Constitutional Amendments

The twenty-seven amendments which followed deal with many different subjects. The first ten (The Bill of Rights) were approved by the first Congress shortly after the Constitution took effect. They deal mainly with individual rights- freedom of speech and the press, religion, assembly, bearing arms, trial by jury, due process, speedy and public trial, and others.

Some also prohibit the government from certain actions- quartering troops, compelling self-incrimination, excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishment. Other amendments granted voting rights to women, abolished slavery, and reserved state powers.