1. The Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments

2. 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion
Congress shall not establish a religion
Congress Shall not prohibit the Free Exercise of Religion
Means there is no national religion
Has been interpreted since 1961 as “Separation of Church and State”
One of most common disputes in federal cases is how this should be applied

3. 1st Amendment Freedom of Speech Was originally just spoken word
Has been altered in recent years to include various forms of expression
Now includes art, music and non-spoken expressions such as protests

4. 1st Amendment Freedom of the Press
Originally was printed word, now includes electronic media like TV, radio and Internet
Freedom to Assemble
Allows for peaceful assembly in public places, also for free association
Right to Petition
Allows to contact or request something of government officials

5. 2nd Amendment
2 parts
First says a well-regulated militia is necessary for securing a free state
Then states that right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed
Has caused dispute on original intent and how right to bear arms should be interpreted

6. 3rd Amendment
Makes it illegal to quarter soldiers in private homes during peacetime, and only when prescribed by law during wartime
Is the reason we have established military bases to house soldiers

7. 4th Amendment
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and requires a search warrant, signed by a judge, in order to have a legal search

8. 5th and 6th Amendments

9. 7th Amendment Involves right to a jury trial in a civil case over $20
Does not require a jury trial, and the 2 sides may choose to have a judge instead
Congress has altered this to now make it $75,000 for a jury trial

10. 8th Amendment
Makes excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment illegal under the Constitution
Punishment on bail must fit the crime, and Supreme Court has changed idea of cruel and unusual punishment over time
Is most often applied with the Death Penalty and some Three Strikes laws

11. 9th Amendment
States that the Constitution does not enumerate all rights held by the people
There are other unnamed rights that the people hold
Some questions about this include a right to privacy and a right to life in recent years

12. 10th Amendment
Any powers not given to the national government are reserved to the states and the people
Gives us the term “reserved powers”
Includes state power over education, marriage and divorce

13. 11th Amendment
Removed a case where state is sued without its consent from federal court jurisdiction

14. 12th Amendment
Requires electors to vote separately for president and vice president, to avoid a similar problem to 1800 election.
Also made the party system enshrined in the Constitution

15. 13th Amendment
Abolishes slavery in all states

16. 14th Amendment
Grants citizenship to all people born in the United States or naturalized here, bans denial of rights without due process of law, and bans states from denying equal protection under the law to any citizens.

17. 15th Amendment
Guarantees voting rights to African American males by outlawing denial of voting rights based on race, color or previous servitude

18. 16th Amendment
Permits Congress to levy an income tax

19. 17th Amendment Provides for direct election of US Senators
Had previously only been done by state legistatures

20. 18th Amendment Prohibition
Forbid the manufacture, sale and transportation of any liquor in the US

21. 19th Amendment
Guarantees voting rights to women

22. 20th Amendment
Shortened time between election and inauguration for President
January 20th for presidential inauguration
January 3rd as opening of new Congress

23. 21st Amendment Repealed 18th Amendment
Only amendment to ever repeal another amendment

24. 22nd Amendment Limits president to 2 full terms in office
Also limits total time in office to 10 years if a vice president serves out part of a president’s term.

25. 23rd Amendment
Granted voting rights in presidential election to residents of Washington DC
Will get electoral votes equal to the smallest state

26. 24th Amendment
Forbids requiring a poll tax to be paid to vote in any federal elections

27. 25th Amendment Changed and added succession rules
Allows for choosing of new vice president to be approved by Congress when a VP ascends to the presidency
Was first used in 1970s with Nixon and Ford

28. 26th Amendment
Extends voting rights to those ages 18-21

29. 27th Amendment
Bans Congress from increasing the salaries of its members until after the next election

30. Issues of State/Federal Conflict
Several issues have come into conflict in recent years between state and federal government
Education
Abortion
Gun laws
Religion in schools, 10 Commandments in court
Healthcare

31. Issues that have led to changes
Some issues have changed over time, requiring amendments to the Constitution
Slavery
Voting Rights for different groups
Equal Rights Amendment
Rights of the Accused
What other issues might come up in the future?