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US Constitution
The Constitution had been ratified by the ninth state on June 21, 1788 and went into effect on March 4, 1789 -
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US Constitutional Amendments
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Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments, called the Bill of Rights, were ratified. -
11th Amendment
The 11th amendment made states immune from suits by out of state citizens and foreigners not living within the states borders. -
12th Amendment
The 12th amendment revised presidential election procedures replacing Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Constitution. The amendment meant the President and Vice-President would be chosen together instead of the Vice-President simply being the person with the second most votes. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment abolished slavery. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment defined citizenship, contains the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause giving citizenship and rights to former slaves. -
15 Amendment
Gives voting rights to all male citizens regardles of race or color -
16th Amendment
Established the federal income tax -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment changed the way Senators are elected to a popular vote instead of by the State legislatures -
18th Amendment
Prohibition of Alcohol in the United States -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote -
20th Amendment
The 20th Amendment changed the beginning of terms for the President and Vice-President and Congress -
21st Amendment
The 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment (prohibition). -
22nd Amendment
Limited the number of terms that a person can be elected President to two terms. Franklin Roosevelt was the only President ever elected to more than two terms and he was elected four times. -
23rd Amendment
Provides for representation of Washington D.C. in the electoral college. -
24th Amendment
Prohibits conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on the payment of a poll tax. The taxes were used in some areas to stop blacks from voting. They were part of what was known as the Jim Crow laws. -
25th Amendment
The 25th Amendment defines the process of presidential succession. The Constitution was not clear on whether or not the Vice-President would actually become the new President if the President died in office putting into law the Tyler Precedent established by Vice-President John Tyler. -
26th Amendment
The 26th amendment established the right to vote for anyone 18 years old or older -
27th Amendment
The 27th amendment was first proposed in 1789 and was finally ratified over 200 years later. It states that changes in salary for Congress cannot take effect until a new term for the Representatives begins.
