Isabella Carter
The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress on March 4, 1794, and ratified by the states on February 7, 1795. It restricts the ability of individuals to bring suit against states of which they are not citizens in federal court. The amendment was proposed following the Supreme Court's ruling in Chisholm v. Georgia, where the Court held that states did not enjoy sovereign immunity from suits made by citizens of other states in federal court. The Eleventh Amendment clarified Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, which gives diversity jurisdiction to the judiciary to hear cases between a state and citizens of another state. The amendment reflects the shift of power between federal and state authority and has been interpreted to maintain a balance between the two.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date proposed | March 4, 1794 |
| Date ratified | February 7, 1795 |
| Objective | To prevent suits against states by citizens of other states or by citizens or subjects of foreign jurisdictions |
| Type of Amendment | Explanatory Amendment |
| Clause | Article III, Section 2, Clause 1 |
| Court Cases | Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), Osborn v. Bank of the United States (1824), Hollingsworth v. Virginia (1798), Fitzpatrick v. Bitzer (1976), Pennsylvania v. Union Gas Co. (1989), Seminole Tribe v. Florida (1996) |
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What You'll Learn
- The Eleventh Amendment clarified Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution
- It was the first Constitutional Amendment after the Bill of Rights
- It was adopted to overrule the Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia
- The Amendment barred suits against states by citizens of other states
- It did not bar suits against states by their own citizens
The Eleventh Amendment clarified Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution
The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress on March 4, 1794, and ratified by the states on February 7, 1795. It was the first Constitutional amendment adopted after the Bill of Rights. The Eleventh Amendment restricts the ability of individuals to bring suit against states of which they are not citizens in federal court.
The origins of this amendment date back to an argument surrounding Article III of the Constitution. A key provision of Article III authorizes the federal courts to hear legal disputes between parties from different states and foreign countries. Opponents of the Constitution were concerned that this provision would allow individual citizens to sue states.
The Eleventh Amendment was proposed to overturn the result in Chisholm v. Georgia, in which the Supreme Court determined that a South Carolina citizen's lawsuit against the state of Georgia was authorized by the Constitution. The Amendment clarified Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, which gives diversity jurisdiction to the judiciary to hear cases "between a state and citizens of another state." The Amendment states that the judicial power "shall not be construed to extend" to such suits. This type of Amendment is known as an explanatory amendment because it seeks to explain or correct a misinterpretation of a pre-existing legal text.
The Eleventh Amendment is one of the Constitution's provisions that reflect the shift of power between federal and state authority. It has been interpreted to maintain an ever-changing balance between federal and state powers. The Amendment has been challenged in a series of Supreme Court decisions, particularly in the 20th century, as states' rights expanded. While the Amendment's text does not mention suits brought against a state by its own citizens, the Supreme Court has ruled that it applies to all federal suits against states brought by private parties.
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It was the first Constitutional Amendment after the Bill of Rights
The Eleventh Amendment was the first Constitutional Amendment after the Bill of Rights. It was proposed by the 3rd Congress on March 4, 1794, and ratified by the states on February 7, 1795. The amendment was a response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), where the Court held that federal courts could hear cases brought by private citizens against states and that states did not have sovereign immunity from such lawsuits.
The Eleventh Amendment clarified Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, which gives diversity jurisdiction to the judiciary to hear cases "between a state and citizens of another state." The text of the amendment states: "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 established that federal courts do not have the authority to hear cases brought by private citizens against a state of which they are not citizens.
The Eleventh Amendment is often referred to as an "explanatory amendment" because it sought to correct a misinterpretation of Article III. It reflects the shift in power between federal and state authority and maintains the balance between them. The amendment was challenged in the 20th century with the trend of expanding states' rights, and its interpretation has evolved over time through various Supreme Court decisions.
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It was adopted to overrule the Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia
The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1795 to overrule the Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793). The amendment was proposed to prevent suits against states by citizens of other states or foreign countries without the consent of the defendant state.
Chisholm v. Georgia was a significant Supreme Court case that ruled in favor of Alexander Chisholm, a citizen of South Carolina, who sued the state of Georgia for damages amounting to $500,000. The Court held that Article III, Section 2 grants federal courts jurisdiction in cases between a state and a citizen of another state, with the state as the defendant. This ruling surprised the states, and they called for an amendment to the Constitution to address this issue.
The Eleventh Amendment was proposed on March 4, 1794, and ratified on February 7, 1795, by 12 of the then 15 states. The text of the amendment states: "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 reflects the shift of power between federal and state authority and maintains the balance between them.
The amendment did not change the Constitution but sought to restore the preferred construction of Article III judicial power. It clarified that citizens of one state or foreign countries can only sue a state with the state's consent or if Congress abrogates the states' immunity from suit under specific circumstances. This amendment was challenged in the 20th century with the trend of expanding states' rights, but it remains an important aspect of the Constitution, shaping the relationship between federal and state authority.
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The Amendment barred suits against states by citizens of other states
The Eleventh Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified on February 7, 1795. It grants states immunity from lawsuits filed by citizens of other states, foreign citizens, or subjects. The text of the amendment reads:
> "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."
The origins of the Eleventh Amendment can be traced back to a dispute over the interpretation of Article III, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states that the "judicial Power shall extend [...] to Controversies between two or more States;—between a State and Citizens of another State;—between Citizens of different States;—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens, or Subjects."
Opponents of the Constitution argued that this provision could allow individual citizens to sue states. In response, supporters either reassured that this was unlikely or acknowledged that it was intended to hold states accountable to federal law. However, the Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia in 1793, which allowed a South Carolina citizen to sue the state of Georgia, prompted concerns about the interpretation of Article III. As a result, Massachusetts Senator Caleb Strong introduced the Eleventh Amendment to overturn this decision and prevent similar lawsuits in the future.
The Eleventh Amendment has been interpreted and challenged over time, with varying levels of legal immunity granted to states from lawsuits brought by parties from different states and countries. While it generally bars suits against states by out-of-state citizens, there have been exceptions and expansions. For example, in certain circumstances, individuals may bring constitutional and statutory cases against states if the state's sovereign immunity has been waived or abrogated by Congress. Additionally, the Supreme Court has allowed suits against state officers, even if the suit seeks to prevent future violations of federal law by those officers.
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It did not bar suits against states by their own citizens
The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on February 7, 1795. It restricts the ability of individuals to bring suit against states of which they are not citizens in federal court. The text of the amendment does not mention suits brought against a state by its own citizens.
The Eleventh Amendment was proposed on March 4, 1794, and was the first Constitutional amendment adopted after the Bill of Rights. The amendment was directed at overturning the result in Chisholm v. Georgia, in which the Supreme Court determined that a South Carolina citizen's lawsuit against the state of Georgia was authorized by the Constitution. The amendment's supporters wanted to prevent suits against states by citizens of other states or by citizens or subjects of foreign jurisdictions.
The Eleventh Amendment did not bar suits against states by their own citizens because it was intended to address a specific issue: the ability of individuals to bring suits against states of which they were not citizens. The amendment was a response to the Supreme Court's interpretation of Article III, which gave federal courts the power to hear cases between citizens of different states. The amendment clarified that federal courts did not have the authority to hear cases brought by private parties against a state of which they were not citizens.
While the Eleventh Amendment did not bar suits against states by their own citizens, it did establish the principle of sovereign immunity, which protects states from certain types of lawsuits. In some cases, states have waived their immunity by initiating or participating in litigation, or by consenting to the plan of the Constitutional Convention. Additionally, Congress has the authority to abrogate state sovereign immunity under certain circumstances, such as in cases of discriminatory practices or bankruptcy.
In summary, the Eleventh Amendment changed the Constitution by restricting the ability of individuals to bring suit against states of which they are not citizens in federal court. It did not bar suits against states by their own citizens but rather clarified the balance of power between federal and state authority and established the principle of sovereign immunity for states.
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Frequently asked questions
The 11th Amendment to the United States Constitution restricts the ability of individuals to bring suit against states of which they are not citizens in federal court.
The 11th Amendment was the first Constitutional amendment adopted after the Bill of Rights. It was also one of the provisions that reflected the shift of power between federal and state authority.
The 11th Amendment rendered the states immune from lawsuits from out-of-state citizens and foreign individuals. It also meant that states did not have to hear lawsuits filed against them when the charges were based on federal law.
The 11th Amendment was proposed on March 4, 1794, and ratified on February 7, 1795. It was a response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), where the Court held that states did not have sovereign immunity from suits made by citizens of other states in federal court.
The 11th Amendment did not change the Constitution but sought to restore the preferred construction of Article III judicial power. It clarified that federal courts do not have the authority to hear cases brought by private parties against a state of which they are not citizens.
