History of the Constitutional Amendments

The Bill of Rights

Dec 15, 1791

The Bill of Rights, which is the first ten amendments , is added to the Constitution. This includes guarenteed freedom, the right to bear arms, the housing of soldiers, search and seizure laws, the right to life, liberty, and property, the rights of people in criminal cases, rights in civil cases, excessive bail, fines and no cruel and unusual punishment, other rights kept by the people, and the rights reserved for the states.

Amendment 11

Feb 7, 1795

Prevents lawsuits over the states.

Amendment 12

Jun 15, 1804

Changed the way that the president and vice-president are elected. Describes the new election procedures.

Amendment 13

Dec 6, 1865

Slavery becomes outlawed in the United States.

Amendment 14

Jun 13, 1866

Right to be free from discrimination in states to have due process of law, to have equal protection of the law

Amendment 15

Feb 3, 1870

Gave all male citizens of the United States, regardless of "race, color, or previous condition" of servitude the right to vote. Women would not have the right to vote until 50 years later.

Amendment 17

Apr 8, 1913

Established the direct election of senators by popular vote.

Amendment 16

Dec 3, 1913

Gave Congress the right to collect income tax.

Amendment 18

Jan 16, 1919

Prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the United States. Still in the constitution but the 21st amendment made this amendment ineffective.

Amendment 19

Aug 18, 1920

Women finally got the right to vote in the United States.

Amendment 20

Jan 23, 1933

Shortened the length of time between election day and the beginning of Presidential and Congressional Terms. This is also known as the Lame Duck period.

Amendment 21

Dec 5, 1933

Repealed the 18th amendment. People can now comsume alcoholic beverages again.

Amendment 22

Feb 27, 1951

Dictated term limits of the President, stating that no person shall be elected more than twice, and if they have already served for more than two years, they cannot be elected more than once. This was a precedent set by the Founding Fathers when President Washington stepped down from office.

Amendment 23

Mar 29, 1961

Voters in Washington D.C. given the right to vote for presidential electors.

Amenedment 24

Jan 23, 1964

Further protects the votes of free men and women by forbidding Congress and the States from charging poll tax for voting.

Amendment 25

Feb 10, 1967

Handles the matter of succession to the Presidency and to the office of the Vice President.

Amendment 26

Jul 1, 1971

18 year olds given the right to vote.

Amendment 27

May 7, 1992

Limits the power of Congress to increase its own salaries.