Malcolm Rivera
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, amendments have been passed by Congress and ratified by the states on a rolling basis. For example, Amendment XXI, which repealed the 18th Amendment and prohibited the transportation of intoxicating liquors, was passed by Congress on February 20, 1933, and ratified on December 5, 1933. The most recent amendment, Amendment XXII, was passed by Congress on March 21, 1947, and ratified on February 27, 1951. It stipulates that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of proposals to amend the Constitution since 1789 | 11,848 (as of January 3, 2019) |
| Number of amendments proposed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification since 1789 | 33 |
| Number of amendments ratified by the requisite number of states | 27 |
| First 10 amendments (known as the Bill of Rights) ratified | December 15, 1791 |
| Date Amendment XXII passed by Congress | March 21, 1947 |
| Date Amendment XXII ratified | February 27, 1951 |
| Articles modified by amendments | Article I, Article II |
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What You'll Learn
- The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791
- The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are collectively referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments
- Article I, Section 2 was modified by Section 2 of the 14th Amendment
- Article II, Section 1 was superseded by the 12th Amendment
- Congress affirmed a seven-year deadline for amendments to be ratified by states in 1939
The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791
The United States Constitution has been amended numerous times since it was put into operation on March 4, 1789. Amendments to the Constitution are proposed and ratified to address concerns and adapt the nation's foundational document to changing circumstances.
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments were proposed in response to concerns about potential tyranny by the central government under the newly drafted Constitution. The Bill of Rights defines citizens' rights and freedoms and limits the power of the federal government.
The process of amending the Constitution involves proposals from Congress being sent to the states for ratification. For an amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by a specified number of states within a certain time frame, typically seven years from the date of its submission to the states. This requirement ensures that any changes to the Constitution reflect the consensus of a significant portion of the country.
The Bill of Rights was unique in that all 10 amendments were adopted and ratified simultaneously, rather than individually, by three-fourths of the state legislatures. This batch of amendments addressed a range of issues, including citizens' rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms, as well as protections like due process and trial by jury.
The ratification of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791, marked a significant milestone in the history of the United States, solidifying the rights and freedoms of its citizens and shaping the country's governance for generations to come.
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The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are collectively referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the US Constitution are collectively referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments. Ratified between 1865 and 1870, these amendments were essential to reuniting the country in the aftermath of the Civil War and abolishing slavery. They also addressed the legal and political status of African Americans, granting them citizenship, civil rights, and voting rights.
The 13th Amendment, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, abolished slavery in the entirety of the United States. It prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crimes. The amendment also granted Congress the power to enforce this through appropriate legislation.
The 14th Amendment, passed by Congress on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868, ensured that the Bill of Rights applied to all citizens of the United States, regardless of race. It established birthright citizenship and guaranteed due process and equal protection under the law. This amendment also eliminated the three-fifths rule and punished states that denied male citizens over 21 the right to vote.
The 15th Amendment, which was ratified in 1870, secured voting rights for Black men. It prohibited denying anyone the right to vote based on race or previous servitude. This amendment ensured that Black men could vote in all states, marking a significant step towards racial justice and equality.
The Reconstruction Amendments were written and ratified by the Republican Party in the 1860s, with opposition from the Democrats. These amendments provided the legal basis for enforcing Reconstruction policies and passing federal legislation, such as the Civil Rights Acts and the Enforcement Acts. Despite challenges and loopholes sought by some, these amendments remain crucial references in modern times, influencing Supreme Court decisions and continuing to shape discussions around racial equity in the United States.
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Article I, Section 2 was modified by Section 2 of the 14th Amendment
Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution was modified by Section 2 of the 14th Amendment, which was passed by Congress on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868. This amendment addressed citizenship and the rights of citizens, specifically those born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction. It affirmed that such individuals are citizens of the United States and the state in which they reside.
Section 2 of the 14th Amendment also included provisions to prevent states from abridging the privileges or immunities of US citizens. It guaranteed that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Additionally, it emphasized the concept of "equal protection of the laws," ensuring that no person within a state's jurisdiction would be denied equal protection. This phrase, "equal protection of the laws," has been frequently litigated and referenced in landmark cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, and Bush v. Gore.
The apportionment of representation in the House of Representatives was addressed in Section 2 as well. It stated that representatives shall be apportioned among the states according to their respective numbers, counting all persons in each state except untaxed Indians. This modification was made in response to the abolition of slavery by the 13th Amendment, aiming to reduce state representation based on the proportion of male citizens denied voting rights.
The 14th Amendment has been the subject of proposed modifications over time. In 1937, Senator William Borah suggested a constitutional amendment that would repeal and revise it. Borah's proposal included excluding substantive due process rights and eliminating the Section 2 penalty for denied voting rights. However, this amendment did not come to fruition.
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Article II, Section 1 was superseded by the 12th Amendment
The Twelfth Amendment (Amendment XII) to the United States Constitution was proposed by Congress on December 9, 1803, and ratified by three-quarters of state legislatures on June 15, 1804. It changed a portion of Article II, Section 1, which established the Electoral College. The Twelfth Amendment modified the way the Electoral College chooses the president and vice president.
Initially, under Article II, Section 1, Clause 3, each elector cast two electoral votes, with no distinction between electoral votes for president and electoral votes for vice president. The presidential candidate who received the most votes was elected president, and the runner-up became vice president. This often meant that the president and vice president were from different parties, leading to differences in political views and making governance more difficult.
The Twelfth Amendment provided that each elector must cast distinct votes for president and vice president, instead of two votes for president. It also allowed each party to nominate their team for president and vice president, ensuring that the president and vice president were from the same party. The Twelfth Amendment also specified that the president and vice president should not be from the same state.
In addition, the Twelfth Amendment addressed the issue of deadlocks in the Electoral College. It provided that if the House did not choose a president before March 4 (then the first day of a presidential term), the vice president-elect would "act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President". This provision was later superseded by the Twentieth Amendment in 1933, which changed the date upon which a new presidential term commences to January 20.
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Congress affirmed a seven-year deadline for amendments to be ratified by states in 1939
The US Constitution has been amended several times since it was first put into operation on March 4, 1789. Amendments are proposed by the US Congress and sent to the states for ratification. For an amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
In 1939, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed Congress's authority to set a ratification deadline for amendments. In Coleman v. Miller (307 U.S. 433), the Court upheld Congress's specification of a seven-year time limit for the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, which established Prohibition. The case involved a determination of whether Congress had the power to set a deadline for ratification and, if so, whether the time period for ratification was reasonable.
The Dillon Court decided that Congress did indeed have the authority to set a ratification deadline. This decision was based on Congress's power to determine the mode of ratification, such as by state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. The Court also recognized the practical benefit of a definite period for ratification, ensuring that states were aware of the time frame within which they needed to act.
However, it's important to note that the Court also stated that regardless of a specified deadline, the time period for ratification must be reasonable. This statement was later considered non-binding dicta in the Coleman v. Miller case. Since 1917, Congress has set a seven-year deadline for the ratification of every proposed amendment, except for the Nineteenth Amendment, which recognized women's suffrage.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 27 amendments to the US Constitution.
33 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have been ratified by the requisite number of states.
Three-fourths of US states, or 38 out of 50 states, must ratify an amendment for it to become part of the Constitution.
The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
