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The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a cornerstone of American democracy, guaranteeing fundamental rights related to religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition the government. Specifically, it protects freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to assemble peacefully, and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. -
The Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution addresses concerns that the enumeration of specific rights in the Bill of Rights might imply that those are the only rights the people have, and that the government could infringe upon other, unspecified rights. -
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, linked to the concept of a well-regulated militia. The amendment's text is: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." -
The Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, prohibits the government from forcing citizens to house soldiers in their private homes during peacetime. In times of war, this practice is allowed only when prescribed by law. It reflects the colonists' historical grievances against the British practice of quartering troops in their homes without consent. -
protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves in criminal cases, ensures that no one is subjected to double jeopardy for the same offense, and guarantees due process of law. -
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees several rights to individuals accused of crimes, ensuring a fair and just legal process. These rights include the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to an impartial jury, the right to be informed of the charges, the right to confront witnesses, the right to compel witnesses to appear, and the right to legal counsel. -
The Eleventh Amendment, ratified in 1795, limits the ability of individuals to sue states in federal court. It specifically prevents federal courts from hearing lawsuits against a state brought by citizens of another state or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state -
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the direct election of United States senators in each state. The amendment supersedes Article I, Section 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were appointed by state legislatures. -
The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. It's a key part of the Bill of Rights, safeguarding individuals from harsh penalties and ensuring fair treatment within the legal system. -
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. It requires that warrants be based on probable cause and specifically describe the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. This amendment is crucial for safeguarding personal privacy and property rights against unwarranted government intrusion. -
The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, is a crucial part of the Bill of Rights. It establishes the principle of federalism by stating that any powers not delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people. This means that the federal government only has the powers specifically granted to it by the Constitution, and any powers not listed are retained by the states or the people. -
The 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution addresses the procedure for electing the President and Vice President. It requires electors to cast separate ballots for each office, rather than voting for two presidential candidates as the original Constitution stipulated. This change was implemented to prevent situations like the 1800 election, where Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, both running for president, tied, and the House of Representatives had to decide the outcome. -
The 13th Amendment, ratified on December 6, 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as a punishment for a crime. It was the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments adopted after the Civil War and gave Congress the power to enforce it. The amendment's exception clause has been used to exploit prison labor, a system known as convict leasing, especially in the South. -
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and guaranteed all citizens "equal protection of the laws" and "due process of law" from the states. Originally passed to address the rights of formerly enslaved people, it has become the basis for many landmark civil rights cases and has profoundly impacted the legal landscape of the U.S. by applying the Bill of Rights to state governments. -
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, granted the right to vote to all male citizens, regardless of race, color, or "previous condition of servitude". While a landmark achievement that prohibited states from denying the right to vote based on these factors, its impact was limited for decades due to loopholes like literacy tests and poll taxes, which disenfranchised many African Americans until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified on April 8, 1913, established the direct election of U.S. senators by popular vote of the people in each state. -
grants Congress the power to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states based on population. This amendment allows the federal government to collect taxes on income "from whatever source derived" and was a direct response to a 1895 Supreme Court ruling that had made a federal income tax unconstitutional. This gave the federal government a new and major source of revenue, with individual federal income taxes now making up over half of the national government's total income. -
The 18th Amendment, also known as the Prohibition Amendment, prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors in the United States. It was ratified in 1919 but was later repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933, which returned control of alcohol regulation to the states. -
How the AP covered ratification of the 19th Amendment | AP NewsThe 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits denying the right to vote based on sex, officially granting women the right to vote nationwide. It was passed by Congress in 1919 and ratified on August 18, 1920, following decades of activism and struggle by the women's suffrage movement. -
The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution moved the start dates for presidential and congressional terms to shorten the "lame duck" period after an election. It establishes that presidential and vice-presidential terms begin at noon on January 20th, and congressional terms begin on January 3rd. The amendment also includes provisions for what happens if a president-elect dies or fails to qualify before inauguration day. -
The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, ending the era of national Prohibition of alcohol, which had been in effect since 1920. Ratified on December 5, 1933, this amendment gives states the authority to regulate alcohol, allowing individual states or municipalities to decide on their own prohibition laws. It is unique because it is the only amendment to have repealed another and was ratified by state conventions instead of state legislatures. -
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. -
The 23rd Amendment grants residents of Washington, D.C., the right to vote in U.S. presidential elections by giving the District electors in the Electoral College. Passed by Congress in 1960 and ratified in 1961, it ensures that D.C. citizens, who pay federal taxes and serve in the military, are not denied the right to vote for President and Vice President. -
The Twenty-fourth Amendment (Amendment XXIV) of the United States Constitution prohibits both Congress and the states from requiring the payment of a poll tax or any other tax to vote in federal elections. -
The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution deals with presidential succession and disability, outlining what happens if a president dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes incapacitated. It clarifies that the Vice President becomes President in case of a vacancy, and establishes a process for the President to voluntarily transfer power or for the Vice President to become Acting President if the President is unable to serve. -
The 26th Amendment, ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the national voting age from 21 to 18. This was largely a response to the Vietnam War, with the slogan "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" resonating as young men were drafted to serve but could not vote for the leaders making the decisions. The amendment states that the right of citizens to vote cannot be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age. -
The 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents Congress from giving itself a pay raise until after the next election of representatives has occurred. This amendment ensures that any pay raise for members of Congress cannot take effect until a new election has taken place, allowing constituents to vote on whether to re-elect them. It was originally proposed in 1789 but was not ratified until 1992 after a long campaign to revive it. -
The September 11th terrorist attacks were a series of four coordinated suicide attacks carried out by the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of September 11, 2001. The attacks involved 19 hijackers taking control of four commercial airplanes, which were then used as guided missiles against symbolic American targets. -
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) is a major federal law enacted to address voting irregularities observed during the 2000 U.S. Presidential election and to improve the administration of federal elections. It established minimum election administration standards and provided federal funding to states to help them meet these requirements and modernize their election processes. -
This act was passed to broaden the definition of "disability," overturning Supreme Court decisions that had narrowed the scope of who was protected under the original ADA. -
Signed into law by President Barack Obama, this legislation overturned a restrictive Supreme Court decision concerning the time period for filing employment discrimination complaints related to compensation, stating that each discriminatory paycheck is a separate violation. -
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was an environmental disaster beginning 20 April 2010 off the coast of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico, on the BP-operated Macondo Prospect. -
A shooter wounded Representative Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others in an assassination attempt. -
In the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, Republican nominee Donald Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a major upset, winning the Electoral College despite losing the national popular vote. -
The Trump administration removed climate change from its list of national security threats. -
The Trump administration ended the "zero tolerance" policy at the border. -
Supporters of the previous president stormed the U.S. Capitol, leading to multiple deaths and injuries. -
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, causing global food and energy crises and escalating international tensions. -
A major conflict erupted in October after Hamas's attack on Israel, leading to massive Israeli military operations in Gaza, huge casualties, and a humanitarian crisis. -
The Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo Supreme Court decision, issued June 28, 2024, famously overturned the Chevron doctrine. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that courts must now use their "independent judgment" to interpret statutes, finding Chevron inconsistent with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), meaning federal agencies have less power to define their own regulatory authority, impacting various regulated industries like fishing, environment, and benefits. -
Passed House (11/21/2024) Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. This bill postpones certain tax filing deadlines for U.S. nationals who are unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad or held hostage abroad and their spouses. -
On November 5, 2024, Republican Donald Trump won the 2024 United States presidential election, becoming the first U.S. president to be elected to a nonconsecutive second term since Democrat Grover Cleveland in 1892. The French and German governments lost votes of no confidence. -
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended by the Constitutional Court in July.
Peru Impeachment: President Din -
Recent Developments. The security situation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden remains serious, with new vessel attacks continuing to be reported. -
The major climate events of 2025, particularly in the United States, resulted in unprecedented economic impacts, with total global economic losses reaching an estimated $162 billion in the first half of the year. The most significant event was a series of wildfires in Southern California in January, which became the costliest wildfire event in US history. -
Major international gatherings in 2025, centered around the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA 80) in September, included key events like the Climate Summit for new national action plans, a Summit for a Sustainable Global Economy, high-level meetings on AI Governance, SDG progress, and the 30th anniversary of the Women's Beijing Declaration, alongside other significant global meetings like the SCO Summit, all focusing on global cooperation amidst geopolitical shifts. -
escalating climate disasters included devastating tropical cyclones like Hurricane Helene (deadliest U.S. since Katrina) and Hurricane Beryl, unprecedented wildfire events (e.g., in New Mexico), massive flooding in Brazil and Pakistan, and record-breaking heat, all intensified by human-caused climate change, leading to economic costs in the hundreds of billions and displacing millions globally, with 2024 ranking as the hottest year on record and second for U.S. billion-dollar disasters. -
In 2024, significant technological advancements, particularly in AI integration, occurred alongside the continuation and escalation of major global conflicts, most notably the Russo-Ukrainian War and the Middle East crisis. A notable trend was the integration of AI into military technology and its influence on information warfare. -
In 2025, major large-scale humanitarian challenges were driven primarily by ongoing armed conflicts, extreme climate events, and severe funding shortfalls for aid operations. The most acute crises were in Sudan, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Gaza), and Myanmar. -
the Fram2 mission successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on March 31, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center, carrying four private astronauts into a historic polar orbit (90° inclination) for a multi-day spaceflight to study Earth and human health, marking the first crewed mission to fly over the poles. -
Peru's political landscape is marked by frequent presidential turnover, with recent impeachments including Dina Boluarte in October 2025 (due to surging crime and moral incapacity claims) and earlier presidents like Pedro Castillo (accused of leading a criminal organization) and Martín Vizcarra (corruption allegations).