Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, with the first 10 being known as the Bill of Rights. The process of amending the US Constitution is a two-step procedure, as outlined in Article Five of the US Constitution. An amendment must be proposed and ratified before becoming operative. Amendments can be proposed by the US Congress, requiring a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or by a national convention called by Congress on the application of two-thirds of state legislatures. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, either through their legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Since 1789, there have been approximately 11,000 proposals to amend the Constitution, with members of the House and Senate proposing around 200 amendments during each two-year term of Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| First 10 Amendments | Known as the Bill of Rights |
| Date of Ratification of the First 10 Amendments | December 15, 1791 |
| Number of Proposals to Amend the Constitution | Approximately 11,848 |
| Number of Proposals per Congress Term | Approximately 200 |
| Number of Amendments Proposed by Congress | 33 |
| Number of Amendments Not Ratified by Required Number of States | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution has 27 amendments
The US Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. The process of amending the US Constitution is detailed in Article Five of the US Constitution. Amendments must be properly proposed and ratified before becoming operative.
The US Congress can propose an amendment when a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives deem it necessary. Alternatively, a national convention can be called by Congress on the application of two-thirds of state legislatures. However, this option has never been used.
For an amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states. This can be done through the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. The Twenty-first Amendment, ratified in 1933, is the only amendment to be ratified through state ratifying conventions.
Since 1789, over 11,000 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress. However, only 27 amendments have been successfully ratified and become part of the US Constitution.
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The first 10 are the Bill of Rights
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, with the first 10 being the Bill of Rights. These amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791, and were designed to limit government power and protect individual liberties. James Madison wrote the amendments, which were influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and other similar documents.
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government. It also prohibits Congress from making laws that infringe on these freedoms. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, while the Third Amendment states that no soldier can be quartered in a house without the owner's consent, except as prescribed by law.
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens' right to be secure in their homes from unreasonable government intrusion and requires a warrant for searches and arrests. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, and protection against self-incrimination. It also states that property cannot be taken away without just compensation and that no one can be imprisoned without due process of law.
The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for those accused of crimes, including the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, and the right to confront witnesses and have their own witnesses. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in Federal civil cases, while the Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
The Ninth Amendment states that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights not explicitly mentioned. Finally, the Tenth Amendment states that the Federal Government only has the powers delegated to it by the Constitution, with all other powers being reserved for the states or the people.
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The 13th, 14th, and 15th are Reconstruction Amendments
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are known as the Reconstruction Amendments.
These amendments were passed following the US Civil War and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. They built on the president's Emancipation Proclamation and served to cement the abolitionist values of the Union in law. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the entirety of the United States, granting Congress the right to enforce this with appropriate legislation.
The 14th Amendment ensured that the Bill of Rights applied to all citizens of the United States of America, regardless of race. It also ensured birthright citizenship and due process, as well as "equal protection of the laws" under federal and state governments. This amendment eliminated the three-fifths rule and punished states that did not permit male citizens over 21 years old to vote by reducing their proportional representation.
The 15th Amendment secured voting rights for Black men, making it illegal to refuse them the right to vote based on race or previous conditions of servitude. This amendment was passed in response to the creation of Black Codes by white southerners, which sought to restrict the rights of freedmen.
The Reconstruction Amendments were essential to reuniting the country after the Civil War. They provided the constitutional basis for the enforcement of Reconstruction and the passage of federal legislation such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875, and the Enforcement Acts of 1870-71. These acts aimed to end slavery, ensure full citizenship, civil rights, and voting rights for African Americans, and address growing violence and intimidation against them in the South.
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The 18th prohibited alcohol
The United States Constitution is a remarkable document, and a flexible one, with the ability to be amended and adapted over time. This flexibility is important as it allows the nation's foundational document to remain relevant and reflective of the changing societal values and needs. One of the most famous amendments, and a unique one in that it repealed an earlier amendment, is the 18th Amendment, which prohibited alcohol nationwide.
The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution was unique in its purpose and impact. Ratified in 1919, it represented a significant moment in the history of the nation and a turning point in social policy. The amendment stated:
> "After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited."
This amendment was the culmination of decades of advocacy and activism by the temperance movement, which had argued that alcohol was a destructive force in society, leading to a range of social issues including domestic violence, poverty, and political corruption. The movement had gained significant traction during the progressive era, with the amendment being one of the key goals of activists.
The impact of the 18th Amendment was immediate and profound. It effectively made the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol illegal, leading to the closure of breweries, distilleries, and saloons across the nation. The amendment also had a significant impact on social life, with drinking, which had been a common and accepted part of social gatherings, now driven underground. Speakeasies, illegal bars, and underground drinking establishments became common, and a new era of organized crime emerged, with gangs and mobsters, most famously Al Capone, taking advantage of the lucrative illegal alcohol trade.
While the amendment was intended to improve society and reduce the ills associated with alcohol, it had a range of unintended consequences. The illegal nature of alcohol production and sales led to a range of issues, including dangerous bootleg alcohol, which could cause illness and even death, and the rise of powerful criminal gangs who fought violently for control of the black market. It also led to a significant loss of tax revenue for the government, which had previously gained a sizeable income from alcohol taxes.
The 18th Amendment was eventually repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933, marking the end of the prohibition era. The failure of prohibition highlighted the challenges of attempting to regulate morality through legal means, and the lessons learned continue to influence drug and alcohol policy to this day.
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Amendments must be proposed and ratified
The United States Constitution has 27 amendments, with the first 10 being known as the Bill of Rights. The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article Five of the Constitution and involves two steps: proposing and ratifying. This process was designed to balance the need for change with stability.
An amendment can be proposed in two ways. Firstly, it can be proposed by the US Congress when a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives agree. Secondly, a national convention can propose an amendment if two-thirds of state legislatures (34) request one. This second option has never been used.
Once proposed, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38) to become part of the Constitution. This can be done through the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. The Archivist of the United States is responsible for administering the ratification process, and upon successful ratification, they issue a certificate declaring the amendment operative.
The amendment process is challenging and time-consuming. Since 1789, approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress, but none in recent decades have been successful. The last amendment, the 27th, was ratified in 1992, with the President witnessing the certification.
Six amendments have been adopted by Congress but have not been ratified by the required number of states. Four are still pending, while the other two have failed by their own terms or the terms of the proposing resolution.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 27 amendments to the Constitution of the USA.
Since the Constitution was put into operation on March 4, 1789, 33 amendments have been proposed by the US Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
As of January 3, 2019, approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789.
The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
Amendments must be properly proposed and ratified before becoming operative. Amendments can be proposed by the US Congress, whenever a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives deem it necessary. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
