Amending the

Constitution

Amending the Constitution

***See Handout

*1791

Amendments

» 11 (1798) – Protects states from being sued by citizens˃ Overturned Supreme Court case - Chisolm vs. Georgia

» 12 (1804) – Revised the electoral college to vote separately for President and Vice-President˃ Election of 1800 – Jefferson and Burr

» 13 (1865) – Abolished Slavery˃ Civil War/Reconstruction

» 14 (1868) – Defined citizenship specifically to prevent denial based upon race or color factors˃ Civil War/Reconstruction – also, overturned Dred Scott case

» 15 (1870) – Protected citizens’ right to vote regardless of race˃ Civil War/Reconstruction

Amendments

» 16 (1913) – Established legality of Income Tax˃ Overturned Supreme Court case - Pollock v. Farmer’s Loan and Trust Co.

» 17 (1913) – Provided for direct election of Senators by popular vote of the people˃ Corruption within state legislatures when appointing senators

» 18 (1919) – Prohibition of alcoholic beverages˃ Cultural Movement

» 19 (1920) – Women’s suffrage˃ Cultural Movement – Women’s roles in society had been changing for decades

» 20 (1933) – Reduced time between elections and inaugurations˃ Limit Lame Duck politicians – Also, no longer needed as much time to travel

» 21 (1933) – Repeal of 18th Amendment (Prohibition)˃ Prohibition wasn’t effective

Amendments

» 22 (1951) – President limited to two terms˃ FDR had four terms

» 23 (1961) – Included District of Columbia in Electoral College˃ Part of Civil Rights Movement – much of D.C. was black

» 24 (1964) – Abolished poll taxes˃ Part of Civil Rights Movement

» 25 (1967) – Set presidential succession in stone˃ JFK assassination

» 26 (1971) – Voting age lowered to 18˃ Vietnam War – draft age was 18

» 27 (1992) – Congressional pay raises do not go into effect until after next election˃ Response to several pay raises - Proposed in 1789 by James Madison