Sets forth the requirements for ratification of the Constitution.
Article Seven
Prohibits the federal government and the states from using a citizen's race, color, or previous status as a slave as a qualification for voting.
Fifteenth Amendment (1870)
Assures trial by jury in civil cases involving anything valued at more than 20 United States dollars at the time, which is currently worth $300, when accounting for inflation.
Seventh Amendment
Declares "a well regulated militia" as "necessary" to maintaining a free state, and as explanation for prohibiting infringement of "the right of the people to keep and bear arms."
Second Amendment
Prohibits the government from using private homes as quarters for soldiers without the consent of the owners.
Third Amendment
Guarantees a speedy public trial for criminal offenses.
Sixth Amendment
Forbids excessive bail or fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
Eight Amendment
Forbids trial for a major crime except after indictment by a grand jury; prohibits double jeopardy (repeated trials), except in certain very limited circumstances; forbids punishment without due process of law; and provides that an accused person may not be compelled to testify against himself. This is regarded as the "rights of the accused" amendment. It also prohibits government from taking private property without "just compensation," the basis of eminent domain in the United States.
Fifth Amendment
Changes the method of presidential elections so that members of the electoral college cast separate ballots for president and vice president.
Twelfth Amendment (1804)
Abolishes slavery and grants Congress power to enforce abolition.
Thirteenth Amendment (1865)
Prohibits the federal government and the states from requiring the payment of a tax as a qualification for voting for federal officials.
Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964)
Guards against searches, arrests, and seizures of property without a specific warrant or a "probable cause" to believe a crime has been committed.
Fourth Amendment
First 10 amendments are jointly called this.
The Bill of Rights
Prohibits the federal government and the states from forbidding any citizen of age 18 or greater to vote simply because of their age.
Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971)
Limits president to two terms.
Twenty-second Amendment (1951)
Changes details of Congressional and presidential terms and of presidential succession.
Twentieth Amendment (1933)
Describes the court system (the judicial branch), including the Supreme Court.
Article Three
Describes the presidency (the executive branch): procedures for the selection of the president, qualifications for office, the oath to be affirmed and the powers and duties of the office. It also provides for the office of Vice President of the United States.
Article Two
Prohibits the federal government and the states from using a citizen's sex as a qualification for voting.
Nineteenth Amendment (1920)
Limits congressional pay raises.
Twenty-seventh Amendment (1992)
Defines United States citizenship; prohibits states from abridging citizens' privileges or immunities and rights to due process and the equal protection of the law; repeals the Three-fifths compromise; prohibits repudiation of the federal debt.
Fourteenth Amendment (1868)
Establishes direct election of senators.
Seventeenth Amendment (1913)
Establishes the legislative branch of government, U.S. Congress, which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Article One
Prohibited the manufacturing, importing, and exporting of alcoholic beverages. Repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment.
Eighteenth Amendment (1919)
Declares that the listing of individual rights in the Constitution and Bill of Rights is not meant to be comprehensive; and that the people have other rights not specifically mentioned, but rather retained elsewhere by the people.
Ninth Amendment
Clarifies judicial power over foreign nationals, and limits ability of citizens to sue states in federal courts and under federal law.
Eleventh Amendment (1795)
Repeals Eighteenth Amendment. Permits states to prohibit the importation of alcoholic beverages.
Twenty-first Amendment (1933)
Provides that powers that the Constitution does not delegate to the United States and does not prohibit the states from exercising, are "reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Tenth Amendment
Authorizes unapportioned federal taxes on income.
Sixteenth Amendment (1913)
Describes the relationship between the states and the Federal government, and amongst the states.
Article Four
Addresses the rights of freedom of religion (prohibiting the Congress establishment of religion over another religion through Law and protecting the right to free exercise of religion), freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition.
First Amendment
Changes details of presidential succession, provides for temporary removal of president, and provides for replacement of the vice president.
Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967)
Describes the process necessary to amend the Constitution.
Article Five
Grants presidential electors to the District of Columbia.
Twenty-third Amendment (1961)
Establishes the Constitution, and the laws and treaties of the United States made in accordance with it, to be the supreme law of the land. Also states that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
Article Six