Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times, with 33 amendments proposed by the United States Congress. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The process of amending the Constitution is detailed in Article Five, which outlines a two-step process requiring proper proposal and ratification. Amendments can be proposed by Congress or 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. This process was designed to balance the need for change with stability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of proposed amendments | 11,000+ |
| Number of ratified amendments | 27 |
| Number of proposed amendments in the Bill of Rights | 12 |
| Number of ratified amendments in the Bill of Rights | 10 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | December 15, 1791 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution are collectively known as 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, then a member of the US House of Representatives, wrote the amendments, which were influenced by documents such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Magna Carta, and the English Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment prohibits the government from establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, abridging freedom of speech or of the press, and infringing on the right of the people to assemble and petition the government. The Second Amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms, while the Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private residences without the owner's consent.
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens' right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and arrests. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to due process of law and protection against double jeopardy. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to a speedy and public trial and the right to an impartial jury.
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 or disparage other rights retained by the people. Finally, the Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution to the states or to the people.
Understanding the Constitution: VI.2
You may want to see also
The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are the Reconstruction Amendments
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, with the first 10 known as the Bill of Rights. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, also known as the Reconstruction Amendments, were ratified between 1865 and 1870 following the US Civil War. These amendments were essential to reuniting the country during Reconstruction, and they ended slavery, ensured birthright citizenship, guaranteed due process, and provided "equal protection of the laws" under federal and state governments.
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the entirety of the United States and granted Congress the right to enforce this with appropriate legislation. The 14th Amendment ensured that the Bill of Rights applied to all citizens, regardless of race, and it eliminated the three-fifths rule, punishing states that did not permit male citizens over 21 to vote. It also barred those who had engaged in insurrection or rebellion or given aid to enemies of the US from holding public office.
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. However, despite these amendments, Southern state legislatures created segregation laws and voting restrictions that targeted Black people specifically, such as poll taxes and literacy tests. These Jim Crow laws and Black Codes sought to circumvent the Reconstruction Amendments and worsen conditions for Black individuals, women, and children during Reconstruction.
The Reconstruction Amendments provided the constitutional basis for federal legislation such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875 and the Enforcement Acts of 1870-1871. While these amendments were controversial and inspired resentment, they also served as a foundation for racial justice and equity in the United States. They remain significant today, with ongoing efforts to uphold or undermine their principles.
The Emancipation Proclamation: 13th Amendment to the US Constitution
You may want to see also
Amendments must be proposed and ratified to be operative
The process of amending the Constitution of the United States is outlined in Article Five of the Constitution. This process involves two steps: proposing an amendment and subsequently ratifying it. This two-step process was designed to balance the need for change with the need for stability.
An amendment can be proposed in two ways. Firstly, it can be proposed by the U.S. Congress, provided there is a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Secondly, it can be proposed at a national convention called by Congress upon the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures (34 since 1959). However, this second option has never been used. Once proposed, the amendment is sent to the states for ratification.
The Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is responsible for administering the ratification process. The Archivist notifies each state governor of the proposed amendment, and the governors then submit the amendment to their state legislatures or ratifying conventions, depending on what Congress has specified. An amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50) to become part of the Constitution. This can be achieved through the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states.
The ratification process does not have a specified deadline, but Congress has, on several occasions, stipulated a timeframe for ratification. Once an amendment is ratified by the required number of states, the Archivist issues a certificate declaring it an operative part of the Constitution. This certification is published in the Federal Register and U.S. Statutes at Large, serving as official notification to Congress and the nation.
Amending the Philippine Constitution: Unnecessary and Risky
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Congress governs the constitutional amendment process
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, with the first 10 being known as the Bill of Rights. Approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789, with members of the House and Senate proposing around 200 amendments during each two-year term of Congress.
Congress plays a crucial role in the constitutional amendment process, as outlined in Article V of the Constitution. An amendment can be proposed by Congress when a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives deem it necessary. Congress can also call for a national convention for this purpose, upon the application of legislatures of two-thirds of the states (34 since 1959). However, this option has never been exercised.
Once an amendment is proposed by Congress, the Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is responsible for administering the ratification process. The Archivist works in conjunction with the Director of the Federal Register, following procedures established by the Secretary of State and the Administrator of General Services.
After an amendment is proposed, it is submitted to the states for ratification. For an amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50 states). The ratification process can vary, with some states taking action before receiving official notice. When a state ratifies an amendment, it sends an original or certified copy of the state action to the Archivist, who then transfers it to the Director of the Federal Register for examination.
The Office of the Federal Register (OFR) examines the ratification documents for legal sufficiency and authenticity. If the documents are in order, the Director acknowledges receipt and maintains custody until the amendment is adopted or fails. Once an amendment is ratified by the required number of states, the OFR drafts a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify its validity. This certification is published in the Federal Register, marking the completion of the amendment process.
The Path to Constitutional Amendments: Exploring Invalid Routes
You may want to see also
The US Constitution has 27 amendments
The US Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. Since then, 11,000–11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress, with members of the House and Senate typically proposing around 200 amendments during each two-year term of Congress.
Thirty-three amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification since the Constitution was put into operation on March 4, 1789. Twenty-seven of these amendments have been ratified by the requisite number of states and are now part of the Constitution. Six amendments adopted by Congress and sent to the states have not been ratified by the required number of states. Four of those amendments are still pending, one has failed by its own terms, and one has failed by the terms of the resolution proposing it.
An amendment may be proposed and sent to the states for ratification by either a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or a national convention called by Congress on the application of two-thirds of state legislatures. However, this latter option has never been used. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
The Eighteenth Amendment, ratified in 1919, established the prohibition of alcohol. The Twenty-first Amendment, ratified in 1933, repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and is the only amendment to have explicitly repealed an earlier one. The Twenty-seventh Amendment, ratified in 1992, is the most recent amendment to be added to the Constitution.
The Supremacy Clause: Ensuring State Laws' Constitutionality
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There have been 27 amendments to the US Constitution.
More than 11,000 amendments have been proposed, 33 of which have been proposed by the US Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
