Amendment XVII

Amendment XVII

 The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

This is just the first bullet of this Amendment.  The basis of the one is to create the structure of the US Senate.  Its a guide of sorts for making things work a certain way. 





This is a nice picture.  Its not necessarily the the best for representing the Senate.  But it has a little point to it.  It is more or less probably the way the Senate operates or even converses on issues. 

Amendment XVI

Amendment XVI

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. 


This Amendment is pretty simple.  It explains the right for the government to collect taxes.  Every citizen has to pay taxes no matter how little or how big the amount of money they make. 



This is an interesting image.  I actually think its a little funny because of sometimes this the amount of money you may owe depending on what you make.  Its a spot on image though I think. 

Amendment XV

Amendment XV

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

This is the guaranteed right to vote for every citizen.  This says that this right will not be denied ever.  This Amendment prohibits denial by based race or color etc.  This is important because as an African American citizen this means everything to have voice no matter how small.  

I thought this picture was a good representation of this Amendment.  It also demonstrates someone exercising their right to vote.  

Amendment XIV

Amendment XIV

 Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection.

This is just a line of the actual Amendment.  Put simply this Amendment just states the rights that will always be guaranteed.  They are the rights of the people.  Its important for everyone to understand this Amendment and what it means for them.  For me it means that the rights listed in this Amendment are forever guaranteed.  Knowing your rights is important for everyone and I know because I am sure their other people like me who do not understand their rights. So this is just another Amendment of rights that everyone needs to know as well. 

This is a good picture that says how the rights of the citizens should be. 

Amendment XIII

Amendment XIII

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.


I believe this Amendment speaks volumes given the history of this country.  And the people of this country need to know about this Amendment.  Learn what it means and what it means for them.  This is a right of everyone and everyone needs to be aware of it I believe.  



I love this picture it demonstrates with great emphasis when slavery was no longer an acceptable option for any human being.  It signifies freedom and I think it captures this Amendment perfectly. 

Amendment XII

Amendment XII

The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;

This Amendment is important because it covers the right of the people for presidency.  This is important because its the rights of voter for the election of the president.  I did not add the whole Amendment here this is just the first part.  This is just an overview of what the Amendment states.  This is an important Amendment especially with the election that just passed and the millions of people that didn't vote at all.  Electing a president is a decision of the people.  Every person needs to vote because the vote does count. 

I think this is a good picture because its something that every citizen needs to understand.  Every person needs to re think what their notion about voting and what it means for electing a president. 

Amendment XI

Amendment XI

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

This Amendment I struggle to understand.  But simply put I think that this means that the judicial branch's powers will not be pushed to be involved in other disputes in law from other foreign states.  




I think this picture is great for just representing the Judicial System. 

Amendment X

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This Amendment is basically that the powers that are not specifically stated in the Constitution and are not for the US belong to the States.  This is the guide for state laws I would say.  The power to make laws relative to that states needs. 

This is a good colorful image representing what this Amendment means.  It helps explain it in visual form.  Plain and simple. 

Amendment IX

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

For me this basically means to me that there are a few specific rights that will be denied to the people.  I am not all that certain of the exact meaning of this particular Amendment but that's what I interpret it as. 



This is a great picture capturing the rights the people that they cannot be denied EVER!

Amendment VIII

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

This is just another extension of the other Amendments.  Excessive bails are permitted and not cruel and unusual punishment as well.  This is important because sometimes people cannot afford high bail penalty and if its a first time offense and they are not at risk of fleeing then bail has to be reasonable. To that is the way that I see it. 



This is a funny picture but it represents this Amendment for them to post bail making it reasonable to achieve that.