What are the 10 amendments and what do they do?

Asked by: Milo Beatty  |  Last update: August 9, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (68 votes)

Ratified December 15, 1791.
  • Amendment I. Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly. ...
  • Amendment II. Right to bear arms. ...
  • Amendment III. Quartering of soldiers. ...
  • Amendment IV. Search and arrest. ...
  • Amendment V. Rights in criminal cases. ...
  • Amendment VI. Right to a fair trial. ...
  • Amendment VII. Rights in civil cases. ...
  • Amendment VIII. Bail, fines, punishment.

What does the 10th Amendment mean in simple terms?

Amendment Ten to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. It makes clear that any powers that are not specifically given to the federal government, nor withheld from the states, are reserved to those respective states, or to the people at large.

What are amendments and what do they do?

An amendment is a change or addition to the terms of a contract, law, government regulatory filing, or other documents.

How can I remember the first 10 amendments?

You start by thinking up a rhyming word for each amendment number.
  1. One-sticky bun.
  2. Two-big shoe.
  3. Three-house key.
  4. Four-door.
  5. Five-bee hive.
  6. Six-bricks and cake mix.
  7. Seven-heaven.
  8. Eight-fishing bait.

What does amendment 10 mean in kid words?

The 10th Amendment says that any power or right not specifically listed in the Constitution as belonging to the federal government belongs to individual states or the American people themselves.

The Bill of Rights: Every Amendment, Why it's important, and How it limits the government

40 related questions found

What are the 10 amendments?

Ratified December 15, 1791.
  • Amendment I. Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly. ...
  • Amendment II. Right to bear arms. ...
  • Amendment III. Quartering of soldiers. ...
  • Amendment IV. Search and arrest. ...
  • Amendment V. Rights in criminal cases. ...
  • Amendment VI. Right to a fair trial. ...
  • Amendment VII. Rights in civil cases. ...
  • Amendment VIII. Bail, fines, punishment.

What is the 4th Amendment?

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things ...

What does the 5th amendment say?

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be ...

What are the 10 civil rights?

Examples of civil rights include the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, the right to government services, the right to a public education, the right to gainful employment, the right to housing, the right to use public facilities, freedom of religion.

Which amendment ended slavery?

13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery (1865)

What amendment is "guns"?

Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms

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.

What amendment banned alcohol?

Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 18 – “The Beginning of Prohibition” Amendment Eighteen to the Constitution was ratified on January 16, 1919. Its legal provisions brought about the Prohibition Era of the United States.

What Amendment says you can't be tried twice?

The Double Jeopardy Clause in the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits anyone from being prosecuted twice for substantially the same crime .

What is a real life example of the Tenth Amendment?

There are still important 10th Amendment cases happening in contemporary American society. One example is the drinking age in America. States have the power to determine what the legal drinking age should be, but every single state has chosen 21.

What is faith and credit?

Full faith and credit is the requirement, derived from Article IV , Section I of the Constitution, that state courts respect the laws and judgments of courts from other states. This clause attempts to prevent conflict among states and ensure the dependability of judgments across the country.

What is the 7th Amendment?

Amendment Seven to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. It protects the right for citizens to have a jury trial in federal courts with civil cases where the claim exceeds a certain dollar value. It also prohibits judges in these trials from overruling facts revealed by the jury.

What is the 3rd Amendment?

The official wording is written as such: “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.” The Third Amendment is commonly regarded as the least controversial element of the Constitution.

What does the 6th Amendment say?

“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be ...

How do you remember the 10 amendments?

Go Math! Middle School Grade 8
  1. AMENDMENT ONE - sticky bun. On the way to CHURCH, you grab a sticky bun. ...
  2. AMENDMENT TWO - big shoe. ...
  3. AMENDMENT THREE - house key. ...
  4. AMENDMENT FOUR - front door. ...
  5. AMENDMENT FIVE - bee hive. ...
  6. AMENDMENT SIX - bricks and cake mix. ...
  7. AMENDMENT SEVEN - heaven. ...
  8. AMENDMENT EIGHT - fishing bait.

What does the 11th amendment say?

“The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.”

Which of the first 10 amendments do you think is the most important why?

The First Amendment is widely considered to be the most important part of the Bill of Rights. It protects the fundamental rights of conscience—the freedom to believe and express different ideas—in a variety of ways.

What is the 2nd amendment?

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.

What is the 8th Amendment?

Eighth Amendment Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

What is the 19th Amendment?

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote. The 19th amendment legally guarantees American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle—victory took decades of agitation and protest.