Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the United States has been amended twenty-seven times since it was ratified in 1788. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were passed in 1789 and ratified in 1791. These amendments form the foundation of American law and include the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion, and the Second Amendment, which protects the right to bear arms. Amendments can be proposed by Congress and must be ratified by three-fourths of the states to become part of the Constitution. Notable amendments include the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, the Seventeenth Amendment, which changed the way U.S. Senators are elected, and the Twenty-Second Amendment, which limited presidents to two terms in office. The most recent amendment, the Twenty-Seventh Amendment, addresses congressional compensation and was ratified in 1992.
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What You'll Learn
- The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights
- The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments are the Reconstruction Amendments
- The Twenty-Second Amendment limits presidents to two terms
- The Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18
- The Twenty-Seventh Amendment concerns Congressional Compensation
The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. They were passed in 1789 and ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments form the foundation of American law and include some of the most important rights and freedoms enjoyed by US citizens.
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government. The Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, while the Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in civilian homes during peacetime without consent. The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures, while the Fifth Amendment guarantees various rights for individuals in criminal and civil cases, including protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination.
The Sixth Amendment outlines the rights of the accused, including the right to a speedy trial, legal counsel, and an impartial jury. The Seventh Amendment guarantees civil trial rights, while the Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. The Ninth Amendment addresses unenumerated rights, asserting that the rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are retained by the people. Finally, the Tenth Amendment emphasises federalism by stating that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
These first ten amendments were adopted and ratified simultaneously, reflecting their fundamental importance to the American political system and the protection of individual liberties. They have been instrumental in shaping US law and governance, ensuring that the rights of citizens are upheld and providing a framework for legal proceedings.
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The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments are the Reconstruction Amendments
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the US Constitution, known collectively as the Reconstruction Amendments, were ratified between 1865 and 1870. These amendments were passed in the aftermath of the Civil War and were essential to reuniting the nation. They brought about significant changes, ending slavery, ensuring citizenship and civil rights, and expanding voting rights.
The 13th Amendment, passed in 1865, outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude within the United States and its jurisdictions. It stated that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime... shall exist within the United States". This amendment formed the legal basis for freeing enslaved people, particularly Black women, who gained new rights to control their labour, bodies, and time.
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, guaranteed birthright citizenship and ensured equal protection under the law. It affirmed that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens with privileges and immunities that no state could abridge. This amendment also granted men the right to vote, stating that male citizens over 21 years old could not be denied suffrage based on race, colour, or previous servitude.
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, further expanded voting rights by prohibiting the denial or abridgement of voting rights based on race, colour, or previous servitude. This amendment ensured that all men, regardless of race, had the right to vote. However, it did not grant women the right to vote, and literacy tests and poll taxes remained in place, impacting the ability of some to cast their ballots.
The Reconstruction Amendments provided the constitutional framework for enforcing civil rights and addressing the issues faced by freed African Americans during Reconstruction. They empowered Congress to pass legislation such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875 and the Enforcement Acts of 1870-71 to protect the rights and safety of African Americans in the face of growing violence and intimidation from groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
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The Twenty-Second Amendment limits presidents to two terms
The Twenty-Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, limits the president to two terms in office. The amendment states that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice". Additionally, it specifies that anyone who has served as president for more than two years of a term that another person was elected to shall not be elected to the office more than once.
The Twenty-Second Amendment was created in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms as president from 1932 to 1944. The amendment has been the subject of much debate, with attempts made by presidents and Congress members from various political affiliations to modify or repeal it. Supporters of repealing the amendment argue for consistent leadership during crises and allowing non-consecutive terms for eligible presidents with longer life expectancies.
Prior to the Twenty-Second Amendment, the precedent for term limits was set by George Washington, the first President of the United States, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms. For 150 years, this tradition was largely adhered to, but the unique circumstances of the 20th century brought the issue of term limits to the forefront. After Franklin D. Roosevelt served two full terms, he ran for and won the 1940 presidential election, serving an unprecedented fourth term.
The Twenty-Second Amendment outlines stipulations regarding the eligibility of succession for unfinished presidential terms. It specifies that the amendment does not apply to anyone holding the office of president when the amendment was proposed by Congress. Additionally, it allows individuals holding the office of president during the term in which the amendment becomes operative to complete their term. For the amendment to be effective, it required ratification by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states within seven years of its submission.
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The Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18 years. The amendment states:
> "The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age."
Before the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, states had the authority to set their own minimum voting ages, with 21 being the national standard. The drive to lower the voting age gained momentum during the 1960s, influenced by the military draft for the Vietnam War, which conscripted young men between the ages of 18 and 21. The slogan "old enough to fight, old enough to vote" reflected the argument that if citizens were old enough to serve in the military, they should be able to vote.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was proposed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and passed with overwhelming support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It was ratified by three-fourths of the states within four months, making it the fastest amendment ratification process in US history. The amendment faced legal challenges, such as the Supreme Court case Oregon v. Mitchell, which held that Congress could not unilaterally lower the voting age for state and local elections.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment has been significant in expanding voting rights and ensuring that younger citizens have a voice in the political process. It has been interpreted as prohibiting age-based discrimination in voting and has been invoked in court cases to defend the voting rights of college students.
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The Twenty-Seventh Amendment concerns Congressional Compensation
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment, also known as the Congressional Compensation Act of 1789, concerns the compensation of members of Congress. It states that any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress may only take effect after the next election of the House of Representatives has occurred. The amendment aims to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment's history spans over two centuries, from the Colonial Era to the 1990s. During the 1787 Federal Convention, there was a debate over whether the compensation for members of Congress should be determined by the Constitution, the Members themselves, or the state legislatures. Ultimately, it was decided that the national government would compensate Members of Congress, with amounts set by congressional legislation.
The amendment was first proposed in 1789, along with eleven other amendments, but it was not ratified by enough states at that time. It was largely forgotten until 1982, when Gregory Watson, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote a paper arguing that it was still relevant and could be added to the Constitution. Watson's campaign gained traction, and by 1992, enough states had ratified the amendment, making it the most recently adopted amendment.
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment has seen limited litigation since its ratification. While it prevents direct changes to the salaries of members of Congress until after elections, it does not affect cost-of-living adjustments issued by Congress. The unusual circumstances of its ratification, over 200 years after it was proposed, have also raised questions about the process for amending the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 27 amendments to the US Constitution.
The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were passed in 1789 and ratified in 1791.
The most recent amendment was the Twenty-Seventh Amendment, ratified in 1992, which states that any changes in pay for members of Congress cannot be implemented until after an election.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age to 18.
