US Constitutional Amendments

All 27 amendments to the US Constitution

27 cards · civics

Cards (27)

Front	Back
First Amendment	Protects religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition 1791; limits government action, not private actors.
Second Amendment	Protects the right to keep and bear arms 1791; mentions a militia; the right "shall not be infringed."
Third Amendment	Bars quartering soldiers in peacetime without owner's consent 1791; wartime quartering only as prescribed by law.
Fourth Amendment	Bans unreasonable searches and seizures; warrants need probable cause 1791; warrants must be particular and supported by oath or affirmation.
Fifth Amendment	Grand jury; no double jeopardy; no self-incrimination; due process; takings 1791; grand jury applies to federal crimes; takings require just compensation.
Sixth Amendment	Speedy public jury trial; notice; confront witnesses; compulsory process; counsel 1791; jury in the state and district of the crime.
Seventh Amendment	Jury trial in federal civil cases; limits re-examining jury-found facts 1791; suits at common law over $20 in federal court.
Eighth Amendment	No excessive bail or fines; no cruel and unusual punishments 1791; prohibits disproportionate penalties and cruel punishments.
Ninth Amendment	Rights not listed are retained by the people 1791; enumeration must not deny or disparage other rights.
Tenth Amendment	Powers not delegated to U.S. are reserved to states or the people 1791; reserves residual powers not granted or prohibited.
Eleventh Amendment	Bars federal suits against a state by citizens of another state or foreigners 1795; narrows Article III; affirms state sovereign immunity in such cases.
Twelfth Amendment	Separate Electoral College votes for President and Vice President 1804; House chooses President, Senate VP if no majority; inhabitant rule applies.
Thirteenth Amendment	Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as criminal punishment 1865; Congress may enforce by appropriate legislation.
Fourteenth Amendment	Citizenship; states may not abridge privileges or immunities, due process, or equal protection 1868; Section 1 binds states; other sections cover apportionment, disqualification, debt.
Fifteenth Amendment	Bars race- or color-based denial or abridgment of the right to vote 1870; protects voting regardless of prior condition of servitude.
Sixteenth Amendment	Authorizes federal income tax without apportionment among the states 1913; removes apportionment and census requirements for direct taxes.
Seventeenth Amendment	Direct election of Senators; states may allow temporary appointments 1913; replaces selection by state legislatures; vacancies per state law.
Eighteenth Amendment	Prohibits manufacture, sale, and transport of intoxicating liquors 1919; enforcement via concurrent power; repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment.
Nineteenth Amendment	Bars sex-based denial or abridgment of the right to vote 1920; guarantees women’s suffrage nationwide.
Twentieth Amendment	Terms start Jan 20 (President) and Jan 3 (Congress); succession clarified 1933; addresses President-elect death or failure to qualify; shortens lame-duck period.
Twenty-first Amendment	Repeals Prohibition; bars alcohol importation violating state laws 1933; returns alcohol control to states; only amendment repealing another.
Twenty-second Amendment	Limits a person to two presidential elections (max about 10 years) 1951; serving >2 years of another’s term counts as one election.
Twenty-third Amendment	Grants DC presidential electors, capped at the least populous state's number 1961; gives the District participation in the Electoral College (currently 3).
Twenty-fourth Amendment	Bans poll taxes in federal elections 1964; covers elections for President, Vice President, Senator, and Representative.
Twenty-fifth Amendment	Succession and disability: VP becomes President; VP vacancies filled; transfer of power 1967; Sections 3–4 allow temporary or involuntary transfer of powers to the VP.
Twenty-sixth Amendment	Lowers voting age to 18 for federal and state elections 1971; applies to all U.S. elections.
Twenty-seventh Amendment	Congressional pay changes take effect only after a House election 1992; proposed in 1789; delays pay changes until after the next House election.