AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

1
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

• Amendment Process (Article 5)
• Propose
• Congress (2/3 vote)
• Convention called by 2/3 of states
• Ratification
• 3/4 of State Legislatures
• 3/4 of State Conventions
• Why four ways?

RATIFICATION
Convention
Legislature
Congress
PROPOSE
Convention
2
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

• Two unamendables
• No slave trade changes before 1808
• No change in Senate representation

3
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

• Amendments
• 10,000 proposed
• 33 approved by Congress
• 27 ratified
• Time limits on ratification

10,000
33
27
4
BILL OF RIGHTS

• A product of compromise
• Many amendments proposed
• Madison submitted 17
• Congress approved 12

5
BILL OF RIGHTS

• Two of the 12 not ratified
• Population per House Representative
• Make House smaller
• Changes in congressional pay
• No law varying the compensation for the services
  of Senators and Representatives shall take
  effect, until an election of Representatives
  shall have intervened.
• 1789 to 1992

6
Bill of Rights (cont.)

• 1st Amendment (natural rights)
• Establish religion or prohibit free exercise of
  religion
• Freedom of speech and press
• Right to peaceably assemble
• Right to petition

7
Bill of Rights (cont.)

• 2nd Amendment
• Right to keep and bear arms
• 3rd Amendment
• No peacetime quartering
• Quartering only as prescribed by law during
  wartime

8
Bill of Rights (cont.)

• 4th Amendment
• No unreasonable search and seizure

9
Bill of Rights (cont.)

• 5th Amendment
• Grand jury for capital or infamous crimes
• Double jeopardy
• Self-incrimination
• Due Process
• Compensation for taking property

10
Bill of Rights (cont.)

• 6th Amendment--criminal trials
• Speedy and public trial
• Impartial jury
• Informed of charges
• Compel and confront witnesses
• Counsel for defense

11
Bill of Rights (cont.)

• 7th Amendment--civil trials
• Jury trial if more than 20
• 8th Amendment
• No excessive bail or fines
• No cruel or unusual punishment

12
Bill of Rights (cont.)

• 9th Amendment
• This listing of rights doesnt disparage others
• 10th Amendment
• Powers not delegated to national government
  belong to the states or to the people