Amendments to the US Constitution

All 27 amendments, from free speech to congressional pay. The best-known ones are tested in both directions.

The first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, were ratified together in 1791. The other seventeen came one at a time over two centuries, often after a war or a reform movement: ending slavery, the income tax, Prohibition and its repeal, women’s suffrage, the two-term limit. Each card names an amendment and asks what it does. The best-known ones are also asked in reverse, so "which amendment gave women the vote?" has a ready answer.

All 36 cards

  1. What does the 1st Amendment do?

    Protects freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceful assembly and petitioning the government.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  2. What does the 2nd Amendment do?

    Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  3. What does the 3rd Amendment do?

    Bars forcing people to house soldiers in peacetime.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  4. What does the 4th Amendment do?

    Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures; warrants need probable cause.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  5. What does the 5th Amendment do?

    Guarantees due process and bars double jeopardy and forced self-incrimination ("pleading the Fifth").

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  6. What does the 6th Amendment do?

    Guarantees a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury, and the right to a lawyer.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  7. What does the 7th Amendment do?

    Guarantees a jury trial in many civil cases.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  8. What does the 8th Amendment do?

    Bans excessive bail and fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  9. What does the 9th Amendment do?

    Says rights not listed in the Constitution still belong to the people.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  10. What does the 10th Amendment do?

    Reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states or the people.

    Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.

  11. What does the 11th Amendment do?

    Limits lawsuits against states in federal court.

    Ratified in 1795.

  12. What does the 12th Amendment do?

    Has electors cast separate votes for president and vice president.

    Ratified in 1804.

  13. What does the 13th Amendment do?

    Abolished slavery.

    Ratified in 1865.

  14. What does the 14th Amendment do?

    Grants citizenship to everyone born or naturalized in the US, and requires equal protection of the laws.

    Ratified in 1868.

  15. What does the 15th Amendment do?

    Bars denying the vote because of race, colour or previous servitude.

    Ratified in 1870.

  16. What does the 16th Amendment do?

    Allows a federal income tax.

    Ratified in 1913.

  17. What does the 17th Amendment do?

    Has senators elected directly by voters instead of state legislatures.

    Ratified in 1913.

  18. What does the 18th Amendment do?

    Banned the making and sale of alcohol (Prohibition).

    Ratified in 1919.

  19. What does the 19th Amendment do?

    Guarantees women the right to vote.

    Ratified in 1920.

  20. What does the 20th Amendment do?

    Moves the start of presidential terms to January 20 and of Congress to January 3.

    Ratified in 1933.

  21. What does the 21st Amendment do?

    Repealed Prohibition.

    Ratified in 1933.

  22. What does the 22nd Amendment do?

    Limits presidents to two elected terms.

    Ratified in 1951.

  23. What does the 23rd Amendment do?

    Gives Washington, D.C. electoral votes for president.

    Ratified in 1961.

  24. What does the 24th Amendment do?

    Bans poll taxes in federal elections.

    Ratified in 1964.

  25. What does the 25th Amendment do?

    Sets out presidential succession and what happens if a president cannot serve.

    Ratified in 1967.

  26. What does the 26th Amendment do?

    Lowers the voting age to 18.

    Ratified in 1971.

  27. What does the 27th Amendment do?

    Delays congressional pay raises until after the next House election.

    Proposed in 1789 with the Bill of Rights, it was finally ratified in 1992, after a student’s campaign.

  28. Which amendment: protects freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceful assembly and petitioning the government.

    1st Amendment

  29. Which amendment: protects the right to keep and bear arms.

    2nd Amendment

  30. Which amendment: guarantees due process and bars double jeopardy and forced self-incrimination ("pleading the Fifth").

    5th Amendment

  31. Which amendment: abolished slavery.

    13th Amendment

  32. Which amendment: grants citizenship to everyone born or naturalized in the US, and requires equal protection of the laws.

    14th Amendment

  33. Which amendment: guarantees women the right to vote.

    19th Amendment

  34. Which amendment: repealed Prohibition.

    21st Amendment

  35. Which amendment: limits presidents to two elected terms.

    22nd Amendment

  36. Which amendment: lowers the voting age to 18.

    26th Amendment