November 4-5

*The Reconstruction Amendments*
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are called the Reconstruction Amendments because they were ratified during the period of history called Reconstruction, which took place after the Civil War.

13th Amendment: Abolition of Slavery
-This Amendment officially abolished slavery in the United States.
-Involuntary servitude was also abolished by this amendment except in the case of a sentenced punishment for convicted criminals.

14th Amendment: Rights of Citizens
*The14th Amendment further defined the rights that citizens of the US have. It also defines citizenship, and redefines apportionment of Representatives in the House of Representatives.
-All people who are born in the United States, or are naturalized are citizens of the United States.
-All people are guaranteed equal justice and protection under the law no matter what. (civil rights)
-All people, regardless of race, color, or ethnicity are guaranteed due process.
-The Three-Fifths Compromise was abolished. All citizens, regardless of race, color, or ethnicity will be counted as whole people when determining proportional representation in the House of Representatives.

15th Amendment: Right to Vote
-The right of (male) citizens to vote shall not be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

*The Progressive Amendments*
The 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Amendments are often called the Progressive Amendments because they were ratified during an era of American History known as the Progressive Era. Reforming the government and business, and making America a better place was the goal of the Progressives.

16th Amendment: Income Tax
-This Amendment gave Congress the power to tax people’s income.

17th Amendment: Direct Election of Senators
-This Amendment allows the people of each state to directly elect members of the US Senate.

-18th Amendment: Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverages
-The manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages was prohibited.

-19th Amendment: Women’s Suffrage
- The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied based on their gender.

20th Amendment
-The President and Vice-President shall take office at noon on January 20th in the year after the Presidential election.
-Senators and Representatives shall take office at noon on January 3rd in the year after Congressional elections. Congress must meet at least once a year beginning at noon on January 3rd.
-If the person elected President dies before he takes office then the person elected Vice-President shall become President.

21st Amendment: Repeal of Prohibition
-This Amendment is the only amendment that completely repeals another amendment, the 18th. Prohibition of alcoholic beverages was abolished federally, leaving the decision to prohibit alcoholic beverages to the individual states.

22nd Amendment: Presidential Term Limits
-No one may be elected President more than twice.
-No one may serve as President for more than 10 full years.

23rd Amendment: Presidential Electors for the
District of Columbia
-The residents of the District of Columbia were given the right to vote for President by being given three electoral votes in Presidential elections.

24th Amendment: Abolition of Poll Taxes
-The federal government and the governments of the individual States are prohibited from requiring any citizen to pay a poll tax in order to vote in federal elections.

25th Amendment: Presidential Disability & Succession
-If the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the Vice-President becomes President.
-If the Vice-President dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the President will appoint a new Vice-President that must be approved by a majority of both Houses of Congress.
-If the President informs Congress of his inability to perform the duties of office, the Vice-President serves as acting President until the President informs Congress of his re-ability to perform the duties of office.
-If the Vice-President and a majority of the President’s cabinet inform Congress of the Presidents inability to perform the duties of office, the Vice-President serves as acting President until the President informs Congress of his re-ability to perform the duties of office.
-If the President informs Congress of his re-ability to perform the duties of office and the Vice-President and a majority of the President’s cabinet disagree that he is capable, Congress must decide who acts as President. Congress has 21 days to decide who acts as President. Two-thirds of Congress must vote in favor of allowing the Vice President to stay as acting President.

26th Amendment: Voting Age
-No citizen who is 18 years old or older will be denied the right to vote on account of age.

27th Amendment: Restraint of Congressional Salaries
-If Congress votes to give itself a raise in pay, the raise will not take effect until the next session of Congress after the vote for the raise begins.