Constitution+U.S.

    Approved by the First Congress in 1789 and ratified by the States in 1791, the first ten amendments to the Constitution--the Bill of Rights--assure basic individual liberties essential to a free and democratic society.     Each article establishes a branch of the government; Legislative, Judicial, and Executive. They also define terms, such as treason, and give rules/guidelines for things such as removal of the President and what kind of cases may be sent up to the Federal Courts.     The __ [|1st Amendment] __ protects the people's right to practice __ [|religion] __, to speak freely, to assemble (meet), to address the government and of the press to publish.     The __ [|2nd Amendment] __ protects the right to own guns. There is __ [|debate] __ whether this is a right that protects the state, or a right that protects individuals.     The __ [|3rd Amendment] __ guarantees that the army cannot force homeowners to give them room and board.     The __ [|4th Amendment] __ protects the people from the government improperly taking property, papers, or people, without a valid warrant based on probable cause (good reason).     The __ [|5th Amendment] __ protects people from being held for committing a crime unless they are properly indicted, that they may not be tried twice for the same crime, that you need not be forced to testify against yourself, and from property being taken without just compensation. It also contains __ [|due process] __ guarantees.     The __ [|6th Amendment] __ guarantees a speedy trial, an impartial jury, that the accused can confront witnesses against them, and that the accused must be allowed to have a lawyer.     The __ [|7th Amendment] __ guarantees a jury trial in federal civil court cases. This type of case is normally no longer heard in federal court.     The __ [|8th Amendment] __ guarantees that punishments will be fair, and not cruel, and that extraordinarily large fines will not be set.     The __ [|9th Amendment] __ is simply a statement that other rights aside from those listed may exist, and just because they are not listed doesn't mean they can be violated.     The __ [|10th Amendment] __ is the subject of some debate, but essentially it states that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states or to the people. See the __ [|Federalism Topic Page] __ for more information.     The __ [|11th Amendment] __ more clearly defines the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court concerning a suit brought against a state by a citizen of another state.     The __ [|12th Amendment] __ redefines how the President and Vice-President are chosen by the Electoral College, making the two positions cooperative, rather than first and second highest vote-getters. It also ensures that anyone who becomes Vice-President must be eligible to become President.     The __ [|13th Amendment] __ abolished __ [|slavery] __ in the entire United States.     The __ [|14th Amendment] __ ensured that all citizens of all states enjoyed not only rights on the federal level, but on the state level, too. It removed the three-fifths counting of slaves in the census. It ensured that the United States would not pay the debts of rebellious states. It also had several measures designed to ensure the loyalty of legislators who participated on the Confederate side of the Civil War. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|15th Amendment] __ ensures that race cannot be used as a criteria for voting. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|16th Amendment] __ authorizes the United States to collect income tax without regard to the population of the states. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|17th Amendment] __ shifted the choosing of Senators from the state legislatures to the people of the states. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|18th Amendment] __ abolished the sale or manufacture of alcohol in the United States. This amendment was later repealed (erased). <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|19th Amendment] __ ensures that gender cannot be used as a criteria for voting. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|20th Amendment] __ set new start dates for the terms of the Congress and the President, and clarifies how the deaths of Presidents before swearing-in would be handled. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|21st Amendment] __ repealed the 18th Amendment. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|22nd Amendment] __ set a limit on the number of times a President could be elected - two four-year terms. It has one exception for a Vice-President who assumes the Presidency after the death or removal of the President, establishing the maximum term of any President to 10 years. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|23rd Amendment] __ grants the District of Columbia ( Washington  D.C. ) the right to three electors in Presidential elections. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|24th Amendment] __ ensured that no tax could be charged to vote for any federal office. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|25th Amendment] __ clarifies even further the __ [|line of succession] __ to the Presidency, and establishes rules for a President who becomes unable to perform his duties while in office. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|26th Amendment] __ ensures that any person 18 or over may vote. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">    The __ [|27th Amendment] __ requires that any law that increased the pay of legislators may not take effect until after an election.    http://www.usconstitution.net/constquick.html
 * U.S. **** Constitution **