US Constitution
Article 1 Sets up the powers of Congress Sets up the limits of Congress
Article 2 Creates the executive branch
Article 3 Establishes the judicial branch and court system
Bill of Rights 1 st ten amendments to the constitution
1 st Amendment Protects your freedom of speech, religion, and press
2 nd Amendment Protects your right to bear arms
Gun Show Loophole occasional sellers of weapons do not need a license occasional sellers of weapons do not need to conduct background checks on those buying their weapons
Weapon Sellers Stores/sellers who regularly sell weapons have to pass a federal background check and also do background checks on all buyers of their weapons
Stand your Ground Law Immune to civil suit and criminal charges Must feel life is in danger Don t have to retreat in anyplace that you have the right to be
castle law Don t have to retreat in your house Can use force to defend yourself, even deadly force Immune from civil suits and prosecution We have this in PA
Assault weapons ban Passed by congress in 1994 for ten years Expired in 2004 Banned all semi automatic and automatic weapons in USA
3 rd Amendment Protects you against the gov t forcing you to house soldiers
4 th Amendment Protects you against illegal search and seizures
5 th Amendment Protects you from saying anything that makes you look guilty-not incriminate yourself plead the 5 th
6 th Amendment Guarantees your right to a speedy trial
7 th Amendment Establishes right to a jury trial in civil suits Guarantees 6 members for a civil jury trial
8 th Amendment Protects you against excessive fines and punishments
9 th Amendment Limits powers of Congress
10 th amendment Protects state s rights Protects people and states against the all powerful federal gov t
11 th amendment Lawsuits against states must be tried in state court Protects states from federal gov t interference
12 th amendment Changes how we elect the president and vice president Before this, the runner up in presidential election became vice president which caused lots of problems
Civil Rights Amendments 13 th -15 th amendments
Abolished slavery 13 th amendment
14 th amendment Protects rights of citizens Aimed at stopping injustices against African Americans in southern USA
15 th amendment Protects right to vote for all citizens Aimed at helping African Americans in the southern USA
Establishes income tax 16 th amendment
17 th amendment Establishes direct election of US senators Before this, congressman would vote on senators, not the people This led to corruption
18 th amendment Establishes Prohibition Banned sale, consumption, or production of alcohol
19 th amendment Women get the right to vote
20 th amendment Closes gap between when a president gets elected and when he/she takes office Used to get elected in November and took office in march Now get elected in November and take office in January This stops lame ducks as presidents
Repealed prohibition 21 st amendment
22 nd amendment Limits presidents to 2 elected terms
23 rd amendment Gives Washington DC 3 electoral votes in a presidential election Gives people who live in Washington ability to vote for president and have an effect on the outcome
24 th amendment Abolishes poll taxes Poll taxes would have to be paid to be able to vote Poll taxes were used primarily southern USA to keep African Americans from voting
25 th amendment Sets more clearly presidential succession Ex: VP takes over on presidents death etc
26 th amendment Makes 18 years old the voting age Result of protests of Vietnam War Soldiers could die at 18 but couldn t vote for man sending them there or vote him out There was a draft at 18 years old to go into military
27 th amendment Limits congressional raises Congress votes on their own salaries, this limits that so it doesn t get out of control