1. The 27 Amendments to the Constitution!!

2. Amendment 1 ~ 1791 Freedom of SPARP
(Speech, Press, Assembly, Religion, Petition) + “Establishment Clause” + “free exercise clause”
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a dress of grievances.”

3. Amendment 2 The right to bear arms
“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

4. Amendment 3
Quartering of Troops
“No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner; nor, in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”

5. Amendment 4 Searches & Seizures “Exclusionary Rule”
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.”

6. Amendment 5
1) Grand jury
2) Double jeopardy
3) Self-incrimination
4) Due process
5) Eminent Domain (private property seized without just compensation)

7. Amendment 6
1) Speedy & Public trial
2) Impartial jury
3) Habeus Corpus (know your charge)
4) Confront witnesses
5) Right to counsel (attorney/lawyer)

8. Amendment 7
Civil Trials
“In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved…..”

9. Amendment 8
Excessive bail nor excessive fines (shall be required)
Nor cruel and unusual punishment inflected

10. Amendment 9
Unenumerated Rights
(not written down)

11. Amendment 10
Powers reserved to the states.
“The powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

12. Amendment 11 ~ 1798
Lawsuits against States
“The judicial power of the U.S. shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the U.S. by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.”

13. Election of President & Vice-President
Amendment 12 ~ 1804
Election of President & Vice-President
Sets up Electoral College
If no majority of electors, goes to the House, and VP chosen by Senate

14. Amendment 13 ~ 1865
Abolition of Slavery

15. Amendment 14 ~ 1868 Defines Citizenship (born or naturalized)
No state shall make or enforce any law which shall…
Abridge the privileges or immunities
Deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process
Deny equal protection of the laws.

16. Amendment 15 ~ 1870
“The right … to vote shall not be denied … on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.”

17. Amendment 16 ~ 1913
Authorizing income tax

18. Amendment 17 ~1913
Direct election of Senators
-- no longer appointed by state legislators.

19. Prohibition of alcohol
Amendment 18 ~1919
Prohibition of alcohol
(manufacture, sale, transportation, importation, or exportation)

20. Amendment 19 ~1920 Woman’s Suffrage
Right to vote shall not be denied on account of sex

21. Death of President-elect
Amendment 20 ~ 1933
Terms of office
Pres + VP = January 20
Congress = January 3
Death of President-elect

22. Amendment 21 ~ 1933
Repeal of Prohibition

23. Amendment 22 ~ 1951
Limits on Presidential Terms (1951)

24. Amendment 23 ~ 1961
DC gets 3 Electoral College Votes

25. Amendment 24 ~1964
No poll tax

26. Amendment 25 ~ 1967
VP to become President (in case of death or resignation)
Choice of new VP (Pres nominates, Congress approves with majority)
Presidential Disability (VP can take office w/ majority vote of cabinet)

27. Amendment 26 ~ 1971
18-Year Old Right to Vote

28. Amendment 27 ~ 1992
Congressional pay raises (don’t take effect until after the next election)