Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times, with 33 amendments proposed by the US Congress and sent to the states for ratification since it was enacted in 1789. Amendments can be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-quarters of the states (38 out of 50). The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously in 1791. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are known as the Reconstruction Amendments, and the 21st Amendment, which ended Prohibition, is the only amendment to repeal an earlier one.
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What You'll Learn
The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments were adopted and ratified simultaneously, and they are known collectively as the Bill of Rights. The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V of the document. An amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
Since the Constitution was ratified in 1789, there have been approximately 11,848 proposals to amend it. Only 27 amendments have been ratified, with hundreds of thousands of bills introduced to amend the Constitution. The 27th Amendment, originally introduced by Madison, was ratified in 1992, nearly 200 years after it was first proposed.
The Prohibition Era: Constitutional Amendment Explained
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The 21st Amendment
Several states remained "dry" in the years following the repeal of the 18th Amendment, and some continue to closely regulate alcohol distribution. The 21st Amendment granted states the authority to ban the importation of alcohol, which many states have delegated to counties and municipalities.
Amendment History: Kenya's Constitution Section 2A
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The 13th Amendment
The road to the 13th Amendment's ratification was not without its challenges. Initially, President Abraham Lincoln recognised that the Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, would need to be followed by a constitutional amendment to truly abolish slavery. While the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in Confederate states, it did not end slavery nationally.
The Senate passed the 13th Amendment in April 1864, but the House initially struggled to gain the necessary majority. President Lincoln played a crucial role in ensuring the amendment's passage, including it in the Republican Party platform for the 1864 election. Lincoln's victory in that election further advanced the amendment's progress.
In January 1865, the House passed the bill with a vote of 119–56. Lincoln, as a symbolic gesture of approval, signed the document on February 1, 1865, before sending it to the states for ratification. By the end of March 1865, 19 states had ratified the amendment. However, the process slowed, and by the time of Lincoln's assassination in April 1865, only 21 states had approved it.
Vice President Andrew Johnson, who assumed the presidency, was less passionate about ending slavery. Nonetheless, he used his power to force Southern states to ratify the amendment as part of his Reconstruction policy. On December 6, 1865, Secretary of State William Seward announced that the necessary three-fourths of states had ratified the amendment, and slavery was officially abolished in the United States.
Amending the Constitution: What Triggers a Change?
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The 27th Amendment
The Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, certified that enough states had ratified the amendment, and Congress confirmed this decision on May 20, 1992. The 27th Amendment officially became part of the United States Constitution, effective May 5, 1992. The amendment's intent was to reduce corruption in the legislative branch by requiring an election before a congressperson's salary increase takes effect, allowing the public to remove members of Congress from office before their salaries increase.
The Power of Youth: Voting Rights and the 26th Amendment
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The 26th Amendment
The Twenty-sixth Amendment (Amendment XXVI) to the United States Constitution establishes the right of citizens of the United States who are eighteen years of age or older to vote. This amendment ensures that the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age. It also grants Congress the power to enforce this article through appropriate legislation.
Before the Twenty-sixth Amendment was ratified, the authority to set the minimum voting age rested with the states, with 21 being the typical national standard. The push to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 gained momentum across the country during the 1960s. This drive was influenced by various factors, including 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 sentiment that if individuals were deemed old enough to serve in the military, they should also be considered old enough to have a say in the political decisions impacting their lives.
Additionally, the increasing number of young Americans graduating from high school, pursuing higher education, and engaging in political and social activism contributed to a growing national awareness of the process of crafting laws and constitutional amendments. The escalation of the Vietnam War further mobilized constituents, and the historical pattern of extending the franchise during times of conflict played a role in the passage of the amendment.
The Twenty-sixth Amendment was proposed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and ratified by three-fourths of the states by July 1, 1971. This amendment addressed a significant domestic controversy that emerged amid the Cold War, ensuring that young Americans had a voice in electing their representatives and shaping the policies that affected them.
The General Welfare Clause: Constitutional Amendment Explained
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Frequently asked questions
33 amendments to the Constitution of the United States have been proposed by the United States Congress.
27 amendments have been ratified.
The first 10 amendments are known collectively as the Bill of Rights.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are collectively known as the Reconstruction Amendments.
The 21st Amendment, which ended Prohibition, is the only amendment that repeals an earlier one (the 18th).
