Amendments Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Amendments?

The Amendments to the United States Constitution are the collective name for the first ten amendments, which were ratified simultaneously in 1791. These Amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, guarantee personal freedoms and rights, clear up ambiguities in the original Constitution, and reserve certain powers to the states and people. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, assembly and press. It also prohibits Congress from establishing a state-sponsored religion or infringing on a person’s right to practice their own faith. This Amendment is arguably one of the most important ones because it protects basic human rights that are essential for democracy to flourish. The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms in order to form a militia or protect themselves from tyranny. This has been interpreted by many different courts over time but it is generally understood that individuals have the right to own firearms for self-protection or sport shooting. The Third Amendment prohibits governments from forcing citizens to house soldiers during peacetime without their consent. This amendment was created out of fear that oppressive governments would force citizens into involuntary servitude as a way to maintain control over them. The Fourth through Eighth Amendments protect individuals from search and seizures without proper cause or due process; guarantee fair trial procedures; prohibit excessive fines and cruel punishment; ensure compensation for seized property; and protect against self-incrimination when testifying before any governmental tribunal respectively. These are all fundamental rights that make up our criminal justice system today which aims at protecting individuals from unfair government interference while still punishing criminals appropriately under law. Lastly, The Ninth and Tenth Amendments reserve certain powers not listed in the Constitution either directly or impliedly as necessary to sustain its existence such as those related to education; health care; trade agreements with foreign countries etc., back with states or with people themselves instead of granting them exclusively unto Congress like other articles do thus ensuring state sovereignty where appropriate along with individual liberties granted throughout other amendments in this document including those mentioned above within this essay itself.