Chapter 8 Amendments

Question 1

Amending the constitution is a ____-_____ process

Answer 1

Two-part

Question 2

Name one out of two ways an amendment can be proposed

Answer 2

1. The only way that has been used to dat is through a two-thirds majority vote in both the houses of congress
2. Two-thirds of legislatures of the states can call a constitutional convention to consider one or more amendments(this 2nd method has never been used)

Question 3

Define ratification of an amendment

Answer 3

Amendment must be approved by three-fourths of states

Question 4

Which amendments are the bill of rights and when was it ratified

Answer 4

The first ten on December 15, 1791

Question 5

What is the 1st amendment about

Answer 5

The rights of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition

Question 6

What is the 2nd amendment about

Answer 6

“A well regulated militia” as “necessary to the security of s free state”, and as explanation fir prohibiting infringement of “the right of the people to keep and bear arms”

Question 7

What is the 3rd amendment about

Answer 7

Prohibits the government from using private homes as quarters for soldiers without the consent of the owners

Question 8

What is the 4th amendment about

Answer 8

Guards against searches, arrests, and seizures of property without a specific warrant or a “probable cause” to believe a crime has been committed

Question 9

What is the 5th amendment about

Answer 9

1. Forbids trial for a major crime except after indictment by a grand jury
2. Prohibits double jeopardy(repeated trails) except in certain very limited circumstances
3. Forbids punishment without due process of law
4. Provides that an accused person may not be compelled to testify against themselves(this is also known as “Taking the fifth” or “Pleading the fifth”)
5. This is regarded as the “rights of the accused” amendment
6. It also prohibits government from taking private property without “Just compensation”

Question 10

What is the 6th amendment about

Answer 10

1. Guarantees a speedy public trial for criminal offenses
2. It requires a jury
3. Guarantees the right to legal counsel for the accused
4. Guarantees that the accused may require witness to attend the trial and testify the presence of the accused
5. Guarantees the accused a right to know the charges against him

Question 11

What is the 7th amendment about

Answer 11

Assures trial by jury in civil cases

Question 12

What is the 9th amendment about

Answer 12

Declares that the listing of individual rights in the constitution and bill of rights is not meant to be comprehensive; and that the other rights not specifically mentioned are retained elsewhere by the people

Question 13

What is the 10th amendment about

Answer 13

Provides that powers that the constitution does not delegate to the US and does not prohibit the states from exercising, and “reserved to the states respectively p, or to the people”

Question 14

What is the 11th amendment about and what year was it ratified

Answer 14

Clarifies judicial power over foreign nationals, and limits ability of citizens to sue states in federal courts and under federal law
-1795

Question 15

What is the 8th amendment about

Answer 15

Forbids excessive bail or fines, and cruel and unusual punishment

Question 16

What is the 12th amendment about and what year was it ratified

Answer 16

Changes the method of presidential elections so that members of the electoral college cast separate ballots for president and Vice President
-1804

Question 17

Which amendments are the civil war amendments

Answer 17

13,14,15

Question 18

What is the 13th amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 18

Abolishes slavery and grants congress power to enforce abolition
-1865

Question 19

What is the 14th amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 19

Defines a set of guarantees for US citizenship

-1868

Question 20

What is the 15th amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 20

Forbids the federal government and the states from using a citizen’s race, color,nor previous status as a slave as a qualification for voting
-1870

Question 21

What is the 16th amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 21

Authorizes federal income tax

-1913

Question 22

What is the 17th amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 22

Establishes direct election of senators

-1913

Question 23

What is the 18th amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 23

Prohibited the manufacturing, importing, and exporting of alcoholic beverages(Repealed by the 21st amendment)
-1919

Question 24

What is the 19th amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 24

Prohibits the federal government and the states from forbidding any citizen to vote due to their gender
-1920

Question 25

What is the 20th amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 25

Changes details of congressional and presidential terms and if presidential succession
-1933

Question 26

What is the 21st amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 26

Repeals the 18th amendment, permits states to import alcoholic beverages
-1935

Question 27

What is the 22nd amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 27

Limits the president to 2 terms(each term is 4 years)

-1951

Question 28

What is the 23rd amendment about and when was it ratified

Answer 28

Grants presidential electors it the District of Columbia

-1961

Question 29

What is the 24th amendment about and what year was it ratified

Answer 29

Prohibits the federal government and the states from payment of a tax as a qualification for voting for federal officials
-1964

Question 30

What is the 25th amendment about and what year was it ratified

Answer 30

Changes details of presidential succession, provides for temporary removal of president, and provides for replacement of the Vice President
-1964

Question 31

What is the 26th amendment about and what year was it ratified

Answer 31

Prohibits the federal government and the states from forbidding any citizen of age 18 or older to vote simply because of their age
-1971

Question 32

When was the 27th amendment submitted and when was it ratified

Answer 32

It was submitted on September 25, 1789 and was ratified in 1992

Question 33

What is the 27th amendment about

Answer 33

Limits congressional pay raises after the next elections