amendments

• The making of the constitution involved many compromises due to vast differences in culture, religion, and businesses
• Not everyone in the 13 original states was completely happy with the finished constitution
• The balancing act was to make enough states satisfied with the constitution in order to ratify it
• One major compromise was adding a Bill of Rights to the constitution
• Federalists were confident the new federal government would not take away people's rights due to separation of powers, checks and balances, and no mention in the constitution of the government taking rights
• Anti-Federalists wanted guaranteed rights, or states like Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire would not ratify the document
• Delaware ratified the document immediately
• The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the constitution
• Amendment 1 guarantees five rights: religion, assembly, petition, press, and speech (R.A.P.P.S)
• Assembly: Right to gather in groups, including for protests
• Petition: Right to appeal or complain to the government
• Press: Right to report on news and stories through various media
• Speech: Right to express opinions and thoughts
• Limitations to these rights exist, such as not endangering others or breaking the law
• Amendment 2 guarantees the right to bear arms
• Amendment 3 prohibits soldiers from being quartered in houses during peacetime
• Amendments 4, 5, 6, and 8 are known as the rights of the accused
• Amendment 4 prohibits unreasonable search and seizures without a warrant or probable cause
• Amendment 5 establishes due process of law, including the right to a grand jury, double jeopardy, right to remain silent, and eminent domain
• Amendment 6 provides the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, to know the accusations and accusers, and legal defense even if unable to afford a lawyer
• Amendment 8 prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, ensuring the punishment fits the crime
• Amendment 7 guarantees a trial by jury in civil lawsuits
• Amendment 9 states that rights not listed in the constitution are still retained by the people
• Amendment 10 reserves powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution to the states or the people
• Amend: make minor changes to (a text, piece of legislation, etc.) in order to make it fairer or more accurate, or to reflect changing circumstances
• Amendment 1- freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition
• Amendment 4- Right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure
• Amendment 5- Guarantees various rights to individuals accused of crimes, including the right to due process, protection against double jeopardy, and protection against self-incrimination.
• Amendment 6- Ensures the right to a fair and speedy trial, including the right to be informed of charges, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to have legal representation.
• Amendment 7- the right to a jury trial in civil cases involving disputes over property or money exceeding a certain value.
• Amendment 8- Prohibits the government from imposing excessive bail or fines and from inflicting cruel and unusual punishments.
• Amendment 9- Asserts that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.
• Enumerated- listed in the Constituition
• Amendment 10- Limits the powers of the federal government by reserving certain powers to the states or to the people.
• Amendment 11- Limits federal court jurisdiction over lawsuits against states.
• Amendment 12- modifies the process for electing the President and Vice President by requiring separate ballots for each office in the Electoral College. This amendment was proposed in response to the complications arising from the original method of presidential selection.
• Amendment 13- abolished slavery in the US
• Amendment 14- guarantees equal protection under the law and due process of law and defines citizenship
• Amendment 15- prohibits the denial of voting rights based on race, color
• Amendment 16- income taxes