1st amendment
1791: Freedom of religion, speech, press; right of people to assemble and petition the government for the redress of grievances
2nd amendment
1791: The Right to Bear Arms
3rd Amendment
1791: No soldier can be quartered in a house without the owner's permission
4th Amendment
1791: You need a search warrant to search a person or their belongings. It must describe the place where it needs to be searched and what is going to be seized.
5th Amendment
1791: A person accused of a serious crime has the right to have a trial by Grand Jury. You cannot be charge for the same crime twice (Double Jeopardy). You have the right to remain silent. You cannot be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law. Your property cannot be taken without just compensation.
6th Amendment
1791: The convicted will have a speedy and public trial in the place here the crime was committed. You have the right to know what crime you are charged with and confront the witnesses against you. You can have witnesses in your favor.
7th Amendment
1791: A crime in which is at common law will be tried by jury. A fact tried by this jury will not be reexamined in any other court.
8th Amendment
1791: No excessive bail or fines may be imposed. Cruel and unusual punishment cannot be inflicted.
9th Amendment
1791: Rights that the federal law does not prohibit can be done by the people.
10th Amendment
1791: Any power not clearly given to the government is given to the states or the people.
11th Amendment
1798: The Supreme Court cannot interfere in matters between two states or between an individual and a different state.
12th Amendment
1804: The vice president and president run on different ballots. The president of the senate opens the votes in front of congress. If there is a tie for president, then the house will choose one. If there is a tie for vice president, then the Senate will choose one.
13th Amendment
1865: Slavery is abolished
14th Amendment
1868: It defines citizenship more clearly (Any person who is born or naturalized in the US is under the protection of the law). All the slaves were now citizens of both state and federal law. The census taking in account representatives will also count the previous slaves. Any government official holding office and have previously supported in the rebellion (as in the civil war) has to take an oath before assuming office.
15th Amendment
1870: It gave previous slaves the right to vote.
16th Amendment
1913: The congress can now collect income tax.
17th Amendment
1913: The people, not the state legislatures, vote for senators.
18th Amendment
1919: Alcohol is prohibited.
19th Amendment
1920: Woman Suffrage (Women are given the right to vote)
20th Amendment
1933: "Lame Duck Sessions" (The terms of the President and Vice-President now end on January 20th instead of March 4th.
21st Amendment
1933: Repeals the 18th Amendment
22nd Amendment
1951: Limits the President's terms to two.
23rd Amendment
1961: Citizens of Washington DC can vote.
24th Amendment
1964: Abolition of Poll Taxes (The tax made people pay to vote. This was aimed at making sure African Americans could not vote because they could not afford it.)
25th Amendment
1967: Defines succession and says that if the president is unable to perform his duty, the President pro tempore and the Speaker of the house can write a declaration that the vice president can be made acting president.
26th Amendment
1971: 18-year-olds and older can vote
27th Amendment
1992: If the congressmen increase their salaries, they have to wait until an intervening election to make sure that their decision is approved.