Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution, first put into operation on March 4, 1789, has been amended 27 times, with approximately 11,848 proposals to amend it having been introduced in Congress as of January 3, 2019. The first 10 amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The 27th and most recent amendment was ratified in 1992, 203 years after it was first proposed. In this article, we will explore the length of the amended constitution and provide insights into the number of words it contains.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments to the US Constitution | 27 |
| Number of words in the first 10 amendments | 497 |
| Number of proposals to amend the Constitution since 1789 | ~11,848 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's 27 amendments
The US Constitution is made up of seven articles that were signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. Since then, there have been 27 amendments to the Constitution. The first ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The process of amending the Constitution is detailed in Article Five of the US Constitution. Amendments must be properly proposed and ratified before becoming operative. This can be done through a two-thirds majority vote 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.
The first ten amendments include the freedom of speech, the right to keep and bear arms, and the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures. Other amendments include the process to be followed if there is no President or President-elect, and the appointment of electors of the President and Vice President in the District constituting the seat of the US government.
One notable amendment is Amendment XVIII, passed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified on January 16, 1919, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors within the United States. This amendment was later repealed by Amendment 21.
Since 1789, approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress. While many proposals are made during each two-year term of Congress, none made in recent decades have become part of the Constitution.
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The Bill of Rights
The United States Constitution has 27 amendments, beginning with the Bill of Rights, which comprises the first 10 amendments. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791, and added to the Constitution to address the objections raised by Anti-Federalists, who wanted power to remain with state and local governments. It was also added to limit the government's power and protect individual liberties.
The First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The Second Amendment states that "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 states that "no Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
The Fourth Amendment states that "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
The Ninth Amendment states that "the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
The Tenth Amendment states that "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."
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The process of amending the constitution
The process of amending the US Constitution is outlined in Article V, which sets forth the amendment process and is believed to be the key to the Constitution's success. The process was built into the Constitution to ensure that adding amendments is challenging enough to maintain the document's permanence, but not so difficult that it risks violent revolution.
Once a proposal has been passed, it is sent to the state legislatures for ratification. Here, the amendment must be ratified by three-quarters of the state legislatures, or 38 out of 50 states, for it to become a permanent part of the Constitution.
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The first 10 amendments
The United States Constitution has 27 amendments, with the first 10 amendments forming what is known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. The Second Amendment, also known as the "Right to Bear Arms," states that a well-regulated militia is necessary for the security of a free state, and that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in civilian homes during peace or war without the owner's consent or a prescribed legal manner.
The Fourth Amendment guarantees the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, while the Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes. These include the requirement for serious criminal charges to be initiated by a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, the right against self-incrimination, and the right to due process of law.
The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for those accused, including the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, and the right to confront witnesses and be represented by counsel. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases. The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail and fines and bars cruel and unusual punishment.
The Ninth Amendment states that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people, while the Tenth Amendment affirms that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people.
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The Reconstruction Amendments
The 13th Amendment, proposed in 1864 and ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States, except as punishment for a crime. The measure was swiftly ratified by all but three Union states: Delaware, New Jersey, and Kentucky.
The 14th Amendment, proposed in 1866 and ratified in 1868, addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law for all persons. It defines all people born in the United States as citizens, requires due process of law, and guarantees equal protection to all. Thaddeus Stevens, the Republican floor leader in the House of Representatives, was a key figure in the struggle for equal rights for African Americans and was among the first to advocate for the emancipation of slaves during the Civil War.
The 15th Amendment, proposed in 1869 and ratified on February 3, 1870, prohibits federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, colour, or previous condition of servitude. This amendment was a response to the erosion of voting rights for African Americans in the late 19th century, as by 1869, voting rights were restricted in all states to white men. The narrow election of Ulysses S. Grant to the presidency in 1868 convinced Republicans of the importance of protecting the franchise of black men.
While these amendments were intended to guarantee the freedom and civil rights of formerly enslaved people and protect them and all citizens of the United States, their promise was not fully realized until the 20th century. State laws and federal court decisions throughout the late 19th century, such as the Jim Crow laws, undermined the gains made by the Reconstruction Amendments. It was not until the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 and the passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960s that the full benefits of these amendments were secured.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is made up of seven articles and 27 amendments. The first 52 words introduce the articles and amendments that follow. In total, there are approximately 4,543 words in the US Constitution.
There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution, with the first 10 being ratified on December 15, 1791, and known as the Bill of Rights.
Yes, approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789.
The Bill of Rights is made up of 499 words.
