The framers of the Constitution knew that the nation would grow and change, so they included a way to add amendments to the constitution.

Usually an amendment is proposed by 2/3 of the members of the House of Reps and the Senate. ¾ of the states must ratify or officially accept the amendment.

Only after the above steps occur does the amendment become part of the Constitution.

This means that 67 Senators or 290 Representatives would have to ratify an amendment before it could be sent to the states for approval.

How many states would then have to ratify the amendment for it to become part of the Constitution?

38

Many Americans demanded that a Bill of Rights be added to the Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson was a leader in the pursuit to get the Bill of Rights.

James Madison agreed. He wrote amendments listing rights that were to be protected.

In 1791, the 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights were ratified.

I. Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition

II. Right to keep and bear arms

III.Conditions for quarters of soldiers

IV.Right of search and seizure regulated

V. Provisons concerning prosecution

VI.Right to a speedy trial, witnesses, etc.

VII.Right to a trial by jury

VIII.Excessive bail, cruel punishment

IX.Rule of construction of Constitution

X. Rights of the States under Constitution

Amendment 1: (1791)

Congress can't make any law about your religion, or stop you from practicing your religion, or keep you from saying whatever you want, or publishing whatever you want (like in a newspaper or a book). And Congress can't stop you from meeting peacefully for a demonstration to ask the government to change something.

Freedom of Speech, press and religion.

Amendment 2:The right to bear arms (own a gun)

Congress can't stop people from having and carrying weapons, because we need to be able to defend ourselves

Amendment 3:Soldiers cannot live in people’s houses during times of peace

You don't have to let soldiers live in your house, except if there is a war, and even then only if Congress has passed a law about it.

Amendment 4:A warrant is needed to search your

house or property

Nobody can search your body, or your house, or your papers and things, unless they can prove to a judge that they have a good reason to think you have committed a crime

Amendment 5If you are accused of a crime, you have

certain rights

You can't be tried for any serious crime without a Grand Jury meeting first to decide whether there's enough evidence for a trial. And if the jury decides you are innocent, the government can't try again with another jury. You don't have to say anything at your trial. You can't be killed, or put in jail, or fined, unless you were convicted of a crime by a jury. And the government can't take your house or your farm or anything that is yours, unless the government pays for it.

Amendment 6:You have the right to a fair trial

If you're arrested, you have a right to have your trial pretty soon, and the government can't keep you in jail without trying you. The trial has to be public, so everyone knows what is happening. The case has to be decided by a jury of ordinary people from your area. You have the right to know what you are accused of, to see and hear the people who are witnesses against you, to have the government help you get witnesses on your side, and you have the right to a lawyer to help you.

Amendment 7:The right to have a jury in civil cases

You also have the right to a jury when it is a civil case (a law case between two people rather than between you and the government).

Amendment 8:Your rights about bail and cruel punishments

The government can't make you pay more than is reasonable in bail or in fines, and the government can't order you to have cruel or unusual punishments (like torture) even if you are convicted of a crime.

Amendment 9:The people keep all rights not listed in the

Constitution until the Supreme Courts finds them unconstitutional

Just because these rights are listed in the Constitution doesn't mean that you don't have other rights too

Amendment 10:The rights of the States

Anything that the Constitution doesn't say that Congress can do should be left up to the states, or to the people.

Amendment 13: (1865)Abolition (the end of Slavery)

Officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary Servitude.

Amendment 18: (1919)Prohibition or a BAN on Alcohol

Could not manufacture, sale, transport , or drink intoxicating liquors

Amendment 19: (1920)Woman’s Suffrage- Allows women the right to

voteUp until this point in history, women were not allowed to vote. The presidential election of President Warren G. Harding was the first voting session that women were allowed to vote in.

Amendment 21: (1933)The end of Prohibition….alcohol was now

legalized…again

Alcohol is now legal to manufacture, sell, consume and use.

Amendment 22: (1951)Limits the terms of a President can serve

(can only serve 2 terms for a total of 8 years)

People worried about having a president for life which would turn back into a dictatorship (like the time of serving under a king)

Amendment 25: (1967)Decided who was in charge if the President can no longer serve out

his termDeals with succession to the Presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President as well. (Basically lists the order of who will take over if something happens)

Amendment 26: (1971)Changed the legal voting age to 18

years old.

It was adopted in response to student activism against the Vietnam War and to partially overrule a Supreme Court's decision. “If people were old enough to fight in the war they are old enough to vote for president.”

Last amendment?

Amendment 27: (1992)prohibits any law that increases or decreases the

salary of members of the Congress from taking effect until the start of the next set of terms of office for

Representatives.