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 on December 15, 1791. Since then, there have been many notable amendments, including the 11th Amendment, which was passed by Congress on March 4, 1794, and ratified on February 7, 1795, modifying Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution regarding the judicial power of the United States. The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude within the United States, superseded a portion of Article IV, Section 2. The 14th Amendment, passed by Congress on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868, modified Article I, Section 2, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and guaranteeing their privileges and immunities. The 18th Amendment, ratified in 1919, established the prohibition of alcohol, but it was later repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933. These amendments illustrate the dynamic nature of the US Constitution, adapting to the evolving needs and values of the nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| First 10 amendments | The Bill of Rights |
| Amendment proposal methods | By the legislature, by constitutional convention, or by voter initiative |
| Amendment adoption | Ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 of 50 States) |
| Amendment methods | Interwoven into existing sections or appended as supplemental additions |
| Difficulty of amendment | Very difficult and time-consuming |
| Examples of amendments | Outlaw flag burning, crime victims' rights amendment, voluntary school prayer, abolish the Electoral College, women's right to vote, enacted and repealed Prohibition, abolished poll taxes, lowered the voting age |
| Number of amendments in Alabama | 977 |
| Number of amendments in Australia | 8 |
| Liberal amendment process | Austria |
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What You'll Learn
The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was first drafted in 1787. The first ten amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. James Madison wrote the amendments to limit government power and protect individual liberties. The amendments were a compromise between Federalists, who advocated for a strong national government, and Anti-Federalists, who wanted power to remain with state and local governments.
The First Amendment prohibits the government from establishing a religion or impeding the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to assemble and petition the government. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in civilian homes without the owner's consent. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and arrests by the government.
The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to due process, protection against double jeopardy, and protection against self-incrimination. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for people accused of crimes, including the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, and the right to confront witnesses. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases. 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. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution to the states or the people. These first ten amendments, or the Bill of Rights, form a crucial part of the US Constitution, safeguarding individual freedoms and civil liberties while limiting the power of the federal government.
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The 11th Amendment modified Article III, section 2
The Constitution of the United States has been amended 27 times since it was drafted in 1787. The 11th Amendment, also known as Amendment XI, is one such example. Passed by Congress on March 4, 1794, and ratified by the states on February 7, 1795, this amendment specifically modified Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution.
Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution outlines the judicial power of the United States. The 11th Amendment clarified that this judicial power does not extend to suits in law or equity brought against one of the United States by citizens of another state or foreign state. In other words, it restricts the ability of individuals to bring legal suits against states of which they are not citizens in federal court.
The 11th Amendment was a response to the Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), where it was held that states did not have sovereign immunity from suits made by citizens of other states. The amendment established that federal courts do not have the authority to hear cases brought by private parties against a state unless they are citizens of that state.
However, the interpretation and application of the 11th Amendment have evolved over time through various Supreme Court rulings. For example, in Ex parte Young (1908), the Court ruled that federal courts may enjoin state officials from violating federal law, even in the context of sovereign immunity. Additionally, in Fitzpatrick v. Bitzer (1976), the Court allowed Congress to abrogate state immunity from suit under Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The 11th Amendment continues to shape the relationship between federal courts and state sovereignty, with the Supreme Court providing further clarifications and exceptions to its original interpretation.
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The 13th Amendment abolished slavery
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1865, formally abolished slavery in the country. The amendment states that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." This amendment was a significant development in the history of the United States, as it guaranteed the end of slavery and greatly expanded the civil rights of Americans.
The 13th Amendment was preceded by President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-controlled areas, and thus almost all slaves, were free. While the Emancipation Proclamation was a crucial step towards emancipation, it did not end slavery nationwide as it only applied to areas of the Confederacy in rebellion and not to the "loyal" border states that remained in the Union. Lincoln recognised that a constitutional amendment was necessary to truly abolish slavery and ensure that it could not be reinstated.
The 13th Amendment was passed by the Senate in April 1864 and by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865. It was then ratified by the required number of states (27 out of 36 at the time) on December 6, 1865, and proclaimed on December 18, 1865. The amendment process was challenging and time-consuming, requiring a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states.
The 13th Amendment is one of the three Reconstruction Amendments adopted following the American Civil War, along with the 14th and 15th Amendments, which further expanded civil rights and protected the freedoms of Americans. The 13th Amendment not only abolished slavery but also granted Congress the power to enforce this provision through appropriate legislation, ensuring that slavery could not be reinstated in the future.
The abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment was a pivotal moment in the history of the United States, marking a significant step towards equality and civil rights for all Americans. It demonstrated the country's commitment to upholding the fundamental human rights of all individuals and set the stage for further advancements in civil rights legislation.
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The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to all persons born in the US
The Constitution of the United States has been amended 27 times since it was first drafted in 1787. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. The process of amending the Constitution is a difficult and time-consuming task, requiring a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
One of the most significant amendments is the 14th Amendment, which was passed by Congress on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868. This amendment extended the liberties and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to formerly enslaved people and guaranteed equal civil and legal rights to Black citizens.
A key provision of the 14th Amendment is the Citizenship Clause, which states that "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." This clause grants citizenship to all persons born in the United States, regardless of their parents' citizenship status. The only exceptions to this rule are children born to diplomatic representatives of foreign states, children born to alien enemies in hostile occupation, and children of members of Indian tribes subject to tribal laws.
The 14th Amendment also includes the Privileges or Immunities Clause, which states that "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." This clause ensures that citizens of the United States are afforded certain rights and privileges that cannot be taken away by state legislation. For example, in Insurance Co. v. New Orleans (1870), it was held that corporations, as non-citizens, could not claim the protection of the Privileges and Immunities Clause.
The 14th Amendment has had a significant impact on the rights and liberties of citizens in the United States, particularly in extending these protections to formerly enslaved people and Black citizens. It continues to be a crucial part of the Constitution, shaping the legal landscape and guaranteeing equal rights for all persons born or naturalized in the country.
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The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th, ending alcohol prohibition
The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1919, mandated a nationwide prohibition on alcohol. While the amendment was the result of years of advocacy by the temperance movement, it soon proved to be highly unpopular. Despite the new laws, many Americans continued to drink, and an underground market for alcohol emerged, leading to an increase in illegal activity and organised crime.
By the 1930s, public sentiment towards prohibition had shifted, and Congress was compelled to act. On February 20, 1933, Congress proposed a new amendment to end prohibition, marking the first time in history that a new amendment was sent out for ratification by state ratifying conventions.
The 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment, was ratified on December 5, 1933, when Utah's state convention unanimously ratified it. This amendment was unique among the 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as it was the only one to repeal a prior amendment.
While the 21st Amendment lifted the nationwide ban on alcohol, it did not prevent states from regulating the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol. Several states continued to be "dry states" in the years following the repeal, and some still closely regulate alcohol distribution today.
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