What It Means To Me:
Congress can't give themselves a raise because they would have to be in office for a while.
Media:
Contradiction?
Media:
U.S. News article includes the 27th amendment
Friday, December 2, 2011
Twenty-Seventh Amendment
"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."
What It Means To Me:
Congress can't give themselves a raise because they would have to be in office for a while.
Media:
What It Means To Me:
Congress can't give themselves a raise because they would have to be in office for a while.
Media:
Twenty-Sixth Amendment
"Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
What It Means To Me:
18 is the official age to vote. Before this amendment, at the age 18 you could join the war and fight for this country, but you couldn't decide who presides it. Makes sense.
Media:
yay.. youth can vote now. Well if they're at least 18.
Media:
Article on the ratification of the 26th amendment.
Twenty-Fifth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
Explains and clarifies the plan of succession for the presidency. Ford is the only President who wasn't elected.
Media:
Will the 25th be used?
Media:
Obama doesn't deserve to keep his presidency?
Twenty-Fourth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
Got rid of poll taxes. People shouldn't be paying to vote.
Media:
har har har.
Media:
Repeal the 24th amendment? hmm..
Twenty-Third Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
Gave D.C. electoral vote- has a say in President.
Media:
License plate - self-explanatory
Media:
Fun way to learn the amendment. ha.
Twenty-Second Amendment
"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.
Media:
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=38181
Article on wether a President should be able to serve more than two terms.
Media:
Obama states he plans to be in office for 8-10 year? That violates the 22nd amendment!! repeal??
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."
What It Means To Me:
Set a limit on the number of times a President could be elected - two four-year terms. It has one exception for a Vice-President who assumes the Presidency after the death or removal of the President, establishing the maximum term of any President to 10 years.Media:
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=38181
Article on wether a President should be able to serve more than two terms.
Media:
Obama states he plans to be in office for 8-10 year? That violates the 22nd amendment!! repeal??
Twenty-First Amendment
"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 here of to the States by the Congress."
What It Means To Me:
Repeal of the prohibition of alcohol. (18th amendment) Yay. Now everyone is happy, except for me because I don't drink!:) That is all.
Media:
Like I said, everyone is happy alcohol is back.
Media:
Time Magazine U.S. article on prohibition.
Twentieth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
Set new dates for term of Congress and President.
Media:
More information on the amendment. National Affairs
Media:
yeah.. I know. It's horrible, but I love the song by Jason Mraz! Informative song about the amendment.
Nineteenth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
Women's right to vote! Gender cannot be used as a criteria in voting!
Media:
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
What It Means To Me:
Women's right to vote! Gender cannot be used as a criteria in voting!
Media:
Self-explanatory! We give birth to all voters, so we deserve to vote!
Media:
Celebration of women's right to vote!
Eighteenth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
Prohibition on alcohol. It was blamed for crime, disease, unemployment, etc, but after, it all increased. (illegal to make, transport, and sell alcoholic beverages.)
Media:
R.I.P. 18th Amendment (because it was repealed after crime increased)
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."
What It Means To Me:
Prohibition on alcohol. It was blamed for crime, disease, unemployment, etc, but after, it all increased. (illegal to make, transport, and sell alcoholic beverages.)
Media:
Uncle Sam wants you to not get drunk.
Media:
Seventeenth Amendment
"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 legislature.
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 Constitution."
What It Means To Me:
Instead of state legislatures choosing senate, the people of that state choose.
Media:
Explains how the amendment was part of a growth in a big government.
Media:
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 Constitution."
What It Means To Me:
Instead of state legislatures choosing senate, the people of that state choose.
Media:
Explains how the amendment was part of a growth in a big government.
Media:
Self-explanatory.
Sixteenth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
Right for the government to collect taxes.
Media:
What It Means To Me:
Right for the government to collect taxes.
Media:
And that's exactly what they do.
Media:
Why are we paying these taxes!!??
Fifteenth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
It gave voting rights to freedmen regardless of race, color, or individuals ever having been slaves.
Media:
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."
What It Means To Me:
It gave voting rights to freedmen regardless of race, color, or individuals ever having been slaves.
Media:
Black men voting.
Media:
Information on the amendment. "Breaking News!"
Fourteenth Amendment
"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.
The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article."
What It Means To Me:
This amendment gave free slaves citizenship. Section 2 denies convicted felons voting rights even after serving their time.
Media:
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."
What It Means To Me:
This amendment gave free slaves citizenship. Section 2 denies convicted felons voting rights even after serving their time.
Media:
Articles from U.S. Politics Today about the amendment.
Media:
No actual definition of a citizen.
Thirteenth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
This amendment abolished slavery. It also eliminated forever any kind of forced labor.
Media:
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."
What It Means To Me:
This amendment abolished slavery. It also eliminated forever any kind of forced labor.
Media:
Federal government is going too far? Violating the 13th amendment with involuntary servitude? uh-oh!
Media:
No more slavery!!! Yay!
Twelfth Amendment
"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 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."
What It Means To Me:
States how the President and Vice-President are chosen by the Electoral College, making the two positions cooperative, rather than first and second highest vote-getters. It also ensures that anyone who becomes Vice-President must be eligible to become President.Media:
Article of Michael Bloomberg v. 12th Amendment. Will he win?
Media:
Legit song about the 12th Amendment. hahahaha
Eleventh Amendment
"The Judicial power of the United States shall not be constructed 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."
What It Means To Me:
Protection of each state from being sued by federal courts, another state, or an individual.
Media:
Violation of the 11th Amendment.
Media:
What It Means To Me:
Protection of each state from being sued by federal courts, another state, or an individual.
Media:
Violation of the 11th Amendment.
Media:
HA! pretty much.
Tenth Amendment
"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."
What It Means To Me:
This amendment protects state rights. It also protects individual rights to an extent.
Media:
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_10461558
Article on how Feds violated the 10th Amendment by undermining the authority of state laws on ganja.
Media:
States are trying to stop the federal from violating the 10th amendment.
What It Means To Me:
This amendment protects state rights. It also protects individual rights to an extent.
Media:
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_10461558
Article on how Feds violated the 10th Amendment by undermining the authority of state laws on ganja.
Media:
States are trying to stop the federal from violating the 10th amendment.
Ninth Amendment
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be constructed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
What It Means To Me:
Rights that aren't expressly written in the constitution, but are informed from the language, history, and structure of the constitution.
Media:
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/equalrights/p/9th_amendment.htm
This article goes into depth on the 9th Amendment.
Media:
Obvious rights we have that aren't stated in the constitution. "Brush my teeth! Like a boss!"
What It Means To Me:
Rights that aren't expressly written in the constitution, but are informed from the language, history, and structure of the constitution.
Media:
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/equalrights/p/9th_amendment.htm
This article goes into depth on the 9th Amendment.
Media:
Obvious rights we have that aren't stated in the constitution. "Brush my teeth! Like a boss!"
Eighth Amendment
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
What It Means To Me:
Right to a reasonable bail and fine. Also the right to no cruel and unusual punishment.
Media:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/us/24scotus.html?pagewanted=all
This article shows how prisons in California are so crowded that they are violating the 8th Amendment with cruel and unusual punishment.
Media:
What It Means To Me:
Right to a reasonable bail and fine. Also the right to no cruel and unusual punishment.
Media:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/us/24scotus.html?pagewanted=all
This article shows how prisons in California are so crowded that they are violating the 8th Amendment with cruel and unusual punishment.
Media:
This video shows pictures of cruel and unusual punishment.
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