Constitution & Rights
All 27 amendments, in plain language. The rights most connected to current federal activity are highlighted and tagged to live bills and actions; the rest are here in full for reference. Educational and non-ideological — this describes protections; it does not give legal advice.
Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
The First Amendment limits the government's power over five related freedoms: religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petitioning the government.
Right to Keep and Bear Arms
The Second Amendment concerns the right to keep and bear arms.
Quartering of Soldiers
The Third Amendment bars the government from forcing people to house soldiers in their homes during peacetime, and only by law during war.
Searches and Seizures
The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government and sets conditions for warrants.
Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process, Takings
The Fifth Amendment bundles several protections in criminal and property matters: grand-jury indictment for serious federal crimes, protection against being tried twice for the same offense, the right not to be forced to testify against oneself, a guarantee of due process, and a requirement that government pay fair value when it takes private property..
Rights in Criminal Prosecutions
The Sixth Amendment lists the rights a person has when accused of a crime: a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, notice of the charges, the ability to confront witnesses and call their own, and the assistance of a lawyer.
Civil Jury Trials
The Seventh Amendment preserves the right to a jury in many civil (non-criminal) federal cases and limits how a judge may overturn a jury's findings of fact..
Excessive Bail, Fines, and Cruel and Unusual Punishment
The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and fines and “cruel and unusual” punishments.
Rights Retained by the People
The Ninth Amendment says that listing some rights in the Constitution does not mean those are the only rights people have.
Powers Reserved to the States and the People
The Tenth Amendment states that powers the Constitution does not give to the federal government, and does not deny to the states, remain with the states or the people.
Suits Against States
The Eleventh Amendment limits federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits brought against a state by residents of another state or country — an early statement of state sovereign immunity..
Election of President and Vice President
The Twelfth Amendment sets out how electors cast separate votes for President and Vice President, and what happens if no candidate wins a majority.
Abolition of Slavery
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime, and gave Congress the power to enforce it..
Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection
The Fourteenth Amendment is among the most consequential.
Right to Vote — Race
The Fifteenth Amendment bars denying the right to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, and lets Congress enforce it..
Federal Income Tax
The Sixteenth Amendment allows Congress to levy a federal income tax without apportioning it among the states by population..
Popular Election of Senators
The Seventeenth Amendment provides for U.S.
Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors
The Eighteenth Amendment established nationwide Prohibition, banning the manufacture, sale, and transport of intoxicating liquors.
Right to Vote — Sex
The Nineteenth Amendment bars denying the right to vote on account of sex, securing women's suffrage nationwide..
Terms of Office and Succession (“Lame Duck”)
The Twentieth Amendment sets when presidential and congressional terms begin and end, and addresses what happens if a President-elect dies or fails to qualify.
Repeal of Prohibition
The Twenty-first Amendment repealed Prohibition (the Eighteenth Amendment) while letting states regulate alcohol within their borders..
Presidential Term Limits
The Twenty-second Amendment limits a President to two elected terms (and addresses partial terms served), formalizing a tradition broken only once..
Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia
The Twenty-third Amendment grants the District of Columbia electors in the Electoral College, as if it were a state, capped at the count of the least populous state..
Abolition of Poll Taxes
The Twenty-fourth Amendment bars conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax or other tax..
Presidential Succession and Disability
The Twenty-fifth Amendment sets out presidential succession and how to handle a President's death, resignation, removal, or inability to serve — including how a vacancy in the vice presidency is filled..
Right to Vote — Age 18
The Twenty-sixth Amendment guarantees that citizens eighteen or older may not be denied the vote on account of age, lowering the voting age nationwide to 18..
Congressional Pay
The Twenty-seventh Amendment delays any change in congressional pay until after the next House election.
Amendment text is verbatim and public domain; every page links to the official Constitution Annotated for verification. Highlighted amendments are the ones this app actively connects to current bills and actions.