Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

11th Amendment - 1795 • First amendment created after the original ten (The Bill of Rights) • Came after the decision in the court case Chisholm v. Georgia • Immunity of states from lawsuits by out-of-state citizens & foreigners not living within the state borders. • You cannot sue another state without their consent

12th Amendment - 1804 • Changed how Presidents ran for office • Presidents & Vice Presidents were voted for separatelywhich could result in president’s and vice president’s being from different parties • Ensured that the president and vice president were voted on independently from the other, making sure both positions went to candidates from the same party

13th Amendment - 1865 • Came after the end of the Civil War • Abolished (got rid of) Slavery • Allows congress to create proper legislation to enforce the abolishment of slavery • Considered the first of three reconstruction amendments

14th Amendment - 1868 • Proposed in response to issues related to former slaves • Citizenship is given to ANYONE born in the United States. • Equal protection under the law • Eliminated 3/5ths Compromise • Second of Three reconstruction amendments • Supreme Court case deciding same-sex marriage will be based on this amendment.

15th Amendment - 1870 • The government cannot deny the right to vote to citizens based on race, color, or previous servitude • Proposed by Republicans • Would not be fully imposed until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 • Third of three reconstruction amendments

16th Amendment – 1913 • Gave the federal government the right to levy an income tax • An income tax was authorized in 1894 and then found unconstitutional. In response to the verdict given by the Supreme Court, Congress created this amendment • Required by those who have earned any income throughout the previous year • Taxes are due on April 15th each year

17th Amendment - 1913 • Direct election of Senators • People in the states would elect the Senators instead of them being appointed by the state legislatures like they had originally been under the original text in the Constitution • Considered a progressive amendment • The Framers to the Constitution originally wanted state legislatures to elect senators so that state governments could play a role in the federal government. • This had led to many corrupt senators being chosen to represent states in the U.S. Congress

18th Amendment - 1919 • Came to be based on the Progressive Era and because many states in the U.S. had already enacted statewide prohibition • Prohibition – no making, selling, or purchasing alcohol. Thought consuming or private possession was not mentioned • Originally considered a progressive amendment • Due to this amendment the crime rate increased significantly.

19th Amendment - 1920 • The government cannot deny the right to vote based on gender • Originally drafted in 1878 and was sought to be included in the reconstruction amendments • Created in response to women’s rights advocates • In 1922 the Lesser v. Garnett Supreme Court case, the 19th amendment was upheld • Considered a progressive amendment

20th Amendment - 1933 • Moved the Presidential inauguration from March 4 to January 20 • Moved the terms of Congress from March 4 to January 3 • Created to limit the “lame duck” period in office (where many feel the politician leaving the office has little influence) • It also stated what to do when there is no President-elect

21st Amendment - 1933 • Repealed the 18th Amendment • Allowed alcohol • Created because the ratification of the 18th amendment had lead to increased crime rates and was strongly opposed throughout the United States

22nd Amendment - 1951 • Presidents can only be elected to two terms of office. • Precedent was set by President Washington to serve no more than two terms • Only President to serve more than two terms was Franklin D. Roosevelt • Created after FDR died in office, a year after he was elected to his fourth term • Was created to ensure the executive office would not gain too much power

23rd Amendment - 1961 • Washington, D.C. is not a state therefore it was not given voting rights or representation • Amendment came in response to arguments that states with lower populations than D.C. could vote but they could not • Washington, D.C. is given 3 votes in the Electoral College. • They can vote for President.

24th Amendment - 1964 • Several states tried to get around allowing African Americans to vote by requiring them to pay unaffordable amounts in order to practice their 15th amendment right, Congress created this amendment to combat this problem • Poll taxes are not allowed.

25th Amendment - 1967 • If the President dies, the Vice President takes over. • Then he/she gets to select a new Vice President. • Came after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, in case the country were to see the loss of a President and Vice President

26th Amendment - 1971 • 18 year olds can vote! • Came in response to the Vietnam War. It did not seem fair that 18 year olds were being asked to serve their country but could not vote in elections

27th Amendment - 1992 • Originally proposed in 1789 • Congress can give itself a raise, but it won’t take effect until a new Congress starts. • A new Congress takes place every 2 years

Amendments to the U.S. Constitution