Amending the Constitution & The Constitutional Amendments Mrs. Bryant’s 5th Grade WJES Georgia Standards

Georgia Standards SS5CG3b Explain how voting rights were protected by the 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th amendments. SS5CG3a Explain the purpose of the 12th and 17th amendments.

Protecting Your Right to Vote Five Constitutional amendments have protected voting rights for various groups of Americans. 15th Amendment- gave African Americans the right to vote 19th Amendment- gave women the right to vote 23rd Amendment-gave residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote 24th Amendment- forbid the collection of poll taxes before a person could vote 26th Amendment- lowered the voting age to 18

Your Vote Counts 12th Amendment- The 12th amendment changed the way the vice president is elected. Originally, the Electoral College cast votes for two people in the presidential election. The one who got the most votes became president, and the runner-up was vice president. This caused lots of problems in the presidential election of 1800. There was actually a tie for president. The 12th amendment was proposed to prevent problems in the future. It orders electors to cast two separate votes: one for president and one for vice president. The purpose of the 12th amendment is to make sure that the people’s choice for president is actually elected.

Your Vote Counts The 17th Amendment- changed the way senators are elected. Originally, senators were elected by state legislatures. People didn’t like this method because voters did not have much control over the Senate. The 17th Amendment says that senators from each state will be elected by the people. The purpose of the 17th Amendment is to make senators do the will of the people who elected them.

Georgia Standards SS5CG2Explain the process by which amendments to the U.S. Constitution are made SS5CG2a Explain the amendment process outlined in the Constitution SS5CG2b Describe the purpose for the amendment process

Changing the Constitution The constitution is known as a “living document” because it can be changed. Although it is the oldest written constitution still in existence, the U.S. Constitution is flexible enough to change as time passes.

Changing the Constitution Changes to the Constitution are called amendments. Although changes can be made, it’s not an easy process. The amendment process outlined in the Constitution says that:

Amendment Process Amendments may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress, or by a national convention called by Congress. Two-thirds of the states must request the convention.

Amendment Process To become part of the Constitution, amendments must be ratified (approved) by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states of by conventions in three-fourths of the states.

Why is the amendment process so complicated? The purpose of the amendment process is to make sure that the amendment is truly favored by the American people. Any change to the Constitution is a serious thing.

Why is the amendment process so complicated? Congress has considered more than 9,000 amendments. However, it has passed only 33 and submitted them to the states. Only 27 amendments have been ratified.

Amending the Constitution Proposal Ratification A C B D By two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress By legislatures in three-fourths of the states By national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures (never used) By ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states (used only once)

The Bill of Rights The first 10 amendments to the constitution are known as the Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments to the Constitution) Amendment 1 – Freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly; the right to petition the government Religion- Government may not establish an official religion, or stop people from practicing any religion they choose. Speech-Individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs. Press-The press has the right to gather and publish information, including material that criticizes the government. Assembly- Individuals may get together in groups peacefully. Petition-Individuals have the right to make their views known to public officials.

Bill of Rights Amendment 2- Right to bear arms You have the right to own a gun if you are a law-abiding citizen.

Bill of Rights Amendment 3- Troops may not be quartered in homes in peacetime You can’t be forced to put up soldiers in your house. (This was a common practice before the Revolutionary War)

Bill of Rights Amendment 4- No reasonable searches or seizures You can’t be searched or arrested without a good reason.

Bill of Rights Amendment 5- Grand jury indictments required to prosecute a person for a serious crime; No double jeopardy- being tried twice for the same offense; Forcing a person to testify against himself prohibited; No loss of life, liberty, or property without due process. You have many protections when in a court of law. A jury decides if you can be prosecuted for a serious crime. You can’t be tried twice for the same crime. You don’t have to testify against yourself. You can’t be sentenced to die, or have your freedom or property taken away from you without going through the proper legal procedures.

Bill of Rights Amendment 6- Right to speedy, public, impartial trial with defense counsel and right to cross-examine witnesses If accused of a crime, you have the right to a quick trial and a lawyer.

Bill of Rights Amendment 7- Jury trials in civil suits where value exceeds $20 Juries will serve in civil trials that involve money over $20. (Today, just about every civil trial falls into this category)

Bill of Rights Amendment 8- No excessive bail or fines; no cruel and unusual punishment. You can’t be tortured while in custody. (Yes, that used to happen before the American Revolution) Fines for an offense have to be reasonable.

Bill of Rights Amendment 9 – Unlisted rights are not necessarily denied You have other rights that are not necessarily listed in the Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights Amendment 10-Powers not delegated to the United States or denied to the states are reserved to the states States or the people keep all rights not given to the national government. (States in early America were very concerned about being swallowed up by the federal government.)

Additional Amendments Amendment 11- Suits against states A citizen of one state cannot sue another state in federal court. Amendment 13- End of Slavery (abolished slavery) People cannot be forced to work against their will unless they have been tried for and convicted of a crime for which this means of punishment is ordered.

Additional Amendments Amendment 14- Rights of Citizens All persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they live. State governments may not deny any citizen the full rights of citizenship. This amendment also guarantees due process of law (no state may take away the rights of a citizen. All citizens must be protected equally under law.)

Additional Amendments Amendment 16- Income Tax Congress has the power to collect taxes on its citizens, based on their personal incomes rather than on the number of people living in a state. Amendment 18- Ban on Alcoholic Drinks Prohibition- This amendment made it illegal to make, sell, or transport liquor within the United States or to transport it out of the United States or its territories. First amendment to include a time limit for approval. If not ratified within seven years, it would be repealed, or canceled.

Additional Amendments Amendment 20- Terms of Office The terms of the President and the Vice President begin on January 20, in the year following their election. Members of Congress take office on January 3. Before this amendment newly elected members of Congress did not begin their terms until March 4. This meant that those who had run for reelection and been defeated remained in office for four months.

Additional Amendments Amendment 21- End of Prohibition This amendment repealed Amendment 18. This is the only amendment to be ratified by state conventions instead of by state legislatures. Congress felt that this would give people’s opinions about prohibition a better chance to be heard.

Additional Amendments Amendment 22- Two-Term Limit for Presidents A President may not serve more than two full terms in office. Any President who serves less than two years of a previous President’s term may be elected for two more terms.

Additional Amendments Amendment 25- Presidential Succession If the President is removed from office or resigns from or dies while in office, the Vice President becomes President. Amendment 27- Congressional Pay A law raising or lowering the salaries for members of Congress cannot be passed for that session of Congress.