CHAPTER 4: THE AMENDMENTS
____________________
NAME
vocab
1.
CIVIL LIBERTIES : freedom to think and act without government interference or fear
of punishment
2.
CENSORSHIP : banning of ideas or materials due to having alarming or offensive
ideas
3.
PETITION : a formal request for government action
4.
SLANDER : spoken lies
5.
LIBEL : written lies
6.
SEARCH WARRANT : court order that allows police to search private property to
seek evidence
7.
INDICTMENT : when a grand jury (or a judge) formally determines there is enough
evidence to go to trial
8.
GRAND JURY : large group of jurors (12-30) that determines if there is enough
evidence to go to trial
9.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY : being tried twice for the same crime
10. DUE PROCESS : treating everyone equally/following the same procedure for
everyone, regardless of race/religion/etc.
11. EMINENT DOMAIN : power of the government to seize private property.
12. BAIL : sum of money paid by a defendant to be released from jail before going to
trial
13. SUFFRAGE : right to vote
14. POLL TAX : tax paid in order to vote. Illegal nowadays.
15. DISCRIMINATION : treating someone differently due to race/religion/gender/etc.
16. SEGREGATION : separation of races by law
17. CIVIL RIGHTS : rights of full citizenship under law for everyone
18. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION : government program designed to "make-up" for past
racism. Gives priority to hiring of minorities/women.
19. RACIAL PROFILING : singling out a person as a suspect in a crime due to their
ethnicity/race.
There are 27 amendments (changes) made to the Constitution over time. The amendments with an asterisk
(*) beside them are the ones you will be quizzed/tested on.
The FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS are known as the BILL OF RIGHTS.
AMENDMENT 1: FREEDOM OF SPEECH *
There are FIVE parts to this amendment, Religion, Assembly, Petition, Press, and Speech. (As for why I put them
in that order, it’s to make it easier to remember… R.A.P.P.S.

The freedom of RELIGION has two parts (OR CLAUSES)
The ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE prohibits our government from “establishing” a state (or official) religion for
this country.
o The FREE-EXERCISE CLAUSE allows the practice of any religion
 The freedom of ASSEMBLY means we have the right to peacefully meet in groups to discuss whatever we
want to.
 The freedom of PETITION means we have the right to make any request to the government.
 The freedom of PRESS means the media has the right to report whatever – as long as it’s libel or slander is
not committed.
 The freedom of SPEECH basically means we can freely say what we want to – as long as your speech doesn’t
lead to anyone’s harm. (Like you can’t tell people to intentionally break the law).
o
AMENDMENT 2: RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS *
This amendment allows citizens to arm themselves for means of protection. Lately this amendment has become
a topic of debate….
AMENDMENT 3: THE QUARTERING OF TROOPS IS PROHIBITED *
This amendment guarantees the military will not occupy civilian homes. This was included most likely due to the
American’s experience with Great Britain during the colonial era… (Quartering Act)
AMENDMENT 4: RIGHTS TO PRIVACY *
This amendment protects the citizens from “illegal” search and seizure by the government. This amendment is
the reason the police must have a search warrant before searching your property.
AMENDMENT 5: RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED *
This amendment has several parts…
 You must be informed of your rights at the time of arrest (Miranda Rights)
 You must be “indicted’ by a grand jury before you can be brought to trial. (Purpose is to prove there’s
enough evidence to go to trial)
 You cannot be charged with the same crime twice (double jeopardy)
 If your property is taken by the government, they must reimburse you market value. (Such as the case
where the government may take land for a highway, etc). This is referred to as eminent domain.
AMENDMENT 6: RIGHTS IN COURT *
This amendment has several parts
 You have the right to a trial with a jury of your own peers
 You have the right to face those accusing you of a crime
 You have the right to legal counsel (lawyer) in court
 If arrested for a crime, the government must conduct your trial within a certain amount of time (speedy
trial)
AMENDMENT 7: RIGHT TO A JURY IN A CIVIL CASE *
If the amount in question in a civil trial is more than $20, you have the right to have a jury to determine the
outcome. (A civil case isn’t like a criminal case… these usually involve cases where a law hasn’t been broken, but
someone has been harmed by someone else’s negligence/carelessness).
AMENDMENT 8: PROHIBITS EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT *
This amendment prohibits excessive BAIL and PUNISHMENT for a crime.
AMENDMENT 9: RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE *
Basically states individual rights are not just limited to those outlined in the Constitution.
AMENDMENT 10: RESERVED POWERS FOR THE STATES *
States that any power not specifically given to the federal government belongs to state government.
AMENDMENT 11: LAWSUITS AGAINST STATES
This amendment limited lawsuits against U.S. states. This clarified a state to not be “subordinate” to the federal
government, thus granting them limited sovereignty.
AMENDMENT 12: CHANGE TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
This amendment required a state “elector” to cast separate ballots for President/Vice-President. This changed it
from the original system, where the winner became President and 2nd place became Vice-President.
NOTE: AMENDMENTS 13-15 ARE CALLED THE CIVIL WAR AMENDMENTS!!!!!
AMENDMENT 13: PROHIBITION OF SLAVERY *
Slavery was banned.
AMENDMENT 14: DEFINES CITIZENSHIP *****
This amendment did several things…
 Defined what a U.S. citizen was (this primarily gave African-Americans citizenship)
 Explained that due process (everyone must be treated equally) must be given to all citizens
 Explains all citizens are entitled to equal protection under law.
AMENDMENT 15: SUFFRAGE FOR “ALL” *
This amendment prohibited preventing anyone from voting based on their race, creed, etc. As for why I put
“ALL”… this amendment DID NOT grant women the right to vote!!!!!!!!!!! African-American males were the
ones who gained the right to vote due to this amendment.
AMENDMENT 16: INCOME TAX
This amendment allowed the federal government to collect income tax…
AMENDMENT 17: DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS
This amendment made it where U.S. senators were elected by popular vote from the state. Before this, senators
were picked by the state legislators.
AMENDMENT 18: PROHIBITION AMENDMENT *
This amendment banned the sale/production of alcoholic beverages in the United States…
AMENDMENT 19: WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE *
Women received the right to vote.
AMENDMENT 20: CHANGE IN PRESIDENTIAL TERMS
This changed the starting date for a new Presidency to January 20. This was passed to limit what people refer to
as the “lame duck” time (the time before a President is leaving office before a new one steps in).
AMENDMENT 21: REPEAL OF PROHIBITION (18) *
This amendment cancelled the 18th amendment. Which made the 18th amendment the ONLY one to ever be
repealed.
AMENDMENT 22: TERM-LIMITS FOR PRESIDENT *
This amendment limited Presidents to a maximum of two terms, or 10 years in office. This was passed after
Franklin Roosevelt ran for and won four consecutive elections.
AMENDMENT 23: SUFFRAGE FOR WASHINGTON DC RESIDENTS *
This granted residents of Washington DC the right to vote in elections.
AMENDMENT 24: PROHIBITS POLL TAXES *
This banned the practice of taxing people in order to vote. Some states to keep poor and minorities from voting
had used this.
AMENDMENT 25: PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION
This amendment explained the process to be followed if a President died or left office early.
AMENDMENT 26: SUFFRAGE SET AT 18 *
This set the minimum age to vote in all states to 18. Passage of this amendment was a result due to discontent
from the Vietnam War.
AMENDMENT 27: CONGRESSIONAL PAY
Increases/decreases in the salary of members of Congress cannot take place until the next term.
THE PROCESS FOR AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION IS…
STEP 1: PROPOSAL. An amendment can either be introduced in the House/Senate or by request of state
legislatures.
STEP 2: RATIFY: Before an amendment becomes official, it must be ratified (approved) by at least three-fourths
of state legislatures. (or 38 states)
CHAPTER 4 REVIEW
1. Make sure you STUDY the amendments with an asterisk ( * ) beside them, Those are the ones I’ll be
quizzing/testing you on.
2. What amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
3. What amendments make up the Civil War amendments?
4. What amendments make up the “Suffrage” amendments? (Hint: there are 4).
5. What are the two steps to amending the Constitution?
6. Who approves amendments to the Constitution?
CHAPTER 4: PROJECT
YOU WILL BE ASSIGNED AN AMENDMENT TO RESEARCH AND CREATE A SHORT POWERPOINT ABOUT.
We will have the computer lab Thursday to work in class. If you use your time wisely, you should finish easily in
class.
What your powerpoint should indicate:
A) What the amendment does/when it was ratified
B) Reason for the amendment/background information
Feel free to include pictures.
CITE YOUR SOURCES. Sources should be indicated at the end of your powerpoint.
Presentations will take place Friday, February 13. Your completed presentation should be emailed to me
([email protected]) or saved onto my flash drive before class that day. (Prefer email)
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EXTRA CREDIT: Make a poster on an amendment (your choice)
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(Vocab assignment on back)
CHAPTER 4 VOCAB ASSIGNMENT
1. The government is usually not allowed to practice __________________________,
or prevent ideas or works from being published.
2. Jimmy got 14,224 signatures on his ________________________ , requesting the
government put up a stop light in Parkton.
3. OJ Simpson cannot be tried again for the murders he was accused of committing,
since it would violate his right to not be subject to __________________________.
4. Everyone should be treated the same, means everyone should be granted their
_________________________.
5. Women got the right of _____________________________ with the ratification of
the 19th amendment, which is the right to vote.
6. The government can exercise their power of ___________________________, which
allows them to take your property.
7. Jill was a victim of ______________________________ due to the fact she wasn't
hired for a job that was instead given to Kevin... who was less qualified.
8. The Robesonian was accused of _______________________ after it printed an
article falsely depicting Ralph of being a racist.
9. The grand jury returned a vote of _______________________________, which
formally charged Bubba for felony auto theft.
10.Long ago, rich elites used a _________________________ to prevent poor people
and minorities from voting - so they could control the political process.