Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times, with approximately 11,848 proposals introduced in Congress since 1789. Amendments are proposed and ratified through a two-step process outlined in Article Five of the Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment, passed by Congress on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868, is considered one of the most consequential amendments, addressing citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. It was a response to issues affecting freed slaves following the Civil War and has been frequently litigated, forming the basis for landmark Supreme Court decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| First 10 Amendments | Ratified on December 15, 1791 |
| Known as the Bill of Rights | |
| 11th Amendment | Passed by Congress on March 4, 1794 and ratified on February 7, 1795 |
| 12th Amendment | Passed by Congress on December 9, 1803 and ratified on June 15, 1804 |
| 13th Amendment | Superseded a portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution |
| Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude | |
| 14th Amendment | Passed by Congress on June 13, 1866 and ratified on July 9, 1868 |
| Addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law | |
| Overturned the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision that African Americans could not become citizens | |
| Applied the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause to the eminent domain power of state governments | |
| 15th Amendment | Prohibits the denial of voting rights based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" |
| 21st Amendment | The only amendment that explicitly repeals an earlier one, the 18th Amendment, ending alcohol prohibition |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Fourteenth Amendment
> 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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
This amendment extended the liberties and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to formerly enslaved people, guaranteeing equal civil and legal rights to Black citizens. It also granted citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States," which included formerly enslaved people.
A key component of the Fourteenth Amendment is the phrase "equal protection of the laws," which has been central to several landmark cases, including Brown v. Board of Education (racial discrimination), Roe v. Wade (reproductive rights), and Bush v. Gore (election recounts). This phrase ensures that no state can deny any person within its jurisdiction equal protection under the law.
Additionally, the Fourteenth Amendment addresses the right to vote and representation in Congress. It states that if any male citizen over the age of twenty-one is denied the right to vote or has their right to vote abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of representation for that state shall be reduced proportionally.
Furthermore, the amendment includes provisions regarding insurrection and rebellion. It states that anyone who has taken an oath as a member of Congress or as an officer of the United States and then engages in insurrection or rebellion against the United States shall not hold any office under the United States or any State. However, Congress may remove this disability by a two-thirds vote of each House.
Fundamental Duties: Amendment Act Explained
You may want to see also
The Reconstruction Amendments
The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment represented a significant milestone in the struggle for equal rights for Black Americans, as it irrevocably ended the legal practice of slavery.
The 14th Amendment, proposed in 1866 and ratified in 1868, addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law for all persons. It defines all people born or naturalized in the United States as citizens and guarantees their right to due process and equal protection under the law. Thaddeus Stevens, the Republican floor leader in the House of Representatives, was a key figure in advocating for this amendment, reflecting his lifelong commitment to the struggle against slavery and for equal rights.
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibits federal and state governments from denying any citizen the right to vote based on race, colour, or previous condition of servitude. This amendment was a response to the erosion of voting rights for Black men in the late 19th century and aimed to protect their franchise.
While these Reconstruction Amendments were important milestones in the struggle for civil rights and equality, their promise was initially undermined by state laws and federal court decisions in the late 19th century. It was not until the mid-20th century, with Supreme Court decisions like Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 and legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, that the full benefits of these amendments were realised.
The Secret Conference: Constitution Bill Amendments
You may want to see also
The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights serves as a cornerstone of American democracy, guaranteeing a broad range of fundamental rights and civil liberties for all citizens.
One of the most significant amendments in the Bill of Rights is the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the right to petition the government. This amendment has been instrumental in shaping political discourse and allowing for the free exchange of ideas in the United States. It also guarantees the freedom of the press, ensuring that journalists and media outlets can operate without censorship or interference from the government.
Another crucial amendment is the Second Amendment, which states, "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This amendment has been the subject of much debate and interpretation, with some arguing for strict gun control measures and others advocating for a more expansive reading of the right to bear arms.
In addition to these well-known amendments, the Bill of Rights also includes protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, as outlined in the Fourth Amendment. This amendment requires law enforcement officers to obtain a warrant based on probable cause before conducting a search or seizure, safeguarding the privacy and security of American citizens.
Amendment History: 17th Amendment's Addition to the Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The process of amending the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States has been amended 27 times since it was first drafted in 1787. The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V of the Constitution.
Once an amendment is proposed, it must be ratified. Ratification can occur in two ways. Firstly, the legislatures of three-fourths of the states can ratify the amendment. Secondly, ratification conventions in three-fourths of the states can ratify the amendment. The mode of ratification is decided by Congress.
After Congress proposes an amendment, the Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is responsible for administering the ratification process. The Archivist has delegated many of the duties associated with this function to the Director of the Federal Register. The Director of the Federal Register adds legislative history notes to the joint resolution and publishes it in slip law format. Once the OFR verifies that it has received the required number of authenticated ratification documents, it 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 to Congress and the Nation that the amendment process is complete.
Amending the Constitution: Where and How?
You may want to see also
The Twenty-first Amendment
The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919, after years of advocacy by the temperance movement. The subsequent enactment of the Volstead Act established federal enforcement of the nationwide prohibition on alcohol. However, as many Americans continued to drink, Prohibition fuelled the rise of organised crime and a profitable black market for alcohol. By the 1930s, overall public sentiment towards prohibition had flipped from positive to negative, and Congress was compelled to act.
The Nigerian Constitution's Last Amendments
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There have been 27 amendments to the US Constitution, with the first 10 being ratified on December 15, 1791, and known as the Bill of Rights.
Article Five of the US Constitution outlines a two-step process for making changes to the nation's plan of government. An amendment must be proposed and ratified before becoming operative. An amendment can be proposed by the US Congress if there is a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or by a national convention called by Congress on the application of two-thirds of state legislatures. For an amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
The Twenty-first Amendment, ratified in 1933, is the most recent amendment to the US Constitution. It repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, which had established the prohibition of alcohol.
