Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was put into operation on March 4, 1789. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. Since then, amendments have been added periodically, with the most recent one, Amendment XXIII, being passed by Congress on June 16, 1960, and ratified on March 29, 1961. The process of amending the Constitution involves proposals by Congress or a national convention, followed by ratification by a specified number of states. The last proposal to gain the necessary support for submission to the states was the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment in 1978.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments proposed to the US Constitution | 11,848 (as of January 3, 2019) |
| Number of amendments to the Constitution | 27 |
| Date the first 10 amendments were ratified | December 15, 1791 |
| Date the Constitution was put into operation | March 4, 1789 |
| Date the First Congress of the US proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution | September 25, 1789 |
| Date the 27th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified | 1992 |
| Date Amendment XXIII was passed by Congress | June 16, 1960 |
| Date Amendment XXIII was ratified | March 29, 1961 |
| Date Amendment XXIV was passed by Congress | August 27, 1962 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments)
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights was proposed by the First Congress of the United States on September 25, 1789, as a series of twelve amendments to the Constitution. Ten of these twelve proposed amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on December 15, 1791, and became the first ten amendments of the Constitution, or the US Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights includes a series of restrictions on governmental power, protecting the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to peaceful assembly, among others. The first ten amendments also reserve powers to the states that are not explicitly delegated to the federal government by the Constitution.
The Bill of Rights was not initially applied to state governments, but in the 20th century, the Supreme Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause applied the Bill of Rights to state action through the process of selective incorporation. This process has resulted in the Bill of Rights constraining both state and federal governments.
The two articles proposed in 1789 that were not ratified at the time were Article 1, which concerned apportionment and congressional salaries, and Article 2, which was ratified as the 27th Amendment in 1992. Article 2 states that laws changing the compensation of Congress may not take effect until after the next election of representatives, thereby preventing members of Congress from granting themselves raises without an election intervening.
Texas' Constitutional Amendment Elections: When and Why?
You may want to see also
The Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, 15th)
The Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) were adopted between 1865 and 1870, in the five years immediately following the American Civil War. They are also known as the Civil War Amendments. These amendments were essential to reuniting the United States during Reconstruction, and the 13th and 14th Amendments had to be ratified by the Confederate states for them to be readmitted to the Union.
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was proposed in 1864 and ratified on 1 February 1865. The 14th Amendment, proposed in 1866 and ratified in 1868, addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws for all persons. It also ensured that the Bill of Rights applied to all citizens of the United States, regardless of race. The 15th Amendment, the last of the Reconstruction Amendments, was proposed in 1869 and ratified on 3 February 1870. It prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, colour, or previous condition of servitude".
The Reconstruction Amendments provided the constitutional basis for enforcing and implementing Reconstruction and the passage of federal legislation such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875 and the Enforcement Acts of 1870-71. They were intended to guarantee the freedom of the formerly enslaved, grant certain civil rights, and protect the newly freed and all citizens of the United States. These amendments remain in use and are frequently cited. They laid the groundwork for greater racial justice and equality in the United States.
The First Amendment's Journey to the US Constitution
You may want to see also
Amendment process
The authority to amend the Constitution of the United States is derived from Article V of the Constitution. The process of amending the U.S. Constitution is complex and involves collaboration between federal and state levels of government. It ensures that each proposed amendment reflects a broad consensus and is a testament to the strength and adaptability of American democracy.
The first step in the amendment process is for Congress to propose an amendment in the form of a joint resolution. The President does not have a constitutional role in this process, and the joint resolution does not require their approval. Once approved by Congress, the joint resolution is forwarded to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), specifically the Office of the Federal Register (OFR), for processing and publication. The OFR adds legislative history notes, assembles an information package for the states, and publishes the joint resolution in slip law format.
The Archivist of the United States, who heads NARA, then submits the proposed amendment to the states for their consideration by sending a letter of notification to each state's governor. Each governor formally submits the amendment to their state's legislature or ratifying convention. There are two methods of ratifying amendments: state legislature ratification and ratification through a state convention.
State legislature ratification, the most common method, requires the approval of the legislatures in three-fourths (38 out of 50) of the states. This method ensures widespread support for any changes to the Constitution and empowers states to have a direct say in the process. Ratification through a state convention, on the other hand, involves holding conventions in three-fourths of the states specifically to consider the amendment. This method has been used only once in American history, in the 1933 ratification of the Twenty-First Amendment.
Once an amendment is ratified by the necessary number of states, it becomes an operative part of the Constitution. The OFR examines the ratification documents for legal sufficiency and an authenticating signature. If the documents are in order, the Director acknowledges receipt and maintains custody of them. The OFR then drafts a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify that the amendment is valid and has become part of the Constitution. This certification is published in the Federal Register and U.S. Statutes at Large, serving as official notice that the amendment process is complete.
In recent years, the signing of the certification has become a ceremonial function attended by dignitaries, including the President. The rigorous amendment process ensures that changes to the Constitution are well-deliberated and widely agreed upon, reflecting evolving societal values and needs.
Voting on Amendments: When is it Allowed?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ratification
The process of amending the US Constitution is a complex and lengthy one. Since the Constitution was put into operation on March 4, 1789, there have been 27 successful amendments, with 33 proposed to the states for ratification.
Amendments can be proposed by Congress, requiring a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, or by a national convention called by Congress on the application of two-thirds of state legislatures. This latter method has never been used.
Once an amendment is proposed, it is sent to the states for ratification. The Archivist of the United States is responsible for administering the ratification process. For an amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by three-quarters of the states (38 states since 1959). This can be done through the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously on December 15, 1791. Interestingly, these amendments were proposed by the First Congress in 1789, with 12 amendments suggested. However, only 10 of these were ratified in 1791, with Article 2 eventually becoming the 27th Amendment in 1992, and Article 1 never being ratified.
The process of ratification has evolved over time. Since the early 20th century, Congress has occasionally stipulated a ratification deadline, usually within seven years of an amendment's submission to the states. This authority was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1939.
As an example of a more recent amendment, Amendment XXIII was passed by Congress on June 16, 1960, and ratified on March 29, 1961. It addressed the District constituting the seat of the US government and its appointment of electors for the election of the President and Vice President.
In summary, the ratification process for constitutional amendments in the United States involves proposals by Congress or state legislatures, followed by ratification by a specified number of states. The process has been refined over time, ensuring a careful and considered approach to changing the nation's foundational document.
The Constitution's Last Amendments: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
Unsuccessful amendments
The US Constitution has 27 amendments, with approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution having been introduced in Congress since 1789. Of these proposals, 33 amendments have been proposed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. However, only 27 have been ratified by the requisite number of states and are part of the Constitution.
James Madison proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution, but only 10 were approved and ratified, becoming the Bill of Rights. The first of the two that were not ratified would have established how members of the House of Representatives would be apportioned to the states, ensuring that members of the House would represent small constituencies even as the population grew. The second amendment forbade Congress from giving itself a pay raise. Although this amendment did not initially gain enough state ratifications, it eventually became the 27th amendment in 1992 due to the efforts of university student Gregory Watson, who lobbied state legislatures to ratify it.
Other unsuccessful amendments include the Titles of Nobility Amendment in 1810, which aimed to revoke citizenship from Americans who accepted titles of nobility from foreign countries. The 1828 Amendment to Outlaw Dueling also failed to gain support, despite dueling being a common practice in the 18th and 19th centuries. Similarly, an amendment proposed in 1860 to abolish the presidency and elect two individuals to share executive power did not succeed, despite concerns over slavery and presidential power.
Interpreting Constitutional Amendments: Understanding the Blank Space
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The first 10 amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The 27th amendment was added in 1992, 203 years after it was first proposed.
Approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789.
