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The Bill of Rights
proposed and then ratified.
There are two ways to propose an amendment.
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One. By a two thirds vote in Congress.
Two. Two thirds of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention.
There are two ways to ratify an amendment.
One. Three fourths of the state legislatures approve the amendment.
Two. Conventions in three fourths of states approve the amendment.
The Bill of Rights
Welcome to the section on the bill of rights.
The bill of rights is the first ten amendments to the constitution. The first eight amendments deal with rights that were commonly found in state constitutions. Here's a summary of the bill of rights.
Amendment one. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to petition the government.
Amendment two. The right to bear arms
Amendment three. Prohibits putting troops in people's houses without their consent.
Amendment four. Protects against unreasonable search and seizure. Probable cause is needed for a warrant. The warrant must describe the place to be searched and what is be searched.
Amendment five. The grand jury must indict for serious crimes. Protects against double jeopardy. Double jeopardy is trying a person more than once for the same crime. Protects against self incrimination. Guarantees due process and eminent domain. Eminent domain means that a person must be compensated if their land is taken for public use.
Amendment six. Provides for the right to a speedy trial by jury in criminal cases. The defendant must be informed about the charges. The defendant has the right to confront witnesses. The defendant has the right to represented by an attorney.
Amendment seven. Provides for a trial by jury in civil cases.
Amendment eight. Prohibits excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
Amendment nine. The people are not denied any rights that are not specifically mentioned in the constitution.
Amendment ten. Powers not granted to the federal government or denied to the states are given to the people. These powers are called reserved powers.
Here's an overview of amendments to the constitution after the bill of rights.
Amendment eleven. Puts limits on suits against states by
citizens of foreign countries or other states.
Amendment twelve. Electors can vote separately for the president and vice president in the Electoral College.
Amendment thirteen. Prohibited slavery.
Amendment fourteen. Defines U-S citizens as anyone born or given naturalization in the U-S. Prohibits states from denying people life, liberty, or property without due process.
Amendment fifteen. Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude.
Amendment sixteen. Authorizes federal income tax.
Amendment seventeen. Allows for the direct election of senators.
Amendment eighteen. This amendment was called prohibition. Prohibition prohibited the making, sale or distribution of alcohol.
Amendment twenty. Changes when the president, vice president, and Congress take office.
Amendment twenty one. Repealed probation, the eighteenth amendment.
Amendment twenty two. Limited the president to serving two terms.
Amendment twenty three. Gave the District of Columbia the right to vote in presidential elections.
Amendment twenty four. Prohibits the poll tax in federal elections.
Amendment twenty five. Covers the line of presidential succession.
Amendment twenty six. Lowered the voting age to eighteen in state and federal elections.
Amendment twenty seven. Changes the law saying that the compensation of members of Congress does not go into effect until after an election to the house.
