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Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution
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Amendment 1
Prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. -
Amendment 2
Protects the right to keep and bear arms. -
Amendment 3
Places restrictions on the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent, prohibiting it during peacetime. -
Amendment 4
Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause as determined by a neutral judge or magistrate. -
Amendment 5
Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy. -
Amendment 6
Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel. -
Amendment 7
Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law. -
Amendment 8
Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment. -
Amendment 9
Protects rights not enumerated in the Constitution. -
Amendment 10
Reinforces the principle of federalism by stating that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated to it by the states or the people through the Constitution. -
Amendment 11
Makes states immune from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders; lays the foundation for sovereign immunity. -
Amendment 12
Revises presidential election procedures. -
Amendment 13
Abolishes slavery, and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. -
Amendment 14
Defines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post-Civil War issues. -
Amendment 15
Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
Amendment 16
Permits Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the United States Census. -
Amendment 17
Establishes the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. -
Amendment 18
Prohibited the manufacturing or sale of alcohol within the United States. -
Amendment 19
Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on sex. -
Amendment 20
Changes the date on which the terms of the President and Vice President (January 20) and Senators and Representatives (January 3) end and begin. -
Amendment 21
Repeals the 18th Amendment -
Amendment 22
Limits the number of times that a person can be elected president: a person cannot be elected president more than twice -
Amendment 23
Grants the District of Columbia electors in the Electoral College. -
Amendment 24
Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of a poll tax or any other tax. -
Amendment 25
Addresses succession to the Presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, as well as responding to Presidential disabilities. -
Amendment 26
Prohibits the denial of the right of US citizens, eighteen years of age or older, to vote on account of age. -
Amendment 27
Delays laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of representatives. -
State Constitutions
Besides a provision for separation of powers among the three branches of state government, all state constitutions contain a bill of rights. All the rights given in the Constitution must remain but each state can add more rights and laws.State constitutions are usually amended more than the U.S constitution and contain more rights.
