United States Constitution
First Amendment (1791)
Protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
Fourth Amendment (1791)
Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, ensuring privacy rights.
Fifth Amendment (1791)
Guarantees due process, protects against self-incrimination, and prohibits double jeopardy.
Also read:
- https://nexgenlegalaid.com/30-minute-overview-understanding-the-role-of-constitutional-law-in-modern-governance/
- https://nexgenlegalaid.com/40-landmark-constitutional-cases-that-shaped-history/
- https://nexgenlegalaid.com/20-frequently-asked-questions-about-constitutional-law/
Thirteenth Amendment (1865)
Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
Fourteenth Amendment (1868)
Granted equal protection under the law, due process, and birthright citizenship.
Fifteenth Amendment (1870)
Prohibited denying voting rights based on race, color, or previous servitude.
Nineteenth Amendment (1920)
Gave women the right to vote, which opened up democratic participation.
Twenty-Second Amendment (1951)
Limited the U.S. President to two terms to ensure that leadership was turned over.
Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971)
Reduced the voting age to 18 years of age to recognize young people’s political rights.
Indian Constitution
First Amendment (1951)
Strengthened affirmative action policies and land reforms.
Forty-Second Amendment (1976)
It is also known as the “mini-constitution.” It expanded the directive principles and included “socialist” and “secular” in the Preamble.
Seventy-Third Amendment (1992)
Introduced Panchayati Raj (local governance), which empowers rural self-government.
Eighty-Sixth Amendment (2002)
Education was declared a fundamental right for children in the age group of 6-14 years.
South African Constitution (Post-Apartheid)
Constitutional Amendment Act No. 34 (1996)
Scrapped apartheid laws and entrenched equality, human dignity, and freedom.
Canadian Constitution
Constitution Act, 1982 (Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
It entrenched fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, and minority language rights.
German Basic Law
Article 1 Amendment (1949)
Declared human dignity inviolable and laid a foundation for post-war democracy in Germany.
United Kingdom
Parliament Acts (1911 and 1949)
Restricted the House of Lords power and further cemented parliamentary democracy.
Australian Constitution
1967 Referendum (Amendment)
Aboriginal Australians were included in the census, and the federal government could now make laws regarding them.
South Korean Constitution
Ninth Amendment (1987)
Transformed South Korea from decades of military rule to full democracy.
Brazilian Constitution
Amendment No. 45 (2004)
Judicial reforms to ensure better effectiveness and accountability of Brazilian courts.
Japanese Constitution
Article 9 (1947)
Renounced war as a sovereign right and outlawed the maintaining of armed forces (a ceremonial and highly contentious act).
French Constitution
Amendment of 1962
Enabled the President to be elected directly by the people, further democratizing participation.
Mexican Constitution
Article 27 (1917)
Instituted land reforms and prohibited foreign alienation of natural resources.
South African Constitution
Amendment Act No. 108 (1996)
Ratified legislation that replaced laws of the apartheid regime with an instrument of equality and human rights.
Universal Influence
European Convention on Human Rights (1950)
Though not a constitutional amendment, it has significantly contributed to constitutional law throughout Europe by protecting rights of the person.
Conclusion
These amendments have shaped nations’ histories, expanded freedoms, and adapted governance to changing societal needs. They represent milestones in the ongoing evolution of constitutional law worldwide.
