Amendments: Who Ratified And When?

The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was first drafted in 1787, with over 11,000 amendments proposed. The process of amending the Constitution is detailed in Article Five of the Constitution and is designed to strike a balance between constant change and inflexibility. Amendments must be proposed and ratified by either Congress or a national convention before becoming operative. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. The most recent amendment was passed in 1933, repealing the Eighteenth Amendment and ending the prohibition of alcohol.

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Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution

Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on December 7, 1787. This was an important step towards a stronger, more centralized government in the United States. Delaware's unanimous decision to ratify the Constitution was significant, as it set an example for other states to follow.

Prior to the ratification, the Articles of Confederation had been the constitution of the United States since 1781. However, these articles gave too much power to individual states, rendering the national government relatively powerless. This situation was unacceptable to many Americans, including those from Delaware, who sought a more effective national government.

On November 26, 1787, Delaware elected thirty delegates to a state convention to consider ratification. The delegates, meeting in Dover at Battell's Tavern (also known as the Golden Fleece Tavern), unanimously voted in favor of ratifying the Constitution. This decision was honored by Delaware governors starting in 1933, who proclaimed December 7 as Delaware Day.

Delaware's early ratification was praised by a contemporary French observer in New York City, who noted that Delaware had given the "first signal of a revolution in the general government of the United States." This set the stage for the Constitution to become the official framework of the US government when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788.

The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791

The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, was ratified in 1791. On December 15, 1791, three-fourths of the state legislatures ratified Articles 3 to 12, which constitute the Bill of Rights. Virginia's legislature was the final state to approve the amendments.

The Bill of Rights was written by James Madison and strongly influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, penned by George Mason. It also drew from English documents such as the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights. The amendments were designed to define and safeguard citizens' rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms, while ensuring protections like due process and trial by jury.

The road to the Bill of Rights began with the drafting of the Constitution in 1787 by delegates from 12 states. During debates on the adoption of the Constitution, opponents argued that it would lead to tyranny by the central government and demanded a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberties. As a result, on September 25, 1789, the First Congress proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution, addressing the concerns raised.

Of the 12 proposed amendments, 10 were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures and became the Bill of Rights. Article 2, concerning legislative compensation, was ratified much later in 1992 as the 27th Amendment, while Article 1, pertaining to the number of constituents for each representative, was never ratified.

The 18th Amendment was repealed by the 21st Amendment

The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was ratified on January 16, 1919, established the prohibition of alcohol in the country. The amendment was the result of years of advocacy by the temperance movement, which argued that banning alcohol would help alleviate poverty and other societal issues. However, despite the initial support for the amendment, public sentiment turned against Prohibition by the late 1920s. The Great Depression further hastened its demise, as opponents argued that it denied jobs to the unemployed and revenue to the government.

As opposition to the Eighteenth Amendment grew, a political movement advocating for its repeal gained momentum. The movement faced challenges due to grassroots politics and the influence of the temperance lobby. Nevertheless, on February 20, 1933, Representative Henry T. Rainey of Illinois introduced H.J. Res. 480, a joint resolution to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment. While the resolution initially failed to pass the House as a constitutional amendment, it sparked a year-long process to end Prohibition.

The Twenty-first Amendment, proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933, aimed to rescind Prohibition. It was the first and only amendment to be ratified by state ratifying conventions, with Utah becoming the 36th of 48 states to ratify it on December 5, 1933. The Twenty-first Amendment is unique in that it is the only amendment that specifically repeals a prior amendment, in this case expressly repealing the Eighteenth Amendment. This amendment ended national prohibition and granted states greater autonomy in regulating alcohol within their borders.

The Twenty-first Amendment not only repealed the Eighteenth Amendment but also prohibited the importation of alcohol into states and territories that maintained laws prohibiting alcohol. Several states continued to be "dry states" even after the repeal, and some still closely regulate alcohol distribution today. The Twenty-first Amendment is a significant moment in US history, showcasing the power of political movements and the evolution of societal attitudes towards alcohol.

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Congress passes amendments with a two-thirds majority

The process of amending the US Constitution is outlined in Article V of the Constitution. It requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for an amendment to be passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. This process has been used for every amendment to the Constitution so far.

Congress has introduced over 11,000 proposals to amend the Constitution since 1789, with approximately 11,848 proposals as of January 3, 2019. Despite these numerous proposals, only 27 amendments have been ratified and become part of the Constitution.

The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. These amendments were proposed by Congress on September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791. They include protections for freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as the right to keep and bear arms.

The process of amending the Constitution is deliberately challenging. Any proposed amendment must have a significant impact on all Americans or secure the rights of citizens to justify the change. Once an amendment is passed by Congress, it is sent to the states for ratification. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 states as of 1959).

The time limit for ratification is typically seven years from the date of submission to the states. However, this can vary, and some amendments have had different timelines. For example, the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) had a seven-year deadline, while the 19th Amendment (Woman Suffrage) had no time limit attached.

The US Constitution has been ratified by all states

The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to approve the document. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, it is important to note that the Constitution did not include the Bill of Rights at this time.

The Constitution was drafted in 1787, and it has been amended 27 times since then. The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V, which describes a two-step process. Amendments must be proposed and ratified before becoming operative. This can be done through a vote by Congress or a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of state legislatures. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-quarters of state legislatures or state conventions, depending on the mode of ratification determined by Congress.

The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments addressed concerns about the lack of protection for certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. The Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of 1791, almost a year and a half after the general elections. Additionally, the location of the capital was not decided until July 16, 1790.

The process of amending the Constitution is deliberately challenging. Any proposed amendment must have a significant impact on all Americans or secure the rights of citizens. While there have been over 11,000 proposals to amend the Constitution, only 27 have been successfully ratified. This highlights the enduring nature of the Constitution and the careful consideration given to any changes.

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