Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was put into operation on March 4, 1789. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. Since then, approximately 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have been ratified by the requisite number of states and are part of the Constitution. The process of amending the Constitution is governed by statutes enacted by Congress, which stipulate that an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states to become part of the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of amendments proposed | 11,000-11,848 |
| Total number of amendments ratified | 27 |
| Number of amendments in the Bill of Rights | 10 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | 15 December 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
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, 17 more amendments have been added, the most recent of which was ratified in 1933.
The process of amending the Constitution is a lengthy one. 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. However, it is challenging to get an amendment proposal passed by both the House and the Senate and sent to the states for ratification. The last time this happened was in 1978 with the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment.
Once an amendment proposal is sent to the states, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 states since 1959) to become part of the Constitution. This can be done through the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Only one amendment, the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933, has been ratified through state ratifying conventions. This amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, which established the prohibition of alcohol.
The 27 amendments to the Constitution cover a range of topics, including the rights of citizens, the election and terms of Senators, and the powers of Congress. The exact number of amendments is sometimes disputed, as some sources count the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, as a single amendment, while others count them as separate amendments. Nonetheless, the US Constitution has one of the most stable amendment processes and records in the world.
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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 were ratified on December 15, 1791, and are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote the amendments to limit government power and protect individual liberties. The Bill of Rights was influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason, as well as English documents such as the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment protects the 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, and the Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in civilian homes without consent. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring a warrant for government intrusion into their homes.
The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, just compensation for property, and protection against self-incrimination and imprisonment without due process. 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 a lawyer. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases, while the Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.
The Ninth Amendment states that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights retained by the people, while the Tenth Amendment affirms that the federal government only has the powers delegated to it by the Constitution.
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11,000+ amendments have been proposed
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, beginning with the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, which were ratified in 1791. However, since 1789, there have been approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution introduced in Congress. This figure is as of January 3, 2019, and it is likely that this number has increased since then.
Collectively, members of the House and Senate typically propose around 200 amendments during each two-year term of Congress. Interestingly, none of the proposals made in recent decades have become part of the Constitution. Most of these proposals died in the congressional committees to which they were assigned. Since 1999, only about 20 proposed amendments have received a vote by either the full House or Senate.
The last time a proposal gained the necessary two-thirds support in both the House and the Senate for submission to the states was the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment in 1978. An amendment may be proposed and sent for ratification by the US Congress 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 for this purpose, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states. However, this option has never been used.
To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states. The legislatures of these states, or state ratifying conventions, can do this. So far, the only amendment to be ratified through this method is the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933. This amendment is also unique in that it explicitly repeals an earlier one, the Eighteenth Amendment (ratified in 1919), which established the prohibition of alcohol.
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200 proposed per Congress term
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The process of amending the Constitution is a complex one, and it is interesting to note that out of the more than 11,000 proposals put forward, only 27 amendments have been successfully ratified.
The first 10 amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments are significant as they outline fundamental rights and civil liberties, including freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms.
The process of proposing and ratifying amendments has evolved over time. An amendment can be proposed by Congress when a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives agree on its necessity. Alternatively, a national convention called by Congress on the application of two-thirds of state legislatures can also propose amendments. However, this option has never been utilised.
To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified. Ratification can occur through the legislatures of three-fourths of the states (38 states) or via state ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states. Despite the high number of proposals, the last successful amendment was in 1978, demonstrating the challenging nature of the amendment process.
The large number of proposals, approximately 200 per Congress term, reflects the dynamic nature of American politics and the ongoing efforts to shape and refine the nation's governing document. While many proposals are routinely made, the majority fail to gain traction and are assigned to congressional committees, where they ultimately falter.
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Amendments require three-fourths state ratification
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times, with the first 10 amendments being ratified together as the Bill of Rights in 1791. The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V of the Constitution, which provides two methods for ratifying amendments.
The first and most common method involves legislatures of three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50 states) ratifying the amendment. This method ensures that any changes to the Constitution reflect a broad consensus and have widespread support across the country. It empowers states to have a direct say in the foundational legal document that governs them and promotes a balanced and representative form of governance.
The second method, which has been used only once for the ratification of the 21st Amendment, involves conventions in three-fourths of the states. This method is employed when a more direct form of democratic participation is necessary. It allows states to reflect the will of their constituents directly and ensures that the amendment process is constitutional.
Once an amendment is ratified by three-fourths of the states, it becomes a valid part of the Constitution. The Archivist of the United States certifies the amendment and publishes this certification in the Federal Register and U.S. Statutes at Large. This serves as official notice to Congress and the nation that the amendment process has been completed.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, the first 10 of which are known as the Bill of Rights.
As of January 3, 2019, approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789.
33 amendments have been proposed and sent to the states for ratification.
