1. AMENDMENT PROCESS

2. AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION The Framers of the Constitution knew that that our country would change over time. They knew that there had to be a way to amend or change the Constitution as time went on. They purposely made the process difficult so that any changes made would be “good” changes. Amending the constitution is a two step process: 1. A change must be proposed and voted on by 2/3 of both houses of Congress 2. The amendment must then be ratified by 3/4 of the states within a certain time frame. 2

3. THE FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS ARE CALLED THE BILL OF RIGHTS 3

4. BILL OF RIGHTS 4 The Bill of Rights was passed to meet the demands of the Anti- Federalists

5. FREEDOMS GRANTED IN THE CONSTITUTION WERE NOT ALWAYS PROTECTED! We know that the rights of women and minorities were not always protected in our Constitution. Thankfully the Framers left a way to amend the constitution to right these wrongs. Sadly, our country has sometimes been slow to recognize these rights. 5

6. AMENDMENTS 13,14, 15, 19, 24 The above amendments extend the rights of American citizenship to minorities and women giving them power to participate fully in the political process. 13 Amendment - ABOLISH SLAVERY - 1865 6

7. 14 TH AMENDMENT 1868 14 TH AMENDMENT - GRANTED CITIZENSHIP TO “ALL PERSONS “ BORN OR NATURALIZED IN THE United States including former slaves. In addition it forbids states from denying any person “ life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”. It also prevents any state from denying any person equal protection of the laws. 7

8. 15 TH AMENDMENT 1870 15 th Amendment - African American Men granted the RIGHT to VOTE 8 15 th AMENDMENT-1870

9. 19 TH AMENDMENT - 1920 19 th Amendment - Women’s Suffrage 9

10. 24 TH AMENDMENT – NO POLL TAXES -1964 24 TH Amendment - No poll taxes which were a devious way of restricting voter rights 10

11. 26 TH AMENDMENT – 18 YEARS OLD TO VOTE - 26 TH AMENDMENT –Lowers the right to vote to 18. 11

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