1. Changing Our Constitution: The Amendments

2. The Amendment Process Amendment: a change to the Constitution
Two ways to propose an amendment
Congress may propose an amendment if it has been approved by 2/3 vote in Senate and House
A national convention can be called for by 2/3 of state legislatures
Has not been used

3. Two ways to pass an amendment
Ratified by state legislatures of ¾ of states
Ratified by conventions held in ¾ of states

4. The Bill of Rights (1791) Protections of Individual Freedoms
First Amendment: Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition

5. Bill of Rights –cont- Protections against abuses of power
Second Amendment: Right to bear arms
Third Amendment: Government can’t require people to house soldiers during peacetime
Fourth Amendment: Protects people from unnecessary search and seizure
Fifth Amendment: Requires government pay owners a fair price for property `

6. Bill of Rights –cont- Protections of the accused
Fifth Amendment: Protects accused of self-incrimination and from being tried twice for the same crime
Sixth Amendment: Right to a speedy, public and fair trial by jury for most criminal cases
Seventh Amendment: Right to a trial by jury in most civil cases
Eighth Amendment: Prohibits excessive bail, fines and cruel and unusual punishment

7. Bill of Rights –cont- Protection of other rights
Ninth Amendment: Declares that rights not mentioned in the Constitution belong to the people
Tenth Amendment: Declares that powers not given to the national government belong to the states or to the people

8. Amendments that Made Fundamental Changes
Thirteenth Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery
Fourteenth Amendment (1868):
“Naturalizes” (grants citizenship to) anyone born in the US
Prevents state and local governments from denying people of life, liberty and property w/out taking certain steps (due process)
State must provide equal protection under the law to all people

9. Amendments that Expanded Suffrage
Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Gives right to vote to African Americans
Seventeenth Amendment (1913): Direct election of Senators
Nineteenth Amendment (1920): Gives right to vote to women
Twenty-third Amendment (1961): Establishes electoral votes for Washington, D.C.
Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964): Abolishes poll taxes
Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971): Lowers voting age to 18

10. Amendments that Refined Matters Affecting Congress
Twelfth Amendment (1804): Provides for separate voting of President and Vice President
Twentieth Amendment (1933): Shortened time between the election and when the president, VP and members of Congress take office
Twenty-second Amendment (1951): Limits President to two terms in office
Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967): Provides for what should happen on the death, disability, removal or resignation of a president

11. Amendments that Reflect Morality
Eighteenth Amendment (1919): Prohibition of alcohol
Twenty-first Amendment (1933): Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment

12. Other Amendments
Eleventh Amendment (1795) - Gives the Supreme Court authority to hear a suit against a state brought by a citizen of another state
Sixteenth Amendment (1913) – Established a graduated income tax
Twenty-Seventh Amendment (1992) – Requires that any law to increase congressional pay may not take effect until after an election

16. The Death Penalty States with the death penalty
Information about the death penalty
A case of mistaken identity

17. Listed below are 8 possible actions a Washington, D. C
Listed below are 8 possible actions a Washington, D.C., resident might take. Before each statement, write L (legal) if you think the court ruling makes the action legal, IL if you think it illegal or write DN if you don't know.
Buying a registered pistol
Receiving an unregistered pistol from a friend
Bringing a concealed pistol into a hospital
Bringing a pistol into a hospital
Keeping a loaded pistol openly on a table next to your bed
Hiding a loaded pistol in a drawer in a cabinet next to your bed
Keeping a disassembled pistol on the mantel of your living room
Buying a machine gun

18. Questions for Discussion
How do you interpret the Second Amendment? Address specifically
The connection between "a well-regulated militia" and "the right of the people to keep and bear arms“ and
The meanings you give to "people" and "arms" and why
Does your interpretation of the Second Amendment allow for any restrictions on gun ownership? If so, what and why? If not, why not?
What is your opinion of the Heller ruling? What are your reasons?