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 Arti!le """# se!tion 2# of the Constitution was modified b$ amendment 11. The %udi!ial power of the &nited 'tates shall not be !onstrued to e(tend to an$ suit in law or e)uit$# !ommen!ed or prose!uted against one of the &nited 'tates b$ Citi*ens of another 'tate# or b$ Citi*ens or 'ub+e!ts of an$ ,oreign 'tate.

AMENDMENT XII
Passed by Congress December 9, 1 !". Ratified #une 15, 1 !4. Note A portion of Arti!le ""# se!tion 1 of the Constitution was superseded b$ the 12th amendment. The -le!tors shall meet in their respe!ti.e states and .ote b$ ballot for /resident and 0i!e/resident# one of whom# at least# shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themsel.es1 the$ shall name in their ballots the person .oted for as /resident# and in distin!t ballots the person .oted for as 0i!e-/resident# and the$ shall make distin!t lists of all persons .oted for as /resident# and of all persons .oted for as 0i!e-/resident# and of the number of .otes for ea!h# whi!h lists the$ shall sign and !ertif$# and transmit sealed to the seat of the go.ernment of the &nited 'tates# dire!ted to the /resident of the 'enate1 -- the /resident of the 'enate shall# in the presen!e of the 'enate and 2ouse of Representati.es# open all the !ertifi!ates and the .otes shall then be !ounted1 -- The person ha.ing the greatest number of .otes for /resident# shall be the /resident# if su!h number be a ma+orit$ of the whole number of -le!tors appointed1 and if no person ha.e su!h ma+orit$# then from the persons ha.ing the highest numbers not e(!eeding three on the list of those .oted for as /resident# the 2ouse of Representati.es shall !hoose immediatel$# b$ ballot# the /resident. But in !hoosing the /resident# the .otes shall be taken b$ states# the representation from ea!h state ha.ing one .ote1 a )uorum for this purpose shall !onsist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states# and a ma+orit$ of all the states shall be ne!essar$ to a !hoi!e. 3And if the 2ouse of Representati.es shall not !hoose a /resident whene.er the right of !hoi!e shall de.ol.e upon them# before the fourth da$ of 4ar!h ne(t following# then the 0i!e-/resident shall a!t as /resident# as in !ase of the death or other !onstitutional disabilit$ of the /resident. --56 The person ha.ing the greatest number of .otes as 0i!e-/resident# shall be the 0i!e-/resident# if su!h number be a ma+orit$ of the whole number of -le!tors appointed# and if no person ha.e a ma+orit$# then from the two highest numbers on the list# the 'enate shall !hoose the 0i!e-/resident1 a )uorum for the purpose shall !onsist of twothirds of the whole number of 'enators# and a ma+orit$ of the whole number shall be ne!essar$ to a !hoi!e. But no person !onstitutionall$ ineligible to the offi!e of /resident shall be eligible to that of 0i!e-/resident of the &nited 'tates. 6$u%erseded by section " of the &!th amendment.

AMENDMENT XIII
Passed by Congress #anuary "1, 1 '5. Ratified December ', 1 '5. Note A portion of Arti!le "0# se!tion 2# of the Constitution was superseded b$ the 17th amendment. Section 1. 8either sla.er$ nor in.oluntar$ ser.itude# e(!ept as a punishment for !rime whereof the part$ shall ha.e been dul$ !on.i!ted# shall e(ist within the &nited 'tates# or an$ pla!e sub+e!t to their

+urisdi!tion. Section 2. Congress shall ha.e power to enfor!e this arti!le b$ appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XIV
Passed by Congress #une 1", 1 ''. Ratified #u(y 9, 1 ' . Note Arti!le "# se!tion 2# of the Constitution was modified b$ se!tion 2 of the 19th amendment. Section 1. All persons born or naturali*ed in the &nited 'tates# and sub+e!t to the +urisdi!tion thereof# are !iti*ens of the &nited 'tates and of the 'tate wherein the$ reside. 8o 'tate shall make or enfor!e an$ law whi!h shall abridge the pri.ileges or immunities of !iti*ens of the &nited 'tates1 nor shall an$ 'tate depri.e an$ person of life# libert$# or propert$# without due pro!ess of law1 nor den$ to an$ person within its +urisdi!tion the e)ual prote!tion of the laws. Section 2. Representati.es shall be apportioned among the se.eral 'tates a!!ording to their respe!ti.e numbers# !ounting the whole number of persons in ea!h 'tate# e(!luding "ndians not ta(ed. But when the right to .ote at an$ ele!tion for the !hoi!e of ele!tors for /resident and 0i!e-/resident of the &nited 'tates# Representati.es in Congress# the -(e!uti.e and %udi!ial offi!ers of a 'tate# or the members of the :egislature thereof# is denied to an$ of the male inhabitants of su!h 'tate# being twent$-one $ears of age#6 and !iti*ens of the &nited 'tates# or in an$ wa$ abridged# e(!ept for parti!ipation in rebellion# or other !rime# the basis of representation therein shall be redu!ed in the proportion whi!h the number of su!h male !iti*ens shall bear to the whole number of male !iti*ens twent$-one $ears of age in su!h 'tate. Section 3. 8o person shall be a 'enator or Representati.e in Congress# or ele!tor of /resident and 0i!e/resident# or hold an$ offi!e# !i.il or militar$# under the &nited 'tates# or under an$ 'tate# who# ha.ing pre.iousl$ taken an oath# as a member of Congress# or as an offi!er of the &nited 'tates# or as a member of an$ 'tate legislature# or as an e(e!uti.e or +udi!ial offi!er of an$ 'tate# to support the Constitution of the &nited 'tates# shall ha.e engaged in insurre!tion or rebellion against the same# or gi.en aid or !omfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress ma$ b$ a .ote of two-thirds of ea!h 2ouse# remo.e su!h disabilit$. Section 4. The .alidit$ of the publi! debt of the &nited 'tates# authori*ed b$ law# in!luding debts in!urred for pa$ment of pensions and bounties for ser.i!es in suppressing insurre!tion or rebellion# shall not be )uestioned. But neither the &nited 'tates nor an$ 'tate shall assume or pa$ an$ debt or obligation in!urred in aid of insurre!tion or rebellion against the &nited 'tates# or an$ !laim for the loss or eman!ipation of an$ sla.e1 but all su!h debts# obligations and !laims shall be held illegal and .oid. Section . The Congress shall ha.e the power to enfor!e# b$ appropriate legislation# the pro.isions of this arti!le. 6Changed by section 1 of the &'th amendment.

AMENDMENT XV
Passed by Congress February &', 1 '9. Ratified February ", 1 7!. Section 1. The right of !iti*ens of the &nited 'tates to .ote shall not be denied or abridged b$ the &nited 'tates or b$ an$ 'tate on a!!ount of ra!e# !olor# or pre.ious !ondition of ser.itude-Section 2.

The Congress shall ha.e the power to enfor!e this arti!le b$ appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XVI
Passed by Congress #u(y &, 19!9. Ratified February ", 191". Note Arti!le "# se!tion ;# of the Constitution was modified b$ amendment 1<. The Congress shall ha.e power to la$ and !olle!t ta(es on in!omes# from whate.er sour!e deri.ed# without apportionment among the se.eral 'tates# and without regard to an$ !ensus or enumeration.

AMENDMENT XVII
Passed by Congress May 1", 191&. Ratified )%ri( , 191". Note Arti!le "# se!tion 7# of the Constitution was modified b$ the 17th amendment. The 'enate of the &nited 'tates shall be !omposed of two 'enators from ea!h 'tate# ele!ted b$ the people thereof# for si( $ears1 and ea!h 'enator shall ha.e one .ote. The ele!tors in ea!h 'tate shall ha.e the )ualifi!ations re)uisite for ele!tors of the most numerous bran!h of the 'tate legislatures. =hen .a!an!ies happen in the representation of an$ 'tate in the 'enate# the e(e!uti.e authorit$ of su!h 'tate shall issue writs of ele!tion to fill su!h .a!an!ies Pro*ided# That the legislature of an$ 'tate ma$ empower the e(e!uti.e thereof to make temporar$ appointments until the people fill the .a!an!ies b$ ele!tion as the legislature ma$ dire!t. This amendment shall not be so !onstrued as to affe!t the ele!tion or term of an$ 'enator !hosen before it be!omes .alid as part of the Constitution.

AMENDMENT XVIII
Passed by Congress December 1 , 1917. Ratified #anuary 1', 1919. Re%ea(ed by amendment &1. Section 1. After one $ear from the ratifi!ation of this arti!le the manufa!ture# sale# or transportation of into(i!ating li)uors within# the importation thereof into# or the e(portation thereof from the &nited 'tates and all territor$ sub+e!t to the +urisdi!tion thereof for be.erage purposes is hereb$ prohibited. Section 2. The Congress and the se.eral 'tates shall ha.e !on!urrent power to enfor!e this arti!le b$ appropriate legislation. Section 3. This arti!le shall be inoperati.e unless it shall ha.e been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution b$ the legislatures of the se.eral 'tates# as pro.ided in the Constitution# within se.en $ears from the date of the submission hereof to the 'tates b$ the Congress.

AMENDMENT XIX
Passed by Congress #une 4, 1919. Ratified )ugust 1 , 19&!. The right of !iti*ens of the &nited 'tates to .ote shall not be denied or abridged b$ the &nited 'tates or b$ an$ 'tate on a!!ount of se(. Congress shall ha.e power to enfor!e this arti!le b$ appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XX
Passed by Congress March &, 19"&. Ratified #anuary &", 19"". Note Arti!le "# se!tion 9# of the Constitution was modified b$ se!tion 2 of this amendment. "n addition# a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded b$ se!tion 7.

Section 1. The terms of the /resident and the 0i!e /resident shall end at noon on the 20th da$ of %anuar$# and the terms of 'enators and Representati.es at noon on the 7rd da$ of %anuar$# of the $ears in whi!h su!h terms would ha.e ended if this arti!le had not been ratified1 and the terms of their su!!essors shall then begin. Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least on!e in e.er$ $ear# and su!h meeting shall begin at noon on the 7d da$ of %anuar$# unless the$ shall b$ law appoint a different da$. Section 3. "f# at the time fi(ed for the beginning of the term of the /resident# the /resident ele!t shall ha.e died# the 0i!e /resident ele!t shall be!ome /resident. "f a /resident shall not ha.e been !hosen before the time fi(ed for the beginning of his term# or if the /resident ele!t shall ha.e failed to )ualif$# then the 0i!e /resident ele!t shall a!t as /resident until a /resident shall ha.e )ualified1 and the Congress ma$ b$ law pro.ide for the !ase wherein neither a /resident ele!t nor a 0i!e /resident shall ha.e )ualified# de!laring who shall then a!t as /resident# or the manner in whi!h one who is to a!t shall be sele!ted# and su!h person shall a!t a!!ordingl$ until a /resident or 0i!e /resident shall ha.e )ualified. Section 4. The Congress ma$ b$ law pro.ide for the !ase of the death of an$ of the persons from whom the 2ouse of Representati.es ma$ !hoose a /resident whene.er the right of !hoi!e shall ha.e de.ol.ed upon them# and for the !ase of the death of an$ of the persons from whom the 'enate ma$ !hoose a 0i!e /resident whene.er the right of !hoi!e shall ha.e de.ol.ed upon them. Section . 'e!tions 1 and 2 shall take effe!t on the 1>th da$ of ?!tober following the ratifi!ation of this arti!le. Section !. This arti!le shall be inoperati.e unless it shall ha.e been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution b$ the legislatures of three-fourths of the se.eral 'tates within se.en $ears from the date of its submission.

AMENDMENT XXI
Passed by Congress February &!, 19"". Ratified December 5, 19"". Section 1. The eighteenth arti!le of amendment to the Constitution of the &nited 'tates is hereb$ repealed. Section 2. The transportation or importation into an$ 'tate# Territor$# or /ossession of the &nited 'tates for deli.er$ or use therein of into(i!ating li)uors# in .iolation of the laws thereof# is hereb$ prohibited. Section 3. This arti!le shall be inoperati.e unless it shall ha.e been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution b$ !on.entions in the se.eral 'tates# as pro.ided in the Constitution# within se.en $ears from the date of the submission hereof to the 'tates b$ the Congress.

AMENDMENT XXII
Passed by Congress March &1, 1947. Ratified February &7, 1951. Section 1. 8o person shall be ele!ted to the offi!e of the /resident more than twi!e# and no person who has held the offi!e of /resident# or a!ted as /resident# for more than two $ears of a term to whi!h some other person was ele!ted /resident shall be ele!ted to the offi!e of /resident more than on!e. But this Arti!le shall not appl$ to an$ person holding the offi!e of /resident when this

Arti!le was proposed b$ Congress# and shall not pre.ent an$ person who ma$ be holding the offi!e of /resident# or a!ting as /resident# during the term within whi!h this Arti!le be!omes operati.e from holding the offi!e of /resident or a!ting as /resident during the remainder of su!h term. Section 2. This arti!le shall be inoperati.e unless it shall ha.e been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution b$ the legislatures of three-fourths of the se.eral 'tates within se.en $ears from the date of its submission to the 'tates b$ the Congress.

AMENDMENT XXIII
Passed by Congress #une 1', 19'!. Ratified March &9, 19'1. Section 1. The @istri!t !onstituting the seat of Ao.ernment of the &nited 'tates shall appoint in su!h manner as Congress ma$ dire!t A number of ele!tors of /resident and 0i!e /resident e)ual to the whole number of 'enators and Representati.es in Congress to whi!h the @istri!t would be entitled if it were a 'tate# but in no e.ent more than the least populous 'tate1 the$ shall be in addition to those appointed b$ the 'tates# but the$ shall be !onsidered# for the purposes of the ele!tion of /resident and 0i!e /resident# to be ele!tors appointed b$ a 'tate1 and the$ shall meet in the @istri!t and perform su!h duties as pro.ided b$ the twelfth arti!le of amendment. Section 2. The Congress shall ha.e power to enfor!e this arti!le b$ appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXIV
Passed by Congress )ugust &7, 19'&. Ratified #anuary &", 19'4. Section 1. The right of !iti*ens of the &nited 'tates to .ote in an$ primar$ or other ele!tion for /resident or 0i!e /resident# for ele!tors for /resident or 0i!e /resident# or for 'enator or Representati.e in Congress# shall not be denied or abridged b$ the &nited 'tates or an$ 'tate b$ reason of failure to pa$ poll ta( or other ta(. Section 2. The Congress shall ha.e power to enfor!e this arti!le b$ appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXV
Passed by Congress #u(y ', 19'5. Ratified February 1!, 19'7. Note Arti!le ""# se!tion 1# of the Constitution was affe!ted b$ the 2>th amendment. Section 1. "n !ase of the remo.al of the /resident from offi!e or of his death or resignation# the 0i!e /resident shall be!ome /resident. Section 2. =hene.er there is a .a!an!$ in the offi!e of the 0i!e /resident# the /resident shall nominate a 0i!e /resident who shall take offi!e upon !onfirmation b$ a ma+orit$ .ote of both 2ouses of Congress. Section 3. =hene.er the /resident transmits to the /resident pro tempore of the 'enate and the 'peaker of the 2ouse of Representati.es his written de!laration that he is unable to dis!harge the powers and duties of his offi!e# and until he transmits to them a written de!laration to the !ontrar$# su!h powers and duties shall be dis!harged b$ the 0i!e /resident as A!ting /resident. Section 4.

=hene.er the 0i!e /resident and a ma+orit$ of either the prin!ipal offi!ers of the e(e!uti.e departments or of su!h other bod$ as Congress ma$ b$ law pro.ide# transmit to the /resident pro tempore of the 'enate and the 'peaker of the 2ouse of Representati.es their written de!laration that the /resident is unable to dis!harge the powers and duties of his offi!e# the 0i!e /resident shall immediatel$ assume the powers and duties of the offi!e as A!ting /resident. Thereafter# when the /resident transmits to the /resident pro tempore of the 'enate and the 'peaker of the 2ouse of Representati.es his written de!laration that no inabilit$ e(ists# he shall resume the powers and duties of his offi!e unless the 0i!e /resident and a ma+orit$ of either the prin!ipal offi!ers of the e(e!uti.e department or of su!h other bod$ as Congress ma$ b$ law pro.ide# transmit within four da$s to the /resident pro tempore of the 'enate and the 'peaker of the 2ouse of Representati.es their written de!laration that the /resident is unable to dis!harge the powers and duties of his offi!e. Thereupon Congress shall de!ide the issue# assembling within fort$-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. "f the Congress# within twent$-one da$s after re!eipt of the latter written de!laration# or# if Congress is not in session# within twent$one da$s after Congress is re)uired to assemble# determines b$ two-thirds .ote of both 2ouses that the /resident is unable to dis!harge the powers and duties of his offi!e# the 0i!e /resident shall !ontinue to dis!harge the same as A!ting /resident1 otherwise# the /resident shall resume the powers and duties of his offi!e.

AMENDMENT XXVI
Passed by Congress March &", 1971. Ratified #u(y 1, 1971. Note Amendment 19# se!tion 2# of the Constitution was modified b$ se!tion 1 of the 2<th amendment. Section 1. The right of !iti*ens of the &nited 'tates# who are eighteen $ears of age or older# to .ote shall not be denied or abridged b$ the &nited 'tates or b$ an$ 'tate on a!!ount of age. Section 2. The Congress shall ha.e power to enfor!e this arti!le b$ appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXVII
+rigina((y %ro%osed $e%t. &5, 17 9. Ratified May 7, 199&. 8o law# .ar$ing the !ompensation for the ser.i!es of the 'enators and Representati.es# shall take effe!t# until an ele!tion of representati.es shall ha.e inter.ened.