Amendments Project

By: Anna Zepponi Government

What is an Amendment?
Amendment Ratification Process

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Proposed by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress and ratified by of the State legislature. Proposed by Congress and then ratified by conventions in of the States. Proposed by a national convention called by Congress and the request of 2/3 of the State legislatures. Then ratified by of State legislatures. Proposed by a national convention and ratified by conventions in of the States.

An amendment is a change in, or addition to, a constitution or law.

The First Amendment

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 of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The freedom of religion allows my grandmother who is Christian Baptist to freely practice her religion while my friend Rachel who is Jewish can also practice her religion.

The First Amendment

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 of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The freedom of speech allows me to express my views of the government verbally in either a negative or positive light without fear of prosecution.

The Second Amendment

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.

This amendment allows my dad to keep a firearm in our house to ensure safety for my family and I in case of an emergency.

The Fourth Amendment

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 protects my boyfriend Cameron from unwarranted searches that could happen at his house. This gives a deserved feeling of security and privacy.

The Sixteenth Amendment

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

This amendment effects me whenever I purchase an item because of the extra tax that comes with the original price.

The 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.

The right for women to vote directly affects my mother and both my grandmothers because it allows them to vote despite the fact that they are women. When I turn 18, this law will affect me also.

The Twenty-First Amendment

The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. 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.

The repeal of the eighteenth amendment affects my parents because it allows them to drink beer, wine, or liquor on occasion. It also affects some of my older friends who like to party and drink beer on the weekends.

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment

The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of ago or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

This directly affects me because I cannot vote on account of my age. I think this is an important amendment because it banns people who are too young and some of who I believe are incapable of making important decisions that could greatly affect our nation.

Removal of the Fifteenth 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 race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

I believe that the fifteenth amendment could be removed from the constitution because I think our nation is far enough along that it is now unnecessary to mention that people will not be barred from voting due to race.

Addition of the Twenty-Eighth Amendment

The right of citizens of the United States to be married shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of gender.

I believe that gay rights needs to be added as an amendment because it falls under the freedoms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It has become such a controversy that if it is not added as an amendment, it will never be accepted. I think at this time period it is important to eliminate all forms of discrimination in order to progress economically and focus on pending issues of greater importance than that of who is going to marry who. The bias on homosexuals has gone too far, and people need to begin to realize that gay marriage doesnt affect their life, and they have no reason to be involved in someone else's personal life. If you dont like it, dont do it.