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The
Constitution:
Amendments 11-27
Constitutional
Amendments 1-10
make up what is
known as
The Bill of
Rights.
Amendments 11-27
are listed
below.
AMENDMENT XI
Passed by
Congress March
4, 1794.
Ratified
February 7,
1795.
Note:
Article III,
section 2, of
the Constitution
was modified by
amendment 11.
The Judicial
power of the
United States
shall not be
construed to
extend to any
suit in law or
equity,
commenced or
prosecuted
against one of
the United
States by
Citizens of
another State,
or by Citizens
or Subjects of
any Foreign
State.
AMENDMENT XII
Passed by
Congress
December 9,
1803. Ratified
June 15, 1804.
Note:
A portion of
Article II,
section 1 of the
Constitution was
superseded by
the 12th
amendment.
The Electors
shall meet in
their respective
states and vote
by ballot for
President and
Vice-President,
one of whom, at
least, shall not
be an inhabitant
of the same
state with
themselves; they
shall name in
their ballots
the person voted
for as
President, and
in distinct
ballots the
person voted for
as
Vice-President,
and they shall
make distinct
lists of all
persons voted
for as
President, and
of all persons
voted for as
Vice-President,
and of the
number of votes
for each, which
lists they shall
sign and
certify, and
transmit sealed
to the seat of
the government
of the United
States, directed
to the President
of the Senate;
-- the President
of the Senate
shall, in the
presence of the
Senate and House
of
Representatives,
open all the
certificates and
the votes shall
then be counted;
-- The person
having the
greatest number
of votes for
President, shall
be the
President, if
such number be a
majority of the
whole number of
Electors
appointed; and
if no person
have such
majority, then
from the persons
having the
highest numbers
not exceeding
three on the
list of those
voted for as
President, the
House of
Representatives
shall choose
immediately, by
ballot, the
President. But
in choosing the
President, the
votes shall be
taken by states,
the
representation
from each state
having one vote;
a quorum for
this purpose
shall consist of
a member or
members from
two-thirds of
the states, and
a majority of
all the states
shall be
necessary to a
choice. [And if
the House of
Representatives
shall not choose
a President
whenever the
right of choice
shall devolve
upon them,
before the
fourth day of
March next
following, then
the
Vice-President
shall act as
President, as in
case of the
death or other
constitutional
disability of
the President.
--]* The person
having the
greatest number
of votes as
Vice-President,
shall be the
Vice-President,
if such number
be a majority of
the whole number
of Electors
appointed, and
if no person
have a majority,
then from the
two highest
numbers on the
list, the Senate
shall choose the
Vice-President;
a quorum for the
purpose shall
consist of
two-thirds of
the whole number
of Senators, and
a majority of
the whole number
shall be
necessary to a
choice. But no
person
constitutionally
ineligible to
the office of
President shall
be eligible to
that of
Vice-President
of the United
States.
*Superseded
by section 3 of
the 20th
amendment.
AMENDMENT XIII
Passed by
Congress January
31, 1865.
Ratified
December 6,
1865.
Note:
A portion of
Article IV,
section 2, of
the Constitution
was superseded
by the 13th
amendment.
Section 1.
Neither slavery
nor involuntary
servitude,
except as a
punishment for
crime whereof
the party shall
have been duly
convicted, shall
exist within the
United States,
or any place
subject to their
jurisdiction.
Section 2.
Congress shall
have power to
enforce this
article by
appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT XIV
Passed by
Congress June
13, 1866.
Ratified July 9,
1868.
Note:
Article I,
section 2, of
the Constitution
was modified by
section 2 of the
14th amendment.
Section 1.
All persons born
or naturalized
in the United
States, and
subject to the
jurisdiction
thereof, are
citizens of the
United States
and of the State
wherein they
reside. No State
shall make or
enforce any law
which shall
abridge the
privileges or
immunities of
citizens of the
United States;
nor shall any
State deprive
any person of
life, liberty,
or property,
without due
process of law;
nor deny to any
person within
its jurisdiction
the equal
protection of
the laws.
Section 2.
Representatives
shall be
apportioned
among the
several States
according to
their respective
numbers,
counting the
whole number of
persons in each
State, excluding
Indians not
taxed. But when
the right to
vote at any
election for the
choice of
electors for
President and
Vice-President
of the United
States,
Representatives
in Congress, the
Executive and
Judicial
officers of a
State, or the
members of the
Legislature
thereof, is
denied to any of
the male
inhabitants of
such State,
being twenty-one
years of age,*
and citizens of
the United
States, or in
any way
abridged, except
for
participation in
rebellion, or
other crime, the
basis of
representation
therein shall be
reduced in the
proportion which
the number of
such male
citizens shall
bear to the
whole number of
male citizens
twenty-one years
of age in such
State.
Section 3.
No person shall
be a Senator or
Representative
in Congress, or
elector of
President and
Vice-President,
or hold any
office, civil or
military, under
the United
States, or under
any State, who,
having
previously taken
an oath, as a
member of
Congress, or as
an officer of
the United
States, or as a
member of any
State
legislature, or
as an executive
or judicial
officer of any
State, to
support the
Constitution of
the United
States, shall
have engaged in
insurrection or
rebellion
against the
same, or given
aid or comfort
to the enemies
thereof. But
Congress may by
a vote of
two-thirds of
each House,
remove such
disability.
Section 4.
The validity of
the public debt
of the United
States,
authorized by
law, including
debts incurred
for payment of
pensions and
bounties for
services in
suppressing
insurrection or
rebellion, shall
not be
questioned. But
neither the
United States
nor any State
shall assume or
pay any debt or
obligation
incurred in aid
of insurrection
or rebellion
against the
United States,
or any claim for
the loss or
emancipation of
any slave; but
all such debts,
obligations and
claims shall be
held illegal and
void.
Section 5.
The Congress
shall have the
power to
enforce, by
appropriate
legislation, the
provisions of
this article.
*Changed
by section 1 of
the 26th
amendment.
AMENDMENT XV
Passed by
Congress
February 26,
1869. Ratified
February 3,
1870.
Section 1.
The right of
citizens of the
United States to
vote shall not
be denied or
abridged by the
United States or
by any State on
account of race,
color, or
previous
condition of
servitude--
Section 2.
The Congress
shall have the
power to enforce
this article by
appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT XVI
Passed by
Congress July 2,
1909. Ratified
February 3,
1913.
Note:
Article I,
section 9, of
the Constitution
was modified by
amendment 16.
The Congress
shall have power
to lay and
collect taxes on
incomes, from
whatever source
derived, without
apportionment
among the
several States,
and without
regard to any
census or
enumeration.
AMENDMENT XVII
Passed by
Congress May 13,
1912. Ratified
April 8, 1913.
Note:
Article I,
section 3, of
the Constitution
was modified by
the 17th
amendment.
The Senate of
the United
States shall be
composed of two
Senators from
each State,
elected by the
people thereof,
for six years;
and each Senator
shall have one
vote. The
electors in each
State shall have
the
qualifications
requisite for
electors of the
most numerous
branch of the
State
legislatures.
When
vacancies happen
in the
representation
of any State in
the Senate, the
executive
authority of
such State shall
issue writs of
election to fill
such vacancies:
Provided,
That the
legislature of
any State may
empower the
executive
thereof to make
temporary
appointments
until the people
fill the
vacancies by
election as the
legislature may
direct.
This
amendment shall
not be so
construed as to
affect the
election or term
of any Senator
chosen before it
becomes valid as
part of the
Constitution.
AMENDMENT XVIII
Passed by
Congress
December 18,
1917. Ratified
January 16,
1919. Repealed
by amendment 21.
Section 1.
After one year
from the
ratification of
this article the
manufacture,
sale, or
transportation
of intoxicating
liquors within,
the importation
thereof into, or
the exportation
thereof from the
United States
and all
territory
subject to the
jurisdiction
thereof for
beverage
purposes is
hereby
prohibited.
Section 2.
The Congress and
the several
States shall
have concurrent
power to enforce
this article by
appropriate
legislation.
Section 3.
This article
shall be
inoperative
unless it shall
have been
ratified as an
amendment to the
Constitution by
the legislatures
of the several
States, as
provided in the
Constitution,
within seven
years from the
date of the
submission
hereof to the
States by the
Congress.
AMENDMENT XIX
Passed by
Congress June 4,
1919. Ratified
August 18, 1920.
The right of
citizens of the
United States to
vote shall not
be denied or
abridged by the
United States or
by any State on
account of sex.
Congress
shall have power
to enforce this
article by
appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT XX
Passed by
Congress March
2, 1932.
Ratified January
23, 1933.
Note:
Article I,
section 4, of
the Constitution
was modified by
section 2 of
this amendment.
In addition, a
portion of the
12th amendment
was superseded
by section 3.
Section 1.
The terms of the
President and
the Vice
President shall
end at noon on
the 20th day of
January, and the
terms of
Senators and
Representatives
at noon on the
3d day of
January, of the
years in which
such terms would
have ended if
this article had
not been
ratified; and
the terms of
their successors
shall then
begin.
Section 2.
The Congress
shall assemble
at least once in
every year, and
such meeting
shall begin at
noon on the 3d
day of January,
unless they
shall by law
appoint a
different day.
Section 3.
If, at the time
fixed for the
beginning of the
term of the
President, the
President elect
shall have died,
the Vice
President elect
shall become
President. If a
President shall
not have been
chosen before
the time fixed
for the
beginning of his
term, or if the
President elect
shall have
failed to
qualify, then
the Vice
President elect
shall act as
President until
a President
shall have
qualified; and
the Congress may
by law provide
for the case
wherein neither
a President
elect nor a Vice
President shall
have qualified,
declaring who
shall then act
as President, or
the manner in
which one who is
to act shall be
selected, and
such person
shall act
accordingly
until a
President or
Vice President
shall have
qualified.
Section 4.
The Congress may
by law provide
for the case of
the death of any
of the persons
from whom the
House of
Representatives
may choose a
President
whenever the
right of choice
shall have
devolved upon
them, and for
the case of the
death of any of
the persons from
whom the Senate
may choose a
Vice President
whenever the
right of choice
shall have
devolved upon
them.
Section 5.
Sections 1 and 2
shall take
effect on the
15th day of
October
following the
ratification of
this article.
Section 6.
This article
shall be
inoperative
unless it shall
have been
ratified as an
amendment to the
Constitution by
the legislatures
of three-fourths
of the several
States within
seven years from
the date of its
submission.
AMENDMENT XXI
Passed by
Congress
February 20,
1933. Ratified
December 5,
1933.
Section 1.
The eighteenth
article of
amendment to the
Constitution of
the United
States is hereby
repealed.
Section 2.
The
transportation
or importation
into any State,
Territory, or
Possession of
the United
States for
delivery or use
therein of
intoxicating
liquors, in
violation of the
laws thereof, is
hereby
prohibited.
Section 3.
This article
shall be
inoperative
unless it shall
have been
ratified as an
amendment to the
Constitution by
conventions in
the several
States, as
provided in the
Constitution,
within seven
years from the
date of the
submission
hereof to the
States by the
Congress.
AMENDMENT XXII
Passed by
Congress March
21, 1947.
Ratified
February 27,
1951.
Section 1.
No person shall
be elected to
the office of
the President
more than twice,
and no person
who has held the
office of
President, or
acted as
President, for
more than two
years of a term
to which some
other person was
elected
President shall
be elected to
the office of
President more
than once. But
this Article
shall not apply
to any person
holding the
office of
President when
this Article was
proposed by
Congress, and
shall not
prevent any
person who may
be holding the
office of
President, or
acting as
President,
during the term
within which
this Article
becomes
operative from
holding the
office of
President or
acting as
President during
the remainder of
such term.
Section 2.
This article
shall be
inoperative
unless it shall
have been
ratified as an
amendment to the
Constitution by
the legislatures
of three-fourths
of the several
States within
seven years from
the date of its
submission to
the States by
the Congress.
AMENDMENT XXIII
Passed by
Congress June
16, 1960.
Ratified March
29, 1961.
Section 1.
The District
constituting the
seat of
Government of
the United
States shall
appoint in such
manner as
Congress may
direct:
A number of
electors of
President and
Vice President
equal to the
whole number of
Senators and
Representatives
in Congress to
which the
District would
be entitled if
it were a State,
but in no event
more than the
least populous
State; they
shall be in
addition to
those appointed
by the States,
but they shall
be considered,
for the purposes
of the election
of President and
Vice President,
to be electors
appointed by a
State; and they
shall meet in
the District and
perform such
duties as
provided by the
twelfth article
of amendment.
Section 2.
The Congress
shall have power
to enforce this
article by
appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT XXIV
Passed by
Congress August
27, 1962.
Ratified January
23, 1964.
Section 1.
The right of
citizens of the
United States to
vote in any
primary or other
election for
President or
Vice President,
for electors for
President or
Vice President,
or for Senator
or
Representative
in Congress,
shall not be
denied or
abridged by the
United States or
any State by
reason of
failure to pay
poll tax or
other tax.
Section 2.
The Congress
shall have power
to enforce this
article by
appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT XXV
Passed by
Congress July 6,
1965. Ratified
February 10,
1967.
Note:
Article II,
section 1, of
the Constitution
was affected by
the 25th
amendment.
Section 1.
In case of the
removal of the
President from
office or of his
death or
resignation, the
Vice President
shall become
President.
Section 2.
Whenever there
is a vacancy in
the office of
the Vice
President, the
President shall
nominate a Vice
President who
shall take
office upon
confirmation by
a majority vote
of both Houses
of Congress.
Section 3.
Whenever the
President
transmits to the
President pro
tempore of the
Senate and the
Speaker of the
House of
Representatives
his written
declaration that
he is unable to
discharge the
powers and
duties of his
office, and
until he
transmits to
them a written
declaration to
the contrary,
such powers and
duties shall be
discharged by
the Vice
President as
Acting
President.
Section 4.
Whenever the
Vice President
and a majority
of either the
principal
officers of the
executive
departments or
of such other
body as Congress
may by law
provide,
transmit to the
President pro
tempore of the
Senate and the
Speaker of the
House of
Representatives
their written
declaration that
the President is
unable to
discharge the
powers and
duties of his
office, the Vice
President shall
immediately
assume the
powers and
duties of the
office as Acting
President.
Thereafter,
when the
President
transmits to the
President pro
tempore of the
Senate and the
Speaker of the
House of
Representatives
his written
declaration that
no inability
exists, he shall
resume the
powers and
duties of his
office unless
the Vice
President and a
majority of
either the
principal
officers of the
executive
department or of
such other body
as Congress may
by law provide,
transmit within
four days to the
President pro
tempore of the
Senate and the
Speaker of the
House of
Representatives
their written
declaration that
the President is
unable to
discharge the
powers and
duties of his
office.
Thereupon
Congress shall
decide the
issue,
assembling
within
forty-eight
hours for that
purpose if not
in session. If
the Congress,
within
twenty-one days
after receipt of
the latter
written
declaration, or,
if Congress is
not in session,
within
twenty-one days
after Congress
is required to
assemble,
determines by
two-thirds vote
of both Houses
that the
President is
unable to
discharge the
powers and
duties of his
office, the Vice
President shall
continue to
discharge the
same as Acting
President;
otherwise, the
President shall
resume the
powers and
duties of his
office.
AMENDMENT XXVI
Passed by
Congress March
23, 1971.
Ratified July 1,
1971.
Note:
Amendment 14,
section 2, of
the Constitution
was modified by
section 1 of the
26th amendment.
Section 1.
The right of
citizens of the
United States,
who are eighteen
years of age or
older, to vote
shall not be
denied or
abridged by the
United States or
by any State on
account of age.
Section 2.
The Congress
shall have power
to enforce this
article by
appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT XXVII
Originally
proposed
Sept. 25, 1789.
Ratified May 7,
1992.
No law,
varying the
compensation for
the services of
the Senators and
Representatives,
shall take
effect, until an
election of
representatives
shall have
intervened. |