What is the amendment in simple terms?
Asked by: Kenna Metz | Last update: June 12, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (42 votes)
An amendment is a change or addition to the terms of a contract or document. An amendment is often an addition or correction that leaves the original document substantially intact. Other times an amendment can strike the original text entirely and substitute it with new language.
What are the amendments simplified?
- Citizens have the freedoms of speech and religion.
- Citizens have the right to own and carry weapons.
- The government cannot house soldiers in private homes.
- The government needs a warrant issued by a judge and based on probable cause to search or confiscate a citizen's property.
What is the First 10 amendment in simple terms?
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans' rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion.
What do the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th amendments do?
These amendments include the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, and the fourteenth amendments. Their purpose is meant to ensure that people are treated fairly if suspected or arrested for crimes.
What did the 16-17, 18 and 19th amendments do?
16th Amendment (1913) gave Congress the power to impose an income tax; 17th Amendment (1913) required the direct election of senators; 18th Amendment (1919) banned the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages; and. 19th amendment (1920) gave women the right to vote.
Every US Amendment Explained in 8 Minutes
What are the 5th, 6th, and 7th amendments?
Fifth Amendment: protects against self-testimony, being tried twice for the same crime, and the seizure of property under eminent domain. Sixth Amendment: the rights to a speedy trial, trial by jury, and to the services of a lawyer. Seventh Amendment: guarantees trial by jury in cases involving a certain dollar amount.
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 is in the 8th amendment?
It forbids the use of excessive bails or fines in criminal trials, as well as punishments considered to be “cruel and unusual.” The original text is written as such: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
What is the difference between the 14th Amendment and the 5th Amendment?
The Fifth Amendment 's Due Process Clause requires the United States government to practice equal protection. The Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause requires states to practice equal protection.
What is amendment 7?
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 First Amendment doesn't protect?
Only that expression that is shown to belong to a few narrow categories of speech is not protected by the First Amendment. The categories of unprotected speech include obscenity, child pornography, defamatory speech, false advertising, true threats, and fighting words.
What is the 27th Bill of Rights?
27th Amendment (1992):
Denies any laws that vary the salaries of Congress members until the beginning of the next terms of office for Representatives.
What is the 11th Amendment in simple terms?
Amendment Eleven to the Constitution was ratified on February 7, 1795. It renders the states immune from lawsuits from out-of-state citizens and foreign individuals. The states also do not have to hear lawsuits filed against them when the charges are based on federal law.
What are the three 3 most important amendments?
The three most important amendments that are guaranteed under the Bill of Rights are the First Amendment, Basic Liberties, the Fourth amendment, Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and lastly the Fifth amendment, Rights of the Accused, Due Process of the Law, and Eminent Domain.
What does the Second Amendment protect?
Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 2 – “The Right to Keep and Bear Arms” Amendment Two to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. It protects the right for Americans to possess weapons for the protection of themselves, their rights, and their property.
When was the last amendment passed?
Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 27 – “Financial Compensation for the Congress” Amendment Twenty-seven to the Constitution was ratified on May 7, 1992. It forbids any changes to the salary of Congress members from taking effect until the next election concludes.
What is in the 6th Amendment?
It gives citizens a series of rights in criminal trials. They include the rights to a fast and public trial by an impartial jury, to be aware of the criminal charges, to confront witnesses during the trial, to have witnesses appear in the trial, and the right to legal representation.
What did the 19th Amendment do?
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.
What is in the Tenth Amendment?
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 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 "I plead the 6th" mean?
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public trial without unnecessary delay, the right to a lawyer, the right to an impartial jury, and the right to know who your accusers are and the nature of the charges and evidence against you.
What is Amendment 12 of the Constitution?
Amendment Twelve to the Constitution was ratified on June 15, 1804. It revises and outlines the procedure of how Presidents and Vice Presidents are elected, specifically so that they are elected together.
What does the Seventh Amendment say?
Seventh Amendment Civil Trial Rights
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
What is the 5th Amendment?
The Fifth Amendment ensures the protection against self-incrimination, a fundamental right in the United States legal system. This provision means that individuals cannot be forced to provide evidence or testimony that could be used against them in a criminal case.
What can't the police do according to the 4th Amendment?
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from conducting "unreasonable searches and seizures." In general, this means police cannot search a person without a warrant or probable cause. It also applies to arrests and the collection of evidence.