Amending the ConstitutionAmending the Constitution

Making changes to the Constitution is Making changes to the Constitution is called amending the Constitution.called amending the Constitution.

There are 27 amendments to the United There are 27 amendments to the United States Constitution.States Constitution.

Amending the ConstitutionAmending the Constitution

Framers of the Constitution wanted the Framers of the Constitution wanted the document to be flexible, but they did not want to document to be flexible, but they did not want to make it too easy to make changes. Article V of make it too easy to make changes. Article V of the Constitution describes 2 ways to Amend the the Constitution describes 2 ways to Amend the Constitution.Constitution.

If 2/3 of If 2/3 of bothboth the House and Senate propose a the House and Senate propose a change, an amendment must be ratified by change, an amendment must be ratified by either ¾ of the state legislatures or conventions either ¾ of the state legislatures or conventions in ¾ of the states before it can be part of the in ¾ of the states before it can be part of the Constitution.Constitution.

Amending the ConstitutionAmending the Constitution

OR a national convention called by Congress or OR a national convention called by Congress or requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures may requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures may propose a change. propose a change.

The proposed change must still be approved by The proposed change must still be approved by either ¾ of the state legislatures or conventions either ¾ of the state legislatures or conventions in ¾ of the states before it can be part of the in ¾ of the states before it can be part of the Constitution.Constitution.

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to theThe first 10 amendments to theConstitution are called the Bill Constitution are called the Bill

of Rights.of Rights.

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

The First Amendment protects individual liberties The First Amendment protects individual liberties like the freedom of speech, and the press. It like the freedom of speech, and the press. It also protects the right to assemble in protest, also protects the right to assemble in protest, and ask the government to change its policies. and ask the government to change its policies. There are limits to these liberties. A newspaper There are limits to these liberties. A newspaper cannot print lies about somebody if they know cannot print lies about somebody if they know they are printing lies.they are printing lies.

The Second Amendment describes the right to The Second Amendment describes the right to keep and bear arms.keep and bear arms.

The Third Amendment prevents Congress from The Third Amendment prevents Congress from forcing people to keep troops in their homes.forcing people to keep troops in their homes.

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unlawful searches of their home or property.unlawful searches of their home or property.

The Fifth Amendment prevents Americans from The Fifth Amendment prevents Americans from incriminating, or giving evidence, against incriminating, or giving evidence, against themselves.themselves.

The Sixth Amendment guarantees a speedy public The Sixth Amendment guarantees a speedy public trial by a fair jury. People who are accused of a trial by a fair jury. People who are accused of a crime have the right to know what they are crime have the right to know what they are accused of; and they have a right to confront the accused of; and they have a right to confront the people who are making charges against them.people who are making charges against them.

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

The Seventh Amendment calls for jury The Seventh Amendment calls for jury trials in civil, or non-criminal, cases.trials in civil, or non-criminal, cases.

The Eighth Amendment prevents judges The Eighth Amendment prevents judges from setting excessive bail or fines, or from setting excessive bail or fines, or imposing “cruel and unusual punishment”.imposing “cruel and unusual punishment”.

The Ninth Amendment says individual The Ninth Amendment says individual rights are not limited to only those listed in rights are not limited to only those listed in the Constitution.the Constitution.

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

The Tenth Amendment says that powers The Tenth Amendment says that powers not given to the national government or not given to the national government or denied to the states are reserved for the denied to the states are reserved for the states or for the people.states or for the people.

Additional AmendmentsAdditional Amendments

Among other things, amendments Among other things, amendments that were added later abolished that were added later abolished slavery, guaranteed voting rights slavery, guaranteed voting rights

for African Americans and women, for African Americans and women, and allowed 18 year olds to vote.and allowed 18 year olds to vote.

Additional AmendmentsAdditional Amendments

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.slavery.

The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection under the law and due equal protection under the law and due process rights to citizens of the United process rights to citizens of the United States.States.

The Fifteenth Amendment prevents the The Fifteenth Amendment prevents the denial of voting rights based “on race, denial of voting rights based “on race, color, or previous condition of servitude”. color, or previous condition of servitude”.

Additional AmendmentsAdditional Amendments

Women received the right to vote with the Women received the right to vote with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.

The Twenty-sixth Amendment lowered the The Twenty-sixth Amendment lowered the voting age in national elections to 18 years voting age in national elections to 18 years of age.of age.

The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of manufacturing, sale, and distribution of alcohol in the United States.alcohol in the United States.

Additional AmendmentsAdditional Amendments

The Twenty-first Amendment canceled the The Twenty-first Amendment canceled the Eighteenth Amendment. Eighteenth Amendment.

The Twenty-fourth Amendment outlawed The Twenty-fourth Amendment outlawed the use of poll taxes for national elections.the use of poll taxes for national elections.