Constitution Day Events at TCNJ
PREAMBLE
The famous first 52 words of the Constitution introduce the articles and amendments that follow.
ARTICLES
The seven articles make up the structural constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.
Article 1: Legislative Branch
Article II: Executive Branch
Article III: Judicial Branch
Article IV: States, Citizenship, New States
Article V: Amendment Process
Article VI: Debts, Supremacy, Oaths, Religious Tests
Article VII: Ratification
AMENDMENTS
There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution, beginning with the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, ratified December 15, 1791.
Bill of Rights
First Amendment: Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms
Third Amendment: Quartering of Soldiers
Fourth Amendment: Search and Seizure
Fifth Amendment: Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self Incrimination, Due Process, Takings
Sixth Amendment: Rights to Speedy Trial, Witnesses, Counsel
Seventh Amendment: Jury Trial in Civil Lawsuits
Eighth Amendment: Excessive Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punichment
Ninth Amendment: Non-Enumerated Rights Retained by People
Tenth Amendment: Rights Reserved to States or People
11th Amendment: Suits Against States
12th Amendment: Election of President and Vice President
Reconstruction Amendments
13th Amendment: Abolition of Slavery
14th Amendment: Citizenship Rights, Equal Protection, Apportionment, Civil War Debt
15th Amendment: Right to Vote Not Denied by Race
16th Amendment: Income Tax
17th Amendment: Popular Election of Senators
18th Amendment: Prohibition of Liquor
19th Amendment: Women’s Right to Vote
20th Amendment: Presidential Term and Succession, Assembly of Congress
21st Amendment: Repeal of Prohibition
22nd Amendment: Two-Term Limit on Presidency
23rd Amendment: Presidential Vote for D.C.
24th Amendment: Abolition of Poll Taxes
25th Amendment: Presidential Disability and Succession
26th Amendment: Right to Vote at Age 18
27th Amendment: Congressional Compensation