U.S. Constitutional Amendments

    As an effort to memorize the names and numbers of the amendments, I practice them here. I am learning these, or trying to, in order to prepare for a quiz in my political science/American history class.

• The first ten amendments were ratified on December the 15th, 1791; they are the "Bill of Rights".  

      1st-  Religion, Speech, Assembly, and Politics
      2nd- Militia and the Right to Bear Arms
      3rd- Quartering of Soldiers         
      4th- Searches and Seizures
      5th- Grand Juries, Self-Incrimination, Double-Jeopardy, Due Process, and Eminent Domain
      6th- Criminal Court Procedures
      7th- Trial by Jury in Common Law Cases
      8th- Bail, Cruel and Unusual Punishment
      9th- Rights Retained by the People
      10th- Reserved Powers of the State
    
      11th- Suits Against the States
      12th- Election of the President
      13th- Prohibition of Slavery
      14th- Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection of the Laws
      15th- The Right to Vote
      16th- Income Taxes
      17th- Direct Election of Senators
      18th- Prohibition
      19th- For Women's Suffrage
      20th- The Lame Duck Amendment
      21st- Repeal of Prohibition
      22nd- Number of Presidential Terms
      23rd- Presidential Electors For the District of Columbia
      24th- The Anti-Poll Tax Amendment
      25th- Presidential Disability, Vice-Presidential Vacancies
      26th- Eighteen-Year-Old Vote
      27th- Congressional Salaries

      Now, of course I realize that by just typing in the listing of the names and numbers of these, I am not going to go very far towards memorizing what I need to know, so maybe I'll "play" with them a little now. Let's see..

Again, the first 10 amendments to the U. S.  Constitution are collectively called "The Bill of Rights".

1st-  Religion, Speech, Assembly, and Politics

     Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

 2nd- Militia and the Right to Bear Arms

      A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a nation, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

3rd- Quartering of Soldiers         

      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 manner to be prescribed by law.

 4th- Searches and Seizures

      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 to be seized.

 5th- Grand Juries, Self-Incrimination, Double-Jeopardy, Due Process, and Eminent Domain

      No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on the 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 twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

6th- Criminal Court Procedures

      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 be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining Witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. 

7th- Trial by Jury in Common Law Cases

      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.

8th- Bail, Cruel and Unusual Punishment

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

9th- Rights Retained by the People

      The enumeration of the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10th- Reserved Powers of the States

      The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.