alcohol as long as the person doing it has satisfied the minimum age
requirements. This right came to us only after the ratification of which amendment? (hint: this amendment also
repealed a previous amendment that had made alcohol illegal)
20. _______________________ When President Kennedy was assassinated, his VP, Lyndon B. Johnson became the
President of the United States. That left the country without a Vice President. Which amendment was passed to take
care of this issue so that a new VP can be appointed in such situations?
21. _______________________ Clyde Billingsly is arrested for knocking down poor old Mrs. Finch, age 80, and stealing her
purse which contained $14.00. At the police station, Clyde is treated rather harshly and he overhears the arresting
officer say they are going to make him pay for what he did. Clyde knows he did wrong, but he also knows that his
punishment cannot be too harsh or cruel for committing such a minor crime. Which amendment protects that right?
22. _______________________ It became illegal for one man to hold another as a slave as a result of which constitutional
amendment?
23. _______________________ In setting up a federal system of government, it was necessary to split the power
between Federal and State government. Which amendment solidifies this, giving all other powers not specified as
federal to the states?
24. _______________________ Citizens of the United States have a right to privacy, even though it is not explicitly stated
in the Constitution as being a right. Which amendment guarantees other rights to people that are not specifically
promised in the Constitution?
25. _______________________ Prior to the addition of an amendment to the Constitution, state legislatures selected the
representatives to serve in the Senate. Now, we elect or vote for the people who we want to represent us in the
Senate. Which amendment changed it from state selection to popular vote for Senators?
26. _______________________ Congress is sneaky. Representatives liked to pass bills that gave them pay raises during
their time in office, and then have the pay raises expire right before the new Congress took office. The addition of an
amendment made it so pay raises could not go into effect until the next Congress came into session. Which
amendment was that?
27. _______________________ This amendment cancelled the “three-fifths clause” of the Constitution, which counted
only three-fifths of slaves for purposes of representation in Congress and taxation because it expanded the definition
of citizenship to include former slaves.