Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times, with the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, being ratified simultaneously in 1791. Amendments 11–27 were subsequently added and cover a range of topics, including lawsuits against states, presidential elections, and senatorial elections. The 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors, was repealed by the 21st Amendment. The most recent amendments cover congressional pay raises and the voting rights of citizens of the District constituting the seat of government of the United States. To amend the Constitution, an amendment must be proposed and ratified by either a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or a national convention called by Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments after the first 17 | 10 |
| Total number of Amendments to the Constitution | 27 |
| Number of proposed Amendments | 33 |
| Number of Amendments proposed but not ratified | 6 |
| Number of Amendments still pending | 4 |
| Amendment after the 17th | 18th Amendment – Prohibition of liquor |
| 19th Amendment – Women's suffrage | |
| 20th Amendment – Terms of office | |
| 21st Amendment – Repeal of Prohibition | |
| 22nd Amendment – Term limits for the Presidency | |
| 23rd Amendment – Washington, D.C., suffrage | |
| 24th Amendment – Abolition of poll taxes | |
| 25th Amendment – Presidential succession | |
| 26th Amendment – 18-year-old suffrage | |
| 27th Amendment – Congressional pay raises |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Amendment 18: Prohibition of liquor
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, also known as "The Beginning of Prohibition", prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within the United States. The movement towards prohibition began in the colonial era, but it was in the late 19th century that the cause for temperance gained national attention. The Anti-Saloon League, for instance, called for local and state legislatures to vote out alcohol consumption across the country. By the beginning of the 20th century, many Protestant and Catholic churches had allied with the League, arguing that prohibition would help eliminate political corruption, domestic violence, and prostitution, which were seen as being caused by alcohol.
By 1916, twenty-three states had enacted laws against alcohol and saloons. The following year, the Senate passed a resolution containing a proposed prohibition amendment. Passed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified on January 16, 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment banned the sale, manufacture, distribution, and transportation of alcohol across the country. However, it did not forbid the consumption, possession, or production of alcohol for private, personal use.
To enforce and define the Amendment's language, Congress passed the National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, on October 28, 1919. The legislation distinguished between the illegality of alcohol designed for consumption and authorized alcohol for scientific, religious, and industrial purposes. Despite the Act, the Eighteenth Amendment led to a sudden surge in illegal alcohol manufacturing, with criminal organizations such as Al Capone's Chicago Outfit making millions of dollars in underground alcohol sales. The public perception of the Amendment turned from generally positive to negative by the end of the 1920s, as gambling and prostitution also increased amid the Prohibition Era.
The Eighteenth Amendment was eventually repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933.
Amendments: Expanding Rights and Freedoms Beyond the Bill of Rights
You may want to see also
Amendment 19: Women's suffrage
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, guarantees American women the right to vote. It was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920. The text of the amendment reads:
> "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
The campaign for women's suffrage was long and difficult, dating back to the early 19th century. Women organized, petitioned, and picketed to win the right to vote, facing fierce resistance from opponents. The amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1878 but was rejected in 1887. In the following decades, suffrage organizations focused on a national amendment while also working at the state and local levels. By 1912, nine western states had adopted women's suffrage legislation, and in the decade leading up to the 19th Amendment's passage, 23 states granted women full or partial voting rights.
The fight for women's suffrage was deeply intertwined with the movement to abolish slavery and the broader women's rights movement. Notable activists in the fight for women's suffrage include Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Lucretia Mott, Ida B. Wells, Sarah and Angelina Grimké, Lucy Burns, Alice Paul, and Carrie Chapman Catt. The passage of the 19th Amendment was a significant milestone in the expansion of voting rights in the United States, but the struggle for full enfranchisement continued for women of color, who faced discriminatory state voting laws and racial discrimination. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the addition of Section 203 in 1975, that the promise of the 19th Amendment became a reality for most women of color.
The Emancipation Proclamation: Constitution Amendment for Freedom
You may want to see also
Amendment 20: Terms of office
The Twentieth Amendment of the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on March 2, 1932, and ratified on January 23, 1933, outlines the terms of office for the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives. It specifies that the terms of the President and Vice President end at noon on the 20th of January, while the terms of Senators and Representatives end at noon on the third day of January of the election years. This amendment ensures a smooth transition of power by establishing a clear timeline for the ending and beginning of terms for these elected officials.
Prior to the Twentieth Amendment, there was no fixed date for the beginning of a presidential term, which led to potential issues and confusion. The amendment addressed this by establishing noon on January 20 as the specific time and date for the commencement of the presidential term. This provided clarity and ensured a consistent and orderly transfer of power.
In addition to the term dates, the Twentieth Amendment also addresses the situation where the President-elect dies before taking office. In such a scenario, the amendment stipulates that the Vice President-elect shall assume the role of President. This provision ensures a clear line of succession and helps maintain stability during the transition of power.
The amendment also mandates that Congress must assemble at least once a year, with the meeting commencing at noon on the third day of January, unless a different date is legally appointed. This provision ensures the continuity of legislative functions and allows for the timely conduct of governmental affairs.
The Twentieth Amendment played a crucial role in shaping the terms of office and the transition of power for key governmental positions in the United States. It provided clarity, consistency, and stability to the process, ensuring a smooth transfer of power and the effective functioning of the government.
The US Constitution: Post-Civil War Amendments
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Amendment 21: Repeal of Prohibition
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was ratified on January 16, 1919, imposed a nationwide prohibition on alcohol. While many Americans continued to drink alcoholic beverages, as the laws did not forbid their consumption, an underground market for alcohol formed. This led to an increase in illegal alcohol production to meet demand, and criminal organisations, such as the Chicago Outfit led by Al Capone, became involved in this illicit trade.
By the 1930s, public sentiment towards prohibition had turned negative, and Congress was pressured to act. On February 20, 1933, Congress proposed a new amendment to end prohibition, which was ratified on December 5, 1933. This was the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution, also known as the Repeal of Prohibition. It repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, which had established a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol.
The Twenty-first Amendment is unique among the 27 amendments to the Constitution for being the only one to repeal a prior amendment. It is also the only amendment to be ratified by state ratifying conventions rather than state legislatures. The text of the Twenty-first Amendment states that the Eighteenth Amendment "is hereby repealed" and prohibits the transportation or importation of intoxicating liquors into any state, territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use in violation of the laws thereof.
Following the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment, a series of Supreme Court decisions have been made regarding Section 2 of the Amendment, which prohibits the importation of alcohol into states and territories that have laws prohibiting the importation or consumption of alcohol. Several states have argued in favour of their implied authority to regulate the transportation of certain types of alcoholic beverages. These rulings have set general guidelines regarding the limitations of advertising beverages, their prices, and allowed percentages in certain counties and municipalities within states.
Cuba's Constitution: A Story of Amendments
You may want to see also
Amendment 22: Term limits for the presidency
The Twenty-Second Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1951, limits the president of the United States to being elected to office no more than twice. This amendment was passed after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms in office, in 1940 and 1944.
The exact wording of the amendment is as follows:
> "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress."
Commentary on the Twenty-Second Amendment suggests that there are several issues with its meaning and application. For example, the amendment does not prevent someone who has been twice elected president from succeeding to the office after having been elected or appointed Vice President. Broader language that would have prevented a two-term president from holding the office of president again under any circumstances was rejected.
The Twenty-Second Amendment has yet to be applied.
Amendments to the 1973 Constitution: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There have been 27 amendments to the US Constitution, with the first 10 being ratified simultaneously as the Bill of Rights.
Article Five of the US Constitution outlines a two-step process for amendments: they must be proposed and then ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 states).
The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors within the United States. It was ratified in 1919 and later repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are collectively known as the Reconstruction Amendments. They address the abolition of slavery, civil rights, and Black suffrage, respectively.
