Blog Run-Down

Hello, and welcome to my blog on the Constitution. This project has been very informative, and took a lot of diligence and hard work to complete everything. Some of my most valued posts are amendments: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 19, 21, and 25. If you desire to read all that works for me as well, but those are definitely the top 12. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, and I hope you enjoy!

Thanks,
Allegra Wolff
UMKC '17
BBA, Enterprise Management

Amendment 27

"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

In the final amendment of the constitution, they decided that senators and representatives cannot receive their raise until they face the electors. This keeps them accountable for their actions and helps the American people because this way, the people in these positions will have more pressure to get things done. I think it's important because they have to do what it best for the people before they receive their raise. 

In this video, he talks about how members of congress and the House of Representatives cannot get a raise until they face the electors, this way they are held accountable for their actions and their accomplishments. Politicians must watch their back so that they do not get more money than they have earned. 

In this comic, there are three members of congress trying to decide on what to do for the economy, unemployment rate, and then the shmuck on the right suggests that they deserve a raise before they have even done anything. This is why the 27th amendment is in place, so that this does not happen. 

Amendment 26

"Section 1.The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.
Section 2.The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

In this amendment, required voting age was lowered from age 21 to age 18. The argument behind it was that there are young men fighting for the country at younger ages than 21 and are not allowed to vote, but they are serving in Vietnam. This was of great importance to families who had sent their sons to war, and knew they may not come back. Obviously, the amendment passed because they saw that it was unreasonable that someone who was serving our country could not vote for the way they wanted the country to be ran. 

Here is a video portraying the intensity of the war to convince voters to pass amendment 26. 

This is an image of a protest that happened during the Vietnam War, supporting the right to vote for people 18 and older. The majority of the people in this image look like they are in high school, not necessarily parents of sons in the war. 

Amendment 25

"Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4.Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President. Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office."

In the 25th amendment, it outlines the process of impeaching the President and how the VP will take command if the President dies. There have only been a few circumstances in history where either of these events occurred. This amendment also states that the President can resign if he believes he is not fit for his duties. 

In this video, Hughes discusses the process of the 25th amendment. He also explains how we came up with the Vice President taking over if the President dies or resigns. The "Tyler Precedent" states that the VP will be the acting President if the current President dies/resigns. This happened because of William Henry Harrison after he died, his VP John Tyler sort of took over, but Congress had to pass a resolution for him to the the acting President. 

Pictured above is the moment Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President on Air Force One, after John F. Kennedy was killed. Jackie Kennedy is on the right in the photo, as you can see all people in the picture are in disbelief. This is, unfortunately, an iconic moment; anyone in or from the U. S. would know this picture and could tell you who these people are. 

Amendment 24

"Section 1.The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
Section 2.The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

The 24th amendment reserves voting as a right, rather than requiring a tax to vote, or "poll tax". This is important for a few reasons, one being that the people should not have to pay to have their voice heard, meaning that people who cannot afford to pay the poll tax will not be able to vote, so their voice will not be heard. Another reason why no poll tax is a good thing is because it will increase voter turnout. Again, with a lot of people, they wouldn't be able to afford it so they would not vote, and others who just don't want to pay the poll tax wouldn't bother voting. These are just a few reasons why not having to pay a poll tax is good for the country, I can see why it is an amendment in our constitution.

This cute little video seems to be a group project that some 8th graders made, but it does a great job of explaining the importance of the 24th amendment and why we need it. 

This comic is depicting why we don't have a poll tax and why we do have the 24th amendment. As simple as this is, it shows that the rich will be able to vote but the poor will not, and this creates a higher chance of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. 

Amendment 23

"Section 1.The District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a state, but in no event more than the least populous state; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the states, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a state; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
Section 2.The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

In amendment 23, Washington D. C. is given the same rights a state has, even though it is not a state. It is considered a state for the sole purpose of voting for the general election so that the votes cast in that city count towards the election. This is important so that the people of D. C. have the same input as all the other people in the country. 

This simple video shows the importance of including the votes for the general election of the people who live in D. C. It makes complete sense for this to be an issue, and for it to be an amendment. Even though D. C. will never be a state, they deserve the same rights of people who live in the "states".

This comic is making fun of the fact that the capital of the U. S. doesn't have the rights of all the states it has united. I think its a great representation of some of the "common sense" items left out of the constitution, or the strange things that we had to add to the constitution. 

Amendment 22

"Section 1.No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
Section 2.This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission to the states by the Congress."

In amendment 22, it establishes the term limits of President. This is important because they didn't want anyone to become like a King and be in office longer than they should. Having term limits on the Presidency encourages the country to advance and move forward with the modernization of the world. Unfortunately, sometimes we take steps backward in leadership and that has an affect on the country as a whole. There is good in everyone, and I will try to stay positive this coming January, but I will be renewing my passport by then. 

This video discusses the possibility of abolishing the 22nd amendment. The last President to serve more than two terms was FDR. In 1951, the 22nd amendment was passed. Representatives are trying to pass a bill to put term limits on House members so that they do not have a "Lame Duck" congress. 

In this comic, we see an old man, possibly a prophet, stating a proverb. This is making fun of the fact that without term limits, the American people may become comfortable and just continue to vote for the same person every four years. This is a major concern because it happens all over the world without limits on terms. 

Amendment 21

"Section 1.The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2.The transportation or importation into any state, territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3.This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress."

The repeal of the 18th amendment was something that the majority of the country saw coming. Crime in the U. S. had skyrocketed and there was more pressure to on the government to change amendment 18 than they had ever predicted. With the 21st amendment, the Prohibition era came to a close, creating a more peaceful country. We are going through somewhat of a prohibition right now, this being the debate on legalizing marijuana. I think that if it this product is used for a medical purpose, than it should be legal because if a doctor is prescribing something that will help someone function in their daily life, wouldn't you want that for yourself or loved ones? Everything is based on perspective, so it is important to keep an open mind when dealing with these subjects. 

This video describes what it was like during the prohibition. The most interesting part in my opinion is that it says that more people partied when alcohol was illegal. The sad part is that many, many more people died due to alcohol related incidents during the prohibition than ever before. 

Here are a couple of interesting photos that I found after the amendment passed and ended the Prohibition. I honestly know that I would be celebrating, but I also probably would have been in the speakeasies and partying during the Prohibition... so I'm happy that it is very hard to change the constitution for this reason. 

Amendment 20

"Section 1.The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2.The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3.If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section 4.The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section 5.Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6.This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission."

This amendment was brought up because of the time between elections, where the elects could not get anything done until a certain time. In section 2, it states the meeting time of Congress each year, this helps if a new Congress would need to decide a new President. Section 3 states that the VP would take office if something happened to the President-elect. In section 4 states that Congress can state what the secession of the Presidency. That is the majority of the information for this amendment. 

Here is a nice video created by a student (most likely) that explains why we have this amendment and where is came from. 

This comic shows some humor by maybe implying that Obama is a "Lame Duck" President. 

Amendment 19

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

As a woman, I find it interesting that this had to be an amendment in the first place. I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering we enslaved an entire people, so equality was not something on the forefront of their minds. Unfortunately, we do see differences in people everyday because that is how we function as humans. We notice when someone acts different, looks different, and feels different. I am happy that this amendment made its way to the constitution so that we don't have to think about whether or not our daughters or sisters or mothers can vote, and I do believe that things have been getting better each year for gender equality. There are still distinct issues for women that are not present for men, so we have a lot of room to grow, but it is a good thing that we don't have to worry about losing our voice or our momentum. 

I remember watching this School House Rock video as a student in junior high school and knowing that my right to vote would not be taken away from me, and it is because of the great women mentioned in this video that made that possible, even though some of them did not see the day that women got to vote. 

Here is a campaign poster for encouraging men to vote for women's right to vote. It points out three key reasons why women deserve the right to vote: working women, paying taxes, and obeying laws deserve to have a voice when deciding how the country and states will be ran. 

Amendment 18

"Section 1.After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2.The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3.This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress."

This amendment is where the prohibition era began, creating some of the craziest party years of the U. S. There were more people drinking during prohibition than there were before. It is just like when your parents tell you not to do something when you were younger and yet you do it because they told you you can't. I think whomever passed this amendment meant well, but law enforcement was costing the U. S. more than it had ever before, and so it was later repealed to create peace among the government and the people. 

This video quickly explains the prohibition era and why it was overturned. Franklin Roosevelt campaigned against prohibition, creating his path to the White House. I can only imagine what Europe was thinking when this was going on in the U. S...

This comic covers the Prohibition because the "wet trough" is representing the "wet" vs "dry" people in the U. S. This means that people who drink are wet, people who don't are dry. 

Amendment 17

"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution."

The 17th amendment creates the direct democracy of the senate, having the people of each state vote for the state legislature. The vacancies that happen in the senate will be determined by the executive authority of each state. Some people want to repeal this amendment in a way that would give more power to the states rather than the federal government. 

Here is a video of a tea party candidate explaining his reasoning behind repealing the 17th amendment. I don't think he does a very good job at explaining why he wants it repealed, he does say that he doesn't think it will ever happen. 

This comic represents the long terms that senators have in congress. I think the artist is trying to explain that the senators don't progress like the country does, so it is a dangerous game in the senate. 

Amendment 16

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration." 

In the 16th amendment, the Federal government gains the power to tax income. This way, they would be able to keep the taxes they collected for the use of the Federal government versus sharing the money with the states. I think it was a smart move for them to generate some sort of revenue so that they could build roads and maintain things all over the U. S. 

In this episode of the constitution for dummies series, Hughes talks about the taxes that the government implemented and why they needed taxes. Pollock v Farmers' Load and Trust covers the argument about a direct tax versus an income tax. This means that direct tax must be apportioned by the census, income other than labor cannot be taxed. 

In this comic, it jokes about how the American people must pay income tax each year. In reality this is probably something I would do and joke about. 

Amendment 15

Section 1.The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Section 2.The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 1 of amendment 15 gives all males (black and white) the right to vote. One of the most interesting things about this is, while they didn't even consider black people to count as one whole person at one point, they didn't even think that rights for women would be an important add in at this moment? Now, I'm not trying to be bitter, and if I am coming off that way I apologize, but thinking that women shouldn't have to think about politics, or are not smart enough to is still offensive today. I am blessed that I live in a country at a time when all my rights were already fought for, but keeping it known that this was not so long ago, will keep us fighting for the rights they have already promised us. Section 2 simply states that congress has the power to enforce this law. 

This quick video has some interesting facts about what was happening in the South with black men who were not only voting but they were also elected to office. 

This image portrays an interesting view. Most white people are ignorant of what African Americans had to go through, and they just don't think about it. The other interesting thing is that women had to wait even longer... 

Amendment 14

"Section 1.All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2.Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state.

Section 3.No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4.The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5.The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article."

Section 1 of amendment 14 gives citizenship to all people who are born or naturalized in the U. S. This helped with African American people who were born into slavery or people who had immigrated to this country and had children, etc. This section keeps the states from creating any laws that would affect a citizens' rights, or take the right of due process of law away from them. This section is very important especially because of the civil war. The next section of the 14th amendment corrects the 3/5th's compromise and makes sure that all citizens, except Native Americans, will be counted for the total population. In section 3 of amendment 14, it prohibits people who had been involved with the rebellion from being a Senator, Representative, or President/VP. This is important because it will prevent the government from another potential civil war if they do not have those supporters in office. Section 4 states that the government simply won't pay for any debt incurred during the civil war if it was for the rebellion.. which makes sense. And in section 5, Congress is stating that they have the power to enforce the previous 4 sections.

Hughes does a great job of explaining the key points of this amendment, noting that all people are automatic citizens if they are born in the U. S. and also providing facts on cases like Plessy v Ferguson and Brown v Board of Education.

Here is an image that I found interesting in my research. On the left you see a sign saying: Don't mess with the constitution! On the right you see a sign saying: Repeal the 14th amendment! And in the middle you see a person or "siamese twin" rather, in the middle holding the two signs. In my opinion, the point the artist is trying to make is that people are hypocrites, especially when it comes to politics. It's interesting because the world makes it difficult not to be hypocritical, but this is a really great, and funny, example of people who either do exist or have existed in our country. I can tell you right now, I don't associate with them. 

Amendment 13

Section 1.Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2.Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

This is the first of the Reconstruction and civil rights amendments. To some surprise slavery is no where legalized in the constitution. Some ratified this amendment not on the grounds of making everyone equal, but just so that the civil war would end. Lincoln wanted to get this amendment ratified so that there would be no chance of slavery to return after the civil war was over. This amendment abolished slavery, erasing the need for the emancipation proclamation. 

This amendment was very important to President Lincoln because he believed that there was a possibility that slavery would return even after the civil war ended. The 13th amendment abolished slavery in the U. S.

If you don't see this on every blog you read this week, I will be disappointed. Everything in this video grabs your attention and makes me want to watch the rest of the movie. It really is hard to believe that people were able to treat others like they did during these times, but luckily, because of leaders like Lincoln, times have changed and are still changing today. 

Amendment 12

"The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States."

According to the 12th amendment, we established a process of electing a President and Vice President. Representatives from each state choose a President and a Vice President on their ballot, as stated above. This is because of the confusion of the election in 1796, two candidates from different parties were elected President and VP. The importance of this process helped to make a more unified White House. 

Here is a video someone probably should have shared with the democratic party this past year... My favorite quote says, "...the system (electoral college) encourages coalition-building and national campaigning, in order to win a candidate must have the support of many different types of voters, from all different parts of the country." I don't think Secretary Clinton realized what kind of ground President- elect Trump was covering on his campaign. It's safe to say that I was not completely sold on either candidate this year, but Trump obviously had the better plan, at least for his path to the White House.

Here is an interesting comic, almost a continuation of the above paragraph. Each presidential candidate must have a good plan when running for president, because without one they will find that it is much harder than it looks. 

Amendment 11

"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."

In amendment 11, it is limiting the amount of power that the judicial branch has overall. This is helpful because of checks and balances, making sure that each branch of government does not get too powerful. 

This video explains how they came about this amendment, dating back to the "days of Yore" where they got the term sovereign immunity. This amendment states that the courts cannot hear cases where people are suing the government, only if a government worker does something unconstitutional, which they will be stripped of their rights as a government worker and losing their sovereign immunity. 

Okay, I'm almost positive some 7 year old girl named Rachael filled in the blanks for this comic and I honestly think it's hilarious and explains the amendment to the simplest degree, but still gets the point across. It reminds me of a "Kid Letters" sketch from Jimmy Fallon. Here, I'll post it so you can get a good laugh in:

Amendment 10

"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."

This amendment is something that is important to me because not everyone understands the importance of local government. Anything not stated in the U. S. Constitution is up to the states to decide. So, legalization of gay marriage, legalization of marijuana, even education can all begin at the local level. That’s why it is so important for people to vote during local elections so that they are able to influence the community around them. 

This image shows the importance of getting involved in state and local government. The laws and regulations passed at the state level will affect people more quickly than they understand. The rules for the Federal government are much more difficult to add to or remove, for that matter.



This amendment is the final amendment in the "Bill of Rights", it was made so that the Federal government would not step outside the boundaries of the constitution. This is a "truism", meaning it doesn't make a law, it just states that the federal government has power over some things, but not everything. The following link will take you to a video that explains the 10th amendment in more detail.

http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-10th-amendment-definition-summary-examples.html

Amendment 9

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

This amendment covers the reservation of rights of people, meaning that any rights not stated in the Bill of Rights can still be considered a right, even though it isn’t written down. This is so that we are not limiting our liberty. For example, there can be a guaranteed right of privacy, it can’t be denied even though it isn’t written down. 

This video does a great job of explaining the right of privacy, referencing three other amendments dealing with privacy. Whom ever made the video obviously doesn't have much experience, but the kids do a good job at the beginning of the video. 

This image explains how the 9th amendment shows that our liberty is not limited. This is important because when they wrote this, they knew that the country would change and advance beyond their imagination, so they put it in writing that citizens can be entitled to more rights than what is listed in the bill of rights. 

Amendment 8

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

The hardest part about this amendment is that from each culture, there is a different definition of what “cruel and unusual punishment” is among different people. The death penalty has caused much controversy over the years, supporters saying it is “an eye for an eye”. In reality, this punishment has not caused crimes to diminish. I think there would be a better impact in our nation if we used the money we would have used to fund the death penalty (in some states) on education, investing in their futures, insuring that they know how to be good people, and helping to make them happy as they grow up. I also believe that it is not any one person’s decision but God’s to say if they live or die. 

This video gives great examples for the pros and cons of the death penalty. I will warn, this video is a little bit strange because of the verbiage they use. 

This quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gives us a great perspective on the death penalty. Again, how can we be the ones who decides who lives and dies? Does that not make us just like the murders who we put to death? I cannot imagine the pain of losing someone this way, but we must overcome the hate and respond with love, just like MLK did throughout his career. 

Amendment 7

"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 reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."

In today’s age, all civil trials any must be worth more than $75,000, which is a big jump from the $20 they originally considered. This change is important because the government can spend much less time over smaller cases, not only saving time, but money as well. Civil trials are important, but there is a bigger concern with criminal cases. 

This amendment was harder to find media posts than any other. IF it's not a criminal trial, you have the right to civil law suit, requiring at least 6 jurors, and must be a unanimous decision. The supreme court has the right to review appellate decisions based on facts. 

This image is a joke about how cheap it was a while ago for civil cases. 

Amendment 6

"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 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 defense."

As stated in previous amendments, accused peoples will have the right to a public trial (not necessarily speedy). There is a huge importance when picking an impartial jury; that way the jury will not be biased when listening to all aspects of the trial. This amendment also promises “the assistance of counsel” which enables the defendant to have a lawyer present when being questioned and also to have a lawyer for the trial.  

In this video, HIPHUGHES explains a speedy trail can be violated after about a year; this is a right to the citizens accused, so that the trial is on a fair time frame. The impartial jury is very important so that the jury is not biased, there is a process to weed out people who may be jurors so that there is no one that will be impartial to the defendant. The next part of the amendment covers the clarity of the accusation. The confrontation clause means that whoever is accusing them of a crime must confront them. There are certain exceptions with the confrontation clause; i.e. evidence can be "confrontation". The ability to name witnesses to the stand requires those called to the stand to go to the stand, and be confronted and questions. The last part of the amendment gives people lawyers even if they cannot afford it. I really enjoy how this guy does these videos because of all the facts he provides, and he does a really nice job of explaining what everything means in ways that all ages can understand. 

Here is a funny way at looking at the "speedy trial" part of the 6th amendment. This is not what they meant by a speedy trial, of course. They simply mean that if the court system has not made any progress in about a years time with the case, the 6th amendment is violated. 

Amendment 5

"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 offense 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."

This amendment has a lot of words in it, and I get it. There are many important things to consider when someone is on trial. The first part explains that no one will be punished for a crime unless they are given a a fair trail; this is important because then people will be able to defend themselves if they are innocent, vs being accused and put in prison. 

As the run on sentence of an amendment continues, it states that no one will be punished for the same crime twice, unless of course they commit the crime twice. This is has created some controversy, because of mistrials, meaning that someone was not given the correct amount of punishment and people think they deserve a worse sentence. Unfortunately and fortunately, once someone serves their sentence, they cannot be tried for that crime again. 

As people have seen, there are many times where people “Plead the 5th”. This amendment implies that no one will be a witness against themselves meaning that there should be no questions to the defendant that will cause them to prove that they are guilty. This tends to be confusing and over-used by defendants, in my opinion because when put on trial, people have to be honest in court, and pleading the 5th does not make you exempt from answering a judge. 

The next part of amendment 5 explains that no one will be convicted without “due process of law” which means that they will have a fair trial before being deemed guilty for a crime. This is very important so that a person is able to defend themselves if they are innocent.

At the end, it states that “private property will not be taken for public use without just compensation”; unfortunately that doesn’t mean market price, the government will give whatever amount they deem worthy for property that will be used for public use. 

Can you believe there are actually people in the world who go through their lives without hearts and now respect for other human beings? Well if you don't, here is proof. Martin Shkreli had a hearing with congress earlier this year for his unexplainably insane increase in price for a life saving drug. He is seen in this video "pleading the 5th" so that he does not incriminate himself, when in reality, there were little to no questions that could even be considered self-incriminating. As you can see, congress has enough and ejects him from the house floor. 

This is a funny comic that implies that the boy tried to plead the 5th while taking his spelling test, which obviously wouldn't apply. The term take the 5th amendment means that someone is invoking the rights that are given to them in the 5th. 

Amendment 4

"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."

This amendment is definitely one of the most important because it protects people from the government, and that’s exactly why we have a constitution to make sure the government doesn’t have too much power. Amendment 4 is key when people are being accused of crimes they may or may not have committed. Police cannot come into your home or arrest you (at random) without a warrant from a judge, stating what they are being accused of. If we didn’t have this amendment, there would be even more innocent people in jail and prison today. 

This video does a great job of not only explaining the 4th amendment, but also discusses the exclusionary rule. The exclusionary rule was put into place so that if police did not obey the 4th amendment, any evidence found without a warrant in a home or person they searched, cannot be used against that person. This keeps police in check, requiring them to get a warrant, unfortunately it can also keep guilty people out of prison. 

This comic is a good example of why there is an exclusionary rule. The hard side of the exclusionary rule is that even if evidence is found and the jury knows about the evidence, it will be hard for them to "forget" about it and not let that influence their decision. 

Amendment 3

"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."

I’m under the impression that this was a problem for the people who used to live under the rules of the British government, and maybe they were forced to house the militia at a moments notice, it obviously isn’t a problem today. I think it’s interesting that this is an amendment when we have much bigger problems on our hands. 

No quartering of soldiers, is probably the least enforced because it is really only relevant during the the late 1700's. This has mostly just been followed because is was made a law, and has only been mentioned once referencing privacy in your own home. 

This comic is jokingly stating the 3rd amendment, since this one isn't necessarily a huge concern in today's age, this is just a good image to help remember what the amendment is about.  

Amendment 2

"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."

The first half of this amendment was more relevant when we didn’t have the strongest military in the world. The back half has caused more controversy in today’s age than most amendments, at least here in the midwest. What is interesting is that it seems like half of U. S. citizens believe that having more strict gun laws will help decrease the potential for mass shootings, the other half believe that the government wants to take away their guns and they will then have no way to protect themselves. Although both are semi-valid points, I don’t think that the government will do anything too extreme, besides the fact that they need to do background checks on people who want to purchase guns. 

This video does a great job of explaining the 2nd amendment and what it meant when it was written. Now this is a more conservative view, but there is a bit of humor as they explain it so it is not an overbearing view, I just think it is explained well. He says that the right to keep and bear arms is a right for THE PEOPLE, not the militia, and this right cannot be taken away from the people by the militia. This is so that the militia does not have too much power over the people. 

Now this is a great example of why more strict gun laws, or at the minimum, background checks should be implemented for anyone trying to purchase weapons. The scary thing is that gun laws have not changed, even though our country has more mass shootings than any country in the world; that can be due to our large population size and also the fact that we have more armed citizens than any country in the world. 

Amendment 1

"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."

Amendment 1 was one of the most important to the people who came to this land because they had no freedom to practice the beliefs they held. This amendment is a key element in proving people they are wrong for judging someone for their beliefs or why someone would protest something. It all comes back to the fact that no one would want to be told they couldn’t believe a certain way, so we are in no place to tell anyone else what they shouldn’t believe in their morals. It also covers the freedom of speech or press, which means that people can say or print what they want about the government without consequences. Amendment 1 gives the people the right to assemble peacefully, meaning citizens can gather to talk about the government and make groups however they please, so long as it is peaceful. The right to petition the government means that people can send their concerns to the government so that the leaders of their state and country can know what the people want. 

Okay, this guy is a bit of a cheese-ball, but he does a great job of explaining all five points of the 1st amendment. I like that he references all kinds of worship venues when addressing freedom of religion. He also points out that the government cannot make laws that prevents us from talking about our government. When he explains freedom of the press, he says that the government has no power when it comes to news sources. This amendment allows people to gather to share ideas, as the right to peacefully assemble; people are able to be for or against the government. As he explains the right to petition, he says that if we have grievances, we can send them to our government and make our concerns known, explaining what we like and what we don't like. 

This cartoon is a little comedy relief. I don't think it's offensive to women, but since the majority of women talk a lot, this is jokingly saying that maybe they don't want to tell their wives that there is now freedom of speech.