Lesson 6: Amending the Constitution

Question 1

Bill of Rights Definition

Answer 1

the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution

Question 2

Civil Definition

Answer 2

related to lawsuits involving the private rights of individuals

Question 3

First Amendment Definition

Answer 3

an amendment to the United States Constitution that safeguards basic individual liberties

Question 4

Incriminate Definition

Answer 4

to give evidence against

Question 5

Second Amendment Definition

Answer 5

an amendment to the United States Constitution related to the right to bear arms

Question 6

Where does the House of Representatives and the Senate meet when discussing proposed amendments to the Constitution?

Answer 6

The House and Senate meet in the Capitol building when

discussing proposed amendments to the Constitution.

Question 7

What are the two methods to propose an amendment to the Constitution, listed in Article V?

Answer 7

Article V outlines two ways to propose an amendment. An amendment may be proposed by two thirds of both the House and the Senate, or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of two thirds of the state legislatures. The second method has never been used.

Question 8

What are the two ways an amendment can be ratified?

Answer 8

An amendment may also be ratified in one of two ways. An amendment may be approved by the legislatures of three fourths of the states. Every amendment but the Twenty-first was ratified using this method. In the second method, an amendment may be approved by special conventions in three fourths of the states. Not all amendments proposed by Congress have been ratified. In fact, Congress has proposed six amendments that the states refused to ratify.

Question 9

What is the First Amendment?

Answer 9

The First Amendment safeguards basic individual liberties. It protects freedom of religion, speech, and the press. It also guarantees the right to assemble peacefully and to petition the government to change its policies.
Because of the First Amendment, you cannot be arrested for criticizing a government official. You can attend the house of worship of your choice or none at all. You can read newspapers that do not represent the views of an official political party. These freedoms are important in a constitutional republic because they allow citizens to make informed decisions and take part freely in political life. Still, there are limits on the First Amendment. For example, the government can limit free speech if there is “a clear and present danger,” such as in time of war. The First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion has a long history. Many colonists came to America to escape religious persecution. They wanted to be able to pray and worship freely. Today, Americans are allowed to practice religion as they please or not to practice religion, without fear of government interference. The guarantee of freedom of religion has remained a key American value.

Question 10

What is the Second Amendment?

Answer 10

The Second Amendment states, “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Question 11

What is the Third Amendment?

Answer 11

The Third Amendment says that Congress may not force citizens to put up troops in their homes.

Question 12

What does the Fourth Amendment state?

Answer 12

The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unlawful searches of home or property.

Question 13

What is the controversy surrounding the Second Amendment?

Answer 13

Since early times, Americans have debated the exact meaning of the Second Amendment. Some believe that it guarantees individuals a basic right to bear arms. Others argue that it simply guarantees the individual states the right to maintain militias. The question of limits to gun ownership is one of the most complex and controversial constitutional issues facing Americans today.

Question 14

What do the Fifth through Eighth Amendments deal with?

Answer 14

The Fifth through Eighth amendments deal with the rights of people accused of crimes.

Question 15

What does the Fifth Amendment state?

Answer 15

The Fifth Amendment states that people cannot be forced to incriminate, or give evidence against, themselves.

Question 16

What does the Sixth Amendment state?

Answer 16

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial, or fair, jury. It also states that people accused of crimes have the right to know the charges against them, as well as the right to confront the person making the charges.

Question 17

What does the Seventh Amendment state?

Answer 17

The Seventh Amendment provides for juries for civil, or noncriminal, trials.

Question 18

What does the Eighth Amendment state?

Answer 18

The Eighth Amendment forbids judges from ordering excessive bail or fines or “cruel and unusual punishments.”

Question 19

What does the Ninth Amendment state?

Answer 19

Some Americans had opposed adding a Bill of Rights. They argued that, if specific rights were listed in the Constitution, Americans might lose other rights that were not listed. The Ninth Amendment solved that problem. It makes clear that a citizen’s individual rights are not limited to those listed in the Constitution.

Question 20

What does the Tenth Amendment state?

Answer 20

The Tenth Amendment reaffirmed the framers’ plan to create a limited federal government. It states that all powers not given to the national government or denied to the states are reserved for the states or for the people.

Question 21

What are the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments known as?

Answer 21

The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments are known as the Civil War Amendments.

Question 22

What is the Thirteenth Amendment?

Answer 22

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.

Question 23

What is the Fourteenth Amendment?

Answer 23

The Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed citizenship to former slaves.

Question 24

What is the Fifteenth Amendment?

Answer 24

The Fifteenth Amendment declared that states may not deny the vote to any citizen on the basis of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This guaranteed African American men the right to vote.

Question 25

What is the Nineteenth Amendment?

Answer 25

Other amendments further expanded voting rights. The Nineteenth Amendment, ratified in 1920, gave women the right to vote. Women achieved this victory after more than 70 years of struggle.

Question 26

What is the Twenty-Sixth Amendment?

Answer 26

In 1971, changing attitudes toward the rights and responsibilities of young people gave birth to the Twenty-sixth Amendment. It lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.