Government Timeline NGrimm

  • First Amendment

    First Amendment

    Protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and the right to petition the government.
  • 5th Amendment

    5th Amendment

    Sets rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy.
  • Third Amendment

    Third Amendment

    Restricts the quartering of soldiers in private homes.
  • 6th Amendment

    6th Amendment

    Protects the right to a speedy public trial by jury, to notification of criminal accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel.
  • 7th Amendment

    7th Amendment

    Provides for the right to a jury trial in civil lawsuits.
  • 8th Amendment

    8th Amendment

    Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment.
  • 9th Amendment

    9th Amendment

    States that rights not enumerated in the Constitution are retained by the people.
  • Second Amendment

    Second Amendment

    Protects the right to keep and bear arms.
  • Forth Amendment

    Forth Amendment

    Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets requirements for search warrants based on probable cause.
  • 10th Amendment

    10th Amendment

    States that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated, or enumerated, to it through the Constitution, and that all other powers are reserved to the states, or to the people.
  • 11th Amendment

    11th Amendment

    Immunizes states from suits brought by out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders; lays the foundation for state sovereign immunity.
  • Marbury v. Madison

    Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.
  • 12th Amendment

    12th Amendment

    Establishes that the vice president is elected together with the president rather than as the runner-up in the presidential election.
  • McCulloch v. Maryland

    Upheld the implied powers of Congress and the supremacy of federal laws over state laws.
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford

    Ruled that African Americans were not citizens and had no rights, and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories.
  • 13th Amendment

    13th Amendment

    Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment

    Defines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post–Civil War issues.
  • 15th Amendment

    15th Amendment

    Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    Upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.
  • 17th Amendment

    17th Amendment

    Establishes the direct election of United States senators by popular vote.
  • 16th Amendment

    16th Amendment

    Permits Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the various states or basing it on the United States Census.
  • 18th Amendment

    18th Amendment

    Prohibits the manufacturing or sale of alcohol within the United States.
    (Repealed on December 5, 1933, by the 21st Amendment.)
  • Schenck v. United States

    Ruled that the First Amendment right to free speech is not absolute, particularly during wartime.
  • 19th Amendment

    19th Amendment

    Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on sex.
  • 20th Amendment

    20th Amendment

    Changes the dates on which the terms of the president and vice president, and of members of Congress, begin and end, to January 20 and January 3 respectively. States that if the president-elect dies before taking office, the vice president–elect is to be inaugurated as president.
  • 21th Amendment

    21th Amendment

    Repeals the 18th Amendment and makes it a federal offense to transport or import intoxicating liquors into U.S. states and territories where prohibited by law.
  • 22th Amendment

    22th Amendment

    Limits the number of times a person can be elected president.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.
  • 23rd Amendment

    23rd Amendment

    Grants the District of Columbia electors in the Electoral College.
  • 24th Amendment

    24th Amendment

    Prohibits the revocation of voting rights based upon failure to pay taxes.
  • 25th Amendment

    25th Amendment

    Addresses succession to the presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the vice president and responding to presidential disabilities.
  • 26th Amendment

    26th Amendment

    Lowers the voting age to 18 years.
  • 27th Amendment

    27th Amendment

    Delays laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of representatives.