Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America
Articles in addition to, and amendment of, the Constitution of the
United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the
several states, pursuant to the Fifth Article of the original
Constitution
fn1
Amendment I
fn2
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a
manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,
shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon
probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly
describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be
seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand
Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the
Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor
shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal
case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life,
liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private
property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and
district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district
shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of
the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the
witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for
his defence.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and
no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court
of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people.
Amendment XI
fn3
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 on the United States by Citizens of another State, or by
Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
Amendment XII
fn4
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 the 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.
Amendment XIII.
fn5
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.
fn6
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 power to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of this article.
Amendment XV.
fn7
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 power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Amendment XVI
.
fn8
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
fn9
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
fn10
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.
Sec. 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Sec. 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
fn11
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
fn12
Section. 1. The terms of the President and 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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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 elect 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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of
October following the ratification of this article.
Sec. 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
fn13
Section. 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution
of the United States is hereby repealed.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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
fn14
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 the President more than once. But this Article shall
not apply to any person holding the office of President, when this
Article was proposed by the 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.
Sec. 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
fn15
Section. 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the
United States shall appoint in such manner as the 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.
Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXIV
fn16
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 any poll tax
or other tax.
Section. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXV
fn17
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 has 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 has 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
fn18
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
fn19
No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and
Representatives shall take effect, until an election of
Representatives shall have intervened.
This document is sponsored by the
United States Senate
on the
United States Government
Printing Office
web site.
Footnotes
1
In Dillon v. Gloss,
256
U.S. 368
(1921), the Supreme Court stated that it would take judicial notice
of the date on which a State ratified a proposed constitutional
amendment. Accordingly the Court consulted the State journals to
determine the dates on which each house of the legislature of
certain States ratified the Eighteenth Amendment. It, therefore,
follows that the date on which the governor approved the
ratification, or the date on which the secretary of state of a given
State certified the ratification, or the date on which the Secretary
of State of the United States received a copy of said certificate,
or the date on which he proclaimed that the amendment had been
ratified are not controlling. Hence, the ratification date given in
the following notes is the date on which the legislature of a given
State approved the particular amendment (signature by the speaker or
presiding officers of both houses being considered a part of the
ratification of the ''legislature''). When that date is not
available, the date given is that on which it was approved by the
governor or certified by the secretary of state of the particular
State. In each case such fact has been noted. Except as otherwise
indicated information as to ratification is based on data supplied
by the Department of State.
2
Brackets enclosing an amendment number indicate that the number was
not specifically assigned in the resolution proposing the amendment.
It will be seen, accordingly, that only the Thirteenth, Fourteenth,
Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Amendments were thus technically ratified
by number. The first ten amendments along with two others that were
not ratified were proposed by Congress on September 25, 1789, when
they passed the Senate, having previously passed the House on
September 24 (1 Annals of Congress 88, 913). They appear officially
in 1 Stat. 97. Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791, when
the eleventh State (Virginia) approved these amendments, there being
then 14 States in the Union.
The several state legislatures ratified the first ten amendments to
the Constitution on the following dates: New Jersey, November 20,
1789; Maryland, December 19, 1789; North Carolina, December 22,
1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New Hampshire, January 25,
1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York, February 27, 1790;
Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7, 1790; Vermont,
November 3, 1791; Virginia, December 15, 1791. The two amendments
that then failed of ratification prescribed the ratio of
representation to population in the House, and specified that no law
varying the compensation of members of Congress should be effective
until after an intervening election of Representatives. The first
was ratified by ten States (one short of the requisite number) and
the second, by six States; subsequently, this second proposal was
taken up by the States in the period 1980-1992 and was proclaimed as
ratified as of May 7, 1992. Connecticut, Georgia, and Massachusetts
ratified the first ten amendments in 1939.
3
The Eleventh Amendment was proposed by Congress on March 4, 1794,
when it passed the House, 4 Annals of Congress 477, 478, having
previously passed the Senate on January 14, Id., 30, 31. It appears
officially in 1 Stat. 402. Ratification was completed on February 7,
1795, when the twelfth State (North Carolina) approved the
amendment, there being then 15 States in the Union. Official
announcement of ratification was not made until January 8, 1798,
when President John Adams in a message to Congress stated that the
Eleventh Amendment had been adopted by three-fourths of the States
and that it ''may now be deemed to be a part of the Constitution.''
In the interim South Carolina had ratified, and Tennessee had been
admitted into the Union as the sixteenth State.
The several state legislatures ratified the Eleventh Amendment on
the following dates: New York, March 27, 1794; Rhode Island, March
31, 1794; Connecticut, May 8, 1794; New Hampshire, June 16, 1794;
Massachusetts, June 26, 1794; Vermont, between October 9 and
November 9, 1794; Virginia, November 18, 1794; Georgia, November 29,
1794; Kentucky, December 7, 1794; Maryland, December 26, 1794;
Delaware, January 23, 1795; North Carolina, February 7, 1795; South
Carolina, December 4, 1797.
4
The Twelfth Amendment was proposed by Congress on December 9, 1803,
when it passed the House, 13 Annals of Congress 775, 776, having
previously passed the Senate on December 2. Id., 209. It was not
signed by the presiding officers of the House and Senate until
December 12. It appears officially in 2 Stat. 306. Ratification was
probably completed on June 15, 1804, when the legislature of the
thirteenth State (New Hampshire) approved the amendment, there being
then 17 States in the Union. The Governor of New Hampshire, however,
vetoed this act of the legislature on June 20, and the act failed to
pass again by two- thirds vote then required by the state
constitution. Inasmuch as Article V of the Federal Constitution
specifies that amendments shall become effective ''when ratified by
legislatures of three-fourths of the several States or by
conventions in three-fourths thereof,'' it has been generally
believed that an approval or veto by a governor is without
significance. If the ratification by New Hampshire be deemed
ineffective, then the amendment became operative by Tennessee's
ratification on July 27, 1804. On September 25, 1804, in a circular
letter to the Governors of the several States, Secretary of State
Madison declared the amendment ratified by three-fourths of the
States.
The several state legislatures ratified the Twelfth Amendment on the
following dates: North Carolina, December 22, 1803; Maryland,
December 24, 1803; Kentucky, December 27, 1803; Ohio, between
December 5 and December 30, 1803; Virginia, between December 20,
1803 and February 3, 1804; Pennsylvania, January 5, 1804; Vermont,
January 30, 1804; New York, February 10, 1804; New Jersey, February
22, 1804; Rhode Island, between February 27 and March 12, 1804;
South Carolina, May 15, 1804; Georgia, May 19, 1804; New Hampshire,
June 15, 1804; and Tennessee, July 27, 1804. The amendment was
rejected by Delaware on January 18, 1804, and by Connecticut at its
session begun May 10, 1804. Massachusetts ratified this amendment in
1961.
5
The Thirteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on January 31,
1865, when it passed the House, Cong. Globe (38th Cong., 2d Sess.)
531, having previously passed the Senate on April 8, 1964. Id. (38th
cong., 1st Sess.), 1940. It appears officially in 13 Stat. 567 under
the date of February 1, 1865. Ratification was completed on December
6, 1865, when the legislature of the twenty-seventh State (Georgia)
approved the amendment, there being then 36 States in the Union. On
December 18, 1865, Secretary of State Seward certified that the
Thirteenth Amendment had become a part of the Constitution, 13 Stat.
774.
The several state legislatures ratified the Thirteenth Amendment on
the following dates: Illinois, February 1, 1865; Rhode Island,
February 2, 1865; Michigan, February 2, 1865; Maryland, February 3,
1865; New York, February 3, 1865; West Virginia, February 3, 1865;
Missouri, February 6, 1865; Maine, February 7, 1865; Kansas,
February 7, 1865; Massachusetts, February 7, 1865; Pennsylvania,
February 8, 1865; Virginia, February 9, 1865; Ohio, February 10,
1865; Louisiana, February 15 or 16, 1865; Indiana, February 16,
1865; Nevada, February 16, 1865; Minnesota, February 23, 1865;
Wisconsin, February 24, 1865; Vermont, March 9, 1865 (date on which
it was ''approved'' by Governor); Tennessee, April 7, 1865;
Arkansas, April 14, 1865; Connecticut, May 4, 1865; New Hampshire,
June 30, 1865; South Carolina, November 13, 1865; Alabama, December
2, 1865 (date on which it was ''approved'' by Provisional Governor);
North Carolina, December 4, 1865; Georgia, December 6, 1865; Oregon,
December 11, 1865; California, December 15, 1865; Florida, December
28, 1865 (Florida again ratified this amendment on June 9, 1868,
upon its adoption of a new constitution); Iowa, January 17, 1866;
New Jersey, January 23, 1866 (after having rejected the amendment on
March 16, 1865); Texas, February 17, 1870; Delaware, February 12,
1901 (after having rejected the amendment on February 8, 1865). The
amendment was rejected by Kentucky on February 24, 1865, and by
Mississippi on December 2, 1865.
6
The Fourteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on June 13, 1866,
when it passed the House, Cong. Globe (39th Cong., 1st Sess.) 3148,
3149, having previously passed the Senate on June 8. Id., 3042. It
appears officially in 14 Stat. 358 under date of June 16, 1866.
Ratification was probably completed on July 9, 1868, when the
legislature of the twenty-eighth State (South Carolina or Louisiana)
approved the amendment, there being then 37 States in the Union.
However, Ohio and New Jersey had prior to that date ''withdrawn''
their earlier assent to this amendment. Accordingly, Secretary of
State Seward on July 20, 1868, certified that the amendment had
become a part of the Constitution if the said withdrawals were
ineffective. 15 Stat. 706-707. Congress on July 21, 1868, passed a
joint resolution declaring the amendment a part of the Constitution
and directing the Secretary to promulgate it as such. On July 28,
1868, Secretary Seward certified without reservation that the
amendment was a part of the Constitution. In the interim, two other
States, Alabama on July 13 and Georgia on July 21, 1868, had added
their ratifications.
The several state legislatures ratified the Fourteenth Amendment on
the following dates: Connecticut, June 30, 1866; New Hampshire, July
7, 1866; Tennessee, July 19, 1866; New Jersey, September 11, 1866
(the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1868 ''withdrew'' its
consent to the ratification; the Governor vetoed that bill on March
5, 1868; and it was repassed over his veto on March 24, 1868);
Oregon, September 19, 1866 (Oregon ''withdrew'' its consent on
October 15, 1868); Vermont, October 30, 1866; New York, January 10,
1867; Ohio, January 11, 1867 (Ohio ''withdrew'' its consent on
January 15, 1868); Illinois, January 15, 1867; West Virginia,
January 16, 1867; Michigan, January 16, 1867; Kansas, January 17,
1867; Minnesota, January 17, 1867; Maine, January 19, 1867; Nevada,
January 22, 1867; Indiana, January 23, 1867; Missouri, January 26,
1867 (date on which it was certified by the Missouri secretary of
state); Rhode Island, February 7, 1867; Pennsylvania, February 12,
1867; Wisconsin, February 13, 1867 (actually passed February 7, but
not signed by legislative officers until February 13);
Massachusetts, March 20, 1867; Nebraska, June 15, 1867; Iowa, March
9, 1868; Arkansas, April 6, 1868; Florida, June 9, 1868; North
Carolina, July 2, 1868 (after having rejected the amendment on
December 13, 1866); Louisiana, July 9, 1868 (after having rejected
the amendment on February 6, 1867); South Carolina, July 8, 1868
(after having rejected the amendment on December 20, 1866); Alabama,
July 13, 1868 (date on which it was ''approved'' by the Governor);
Georgia, July 21, 1868 (after having rejected the amendment on
November 9, 1866--Georgia ratified again on February 2, 1870);
Virginia, October 8, 1869 (after having rejected the amendment on
January 9, 1867); Mississippi, January 17, 1870; Texas, February 18,
1870 (after having rejected the amendment on October 27, 1866);
Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having rejected the amendment on
February 7, 1867). The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Kentucky on January 8, 1867. Maryland and California
ratified this amendment in 1959.
7
The Fifteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on February 26,
1869, when it passed the Senate, Cong. Globe (40th Cong., 3rd Sess.)
1641, having previously passed the House on February 25. Id., 1563,
1564. It appears officially in 15 Stat. 346 under the date of
February 27, 1869. Ratification was probably completed on February
3, 1870, when the legislature of the twenty-eighth State (Iowa)
approved the amendment, there being then 37 States in the Union.
However, New York had prior to that date ''withdrawn'' its earlier
assent to this amendment. Even if this withdrawal were effective,
Nebraska's ratification on February 17, 1870, authorized Secretary
of State Fish's certification of March 30, 1870, that the Fifteenth
Amendment had become a part of the Constitution. 16 Stat. 1131.
The several state legislatures ratified the Fifteenth Amendment on
the following dates: Nevada, March 1, 1869; West Virginia, March 3,
1869; North Carolina, March 5, 1869; Louisiana, March 5, 1869 (date
on which it was ''approved'' by the Governor); Illinois, March 5,
1869; Michigan, March 5, 1869; Wisconsin, March 5, 1869; Maine,
March 11, 1869; Massachusetts, March 12, 1869; South Carolina, March
15, 1869; Arkansas, March 15, 1869; Pennsylvania, March 25, 1869;
New York, April 14, 1869 (New York ''withdrew'' its consent to the
ratification on January 5, 1870); Indiana, May 14, 1869;
Connecticut, May 19, 1869; Florida, June 14, 1869; New Hampshire,
July 1, 1869; Virginia, October 8, 1869; Vermont, October 20, 1869;
Alabama, November 16, 1869; Missouri, January 7, 1870 (Missouri had
ratified the first section of the 15th Amendment on March 1, 1869;
it failed to include in its ratification the second section of the
amendment); Minnesota, January 13, 1870; Mississippi, January 17,
1870; Rhode Island, January 18, 1870; Kansas, January 19, 1870
(Kansas had by a defectively worded resolution previously ratified
this amendment on February 27, 1869); Ohio, January 27, 1870 (after
having rejected the amendment on May 4, 1869); Georgia, February 2,
1870; Iowa, February 3, 1870; Nebraska, February 17, 1870; Texas,
February 18, 1870; New Jersey, February 15, 1871 (after having
rejected the amendment on February 7, 1870); Delaware, February 12,
1901 (date on which approved by Governor; Delaware had previously
rejected the amendment on March 18, 1869). The amendment was
rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Kentucky, Maryland, and
Tennessee. California ratified this amendment in 1962 and Oregon in
1959.
8
The Sixteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on July 12, 1909,
when it passed the House, 44 Cong. Rec. (61st Cong., 1st Sess.)
4390, 4440, 4441, having previously passed the Senate on July 5.
Id., 4121. It appears officially in 36 Stat. 184. Ratification was
completed on February 3, 1913, when the legislature of the
thirty-sixth State (Delaware, Wyoming, or New Mexico) approved the
amendment, there being then 48 States in the Union. On February 25,
1913, Secretary of State Knox certified that this amendment had
become a part of the Constitution. 37 Stat. 1785.
The several state legislatures ratified the Sixteenth Amendment on
the following dates: Alabama, August 10, 1909; Kentucky, February 8,
1910; South Carolina, February 19, 1910; Illinois, March 1, 1910;
Mississippi, March 7, 1910; Oklahoma, March 10, 1910; Maryland,
April 8, 1910; Georgia, August 3, 1910; Texas, August 16, 1910;
Ohio, January 19, 1911; Idaho, January 20, 1911; Oregon, January 23,
1911; Washington, January 26, 1911; Montana, January 27, 1911;
Indiana, January 30, 1911; California, January 31, 1911; Nevada,
January 31, 1911; South Dakota, February 1, 1911; Nebraska, February
9, 1911; North Carolina, February 11, 1911; Colorado, February 15,
1911; North Dakota, February 17, 1911; Michigan, February 23, 1911;
Iowa, February 24, 1911; Kansas, March 2, 1911; Missouri, March 16,
1911; Maine, March 31, 1911; Tennessee, April 7, 1911; Arkansas,
April 22, 1911 (after having rejected the amendment at the session
begun January 9, 1911); Wisconsin, May 16, 1911; New York, July 12,
1911; Arizona, April 3, 1912; Minnesota, June 11, 1912; Louisiana,
June 28, 1912; West Virginia, January 31, 1913; Delaware, February
3, 1913; Wyoming, February 3, 1913; New Mexico, February 3, 1913;
New Jersey, February 4, 1913; Vermont, February 19, 1913;
Massachusetts, March 4, 1913; New Hampshire, March 7, 1913 (after
having rejected the amendment on March 2, 1911). The amendment was
rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Connecticut, Rhode
Island, and Utah.
9
The Seventeenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on May 13, 1912,
when it passed the House, 48 Cong. Rec. (62d Cong., 2d Sess.) 6367,
having previously passed the Senate on June 12, 1911. 47 Cong. Rec.
(62d Cong., 1st Sess.) 1925. It appears officially in 37 Stat. 646.
Ratification was completed on April 8, 1913, when the thirty-sixth
State (Connecticut) approved the amendment, there being then 48
States in the Union. On May 31, 1913, Secretary of State Bryan
certified that it had become a part of the Constitution. 38 Stat
2049.
The several state legislatures ratified the Seventeenth Amendment on
the following dates: Massachusetts, May 22, 1912; Arizona, June 3,
1912; Minnesota, June 10, 1912; New York, January 15, 1913; Kansas,
January 17, 1913; Oregon, January 23, 1913; North Carolina, January
25, 1913; California, January 28, 1913; Michigan, January 28, 1913;
Iowa, January 30, 1913; Montana, January 30, 1913; Idaho, January
31, 1913; West Virginia, February 4, 1913; Colorado, February 5,
1913; Nevada, February 6, 1913; Texas, February 7, 1913; Washington,
February 7, 1913; Wyoming, February 8, 1913; Arkansas, February 11,
1913; Illinois, February 13, 1913; North Dakota, February 14, 1913;
Wisconsin, February 18, 1913; Indiana, February 19, 1913; New
Hampshire, February 19, 1913; Vermont, February 19, 1913; South
Dakota, February 19, 1913; Maine, February 20, 1913; Oklahoma,
February 24, 1913; Ohio, February 25, 1913; Missouri, March 7, 1913;
New Mexico, March 13, 1913; Nebraska, March 14, 1913; New Jersey,
March 17, 1913; Tennessee, April 1, 1913; Pennsylvania, April 2,
1913; Connecticut, April 8, 1913; Louisiana, June 5, 1914. The
amendment was rejected by Utah on February 26, 1913.
10
The Eighteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on December 18,
1917, when it passed the Senate, Cong. Rec. (65th Cong. 2d Sess.)
478, having previously passed the House on December 17. Id., 470. It
appears officially in 40 Stat. 1059. Ratification was completed on
January 16, 1919, when the thirty-sixth State approved the
amendment, there being then 48 States in the Union. On January 29,
1919, Acting Secretary of State Polk certified that this amendment
had been adopted by the requisite number of States. 40 Stat. 1941.
By its terms this amendment did not become effective until 1 year
after ratification.
The several state legislatures ratified the Eighteenth Amendment on
the following dates: Mississippi, January 8, 1918; Virginia, January
11, 1918; Kentucky, January 14, 1918; North Dakota, January 28, 1918
(date on which approved by Governor); South Carolina, January 29,
1918; Maryland, February 13, 1918; Montana, February 19, 1918;
Texas, March 4, 1918; Delaware, March 18, 1918; South Dakota, March
20, 1918; Massachusetts, April 2, 1918; Arizona, May 24, 1918;
Georgia, June 26, 1918; Louisiana, August 9, 1918 (date on which
approved by Governor); Florida, November 27, 1918; Michigan, January
2, 1919; Ohio, January 7, 1919; Oklahoma, January 7, 1919; Idaho,
January 8, 1919; Maine, January 8, 1919; West Virginia, January 9,
1919; California, January 13, 1919; Tennessee, January 13, 1919;
Washington, January 13, 1919; Arkansas, January 14, 1919; Kansas,
January 14, 1919; Illinois, January 14, 1919; Indiana, January 14,
1919; Alabama, January 15, 1919; Colorado, January 15, 1919; Iowa,
January 15, 1919; New Hampshire, January 15, 1919; Oregon, January
15, 1919; Nebraska, January 16, 1919; North Carolina, January 16,
1919; Utah, January 16, 1919; Missouri, January 16, 1919; Wyoming,
January 16, 1919; Minnesota, January 17, 1919; Wisconsin, January
17, 1919; New Mexico, January 20, 1919; Nevada, January 21, 1919;
Pennsylvania, February 25, 1919; Connecticut, May 6, 1919; New
Jersey, March 9, 1922; New York, January 29, 1919; Vermont, January
29, 1919.
11
The Nineteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on June 4, 1919,
when it passed the Senate, Cong. Rec. (66th Cong., 1st Sess.) 635,
having previously passed the house on May 21. Id., 94. It appears
officially in 41 Stat. 362. Ratification was completed on August 18,
1920, when the thirty-sixth State (Tennessee) approved the
amendment, there being then 48 States in the Union. On August 26,
1920, Secretary of Colby certified that it had become a part of the
Constitution. 41 Stat. 1823.
The several state legislatures ratified the Nineteenth Amendment on
the following dates: Illinois, June 10, 1919 (readopted June 17,
1919); Michigan, June 10, 1919; Wisconsin, June 10, 1919; Kansas,
June 16, 1919; New York, June 16, 1919; Ohio, June 16, 1919;
Pennsylvania, June 24, 1919; Massachusetts, June 25, 1919; Texas,
June 28, 1919; Iowa, July 2, 1919 (date on which approved by
Governor); Missouri, July 3, 1919; Arkansas, July 28, 1919; Montana,
August 2, 1919 (date on which approved by governor); Nebraska,
August 2, 1919; Minnesota, September 8, 1919; New Hampshire,
September 10, 1919 (date on which approved by Governor); Utah,
October 2, 1919; California, November 1, 1919; Maine, November 5,
1919; North Dakota, December 1, 1919; South Dakota, December 4, 1919
(date on which certified); Colorado, December 15, 1919 (date on
which approved by Governor); Kentucky, January 6, 1920; Rhode
Island, January 6, 1920; Oregon, January 13, 1920; Indiana, January
16, 1920; Wyoming, January 27, 1920; Nevada, February 7, 1920; New
Jersey, February 9, 1920; Idaho, February 11, 1920; Arizona,
February 12, 1920; New Mexico, February 21, 1920 (date on which
approved by govrnor); Oklahoma, February 28, 1920; West Virginia,
March 10, 1920 (confirmed September 21, 1920); Vermont, February 8,
1921. The amendment was rejected by Georgia on July 24, 1919; by
Alabama on September 22, 1919; by South Carolina on January 29,
1920; by Virginia on February 12, 1920; by Maryland on February 24,
1920; by Mississippi on March 29, 1920; by Louisiana on July 1,
1920. This amendment was subsequently ratified by Virginia in 1952,
Alabama in 1953, Florida in 1969, and Georgia and Louisiana in 1970.
12
The Twentieth Amendment was proposed by Congress on March 2, 1932,
when it passed the Senate, Cong. Rec. (72d Cong., 1st Sess.) 5086,
having previously passed the House on March 1. Id., 5027. It appears
officially in 47 Stat. 745. Ratification was completed on January
23, 1933, when the thirty-sixth State approved the amendment, there
being then 48 States in the Union. On February 6, 1933, Secretary of
State Stimson certified that it had become a part of the
Constitution. 47 Stat. 2569.
The several state legislatures ratified the Twentieth Amendment on
the following dates: Virginia, March 4, 1932; New York, March 11,
1932; Mississippi, March 16, 1932; Arkansas March 17, 1932;
Kentucky, March 17, 1932; New Jersey, March 21, 1932; South
Carolina, March 25, 1932; Michigan, March 31, 1932; Maine, April 1,
1932; Rhode Island, April 14, 1932; Illinois, April 21, 1932;
Louisiana, June 22, 1932; West Virginia, July 30, 1932;
Pennsylvania, August 11, 1932; Indiana, August 15, 1932; Texas,
September 7, 1932; Alabama, September 13, 1932; California, January
4, 1933; North Carolina, January 5, 1933; North Dakota, January 9,
1933; Minnesota, January 12, 1933; Arizona, January 13, 1933;
Montana, January 13, 1933; Nebraska, January 13, 1933; Oklahoma,
January 13, 1933; Kansas, January 16, 1933; Oregon, January 16,
1933; Delaware, January 19, 1933; Washington, January 19, 1933;
Wyoming, January 19, 1933; Iowa, January 20, 1933; South Dakota,
January 20, 1933; Tennessee, January 20, 1933; Idaho, January 21,
1933; New Mexico, January 21, 1933; Georgia, January 23, 1933;
Missouri, January 23, 1933; Ohio, January 23, 1933; Utah, January
23, 1933; Colorado, January 24, 1933; Massachusetts, January 24,
1933; Wisconsin, January 24, 1933; Nevada, January 26, 1933;
Connecticut, January 27, 1933; New Hampshire, January 31, 1933;
Vermont, February 2, 1933; Maryland, March 24, 1933; Florida, April
26, 1933.
13
The Twenty-first Amendment was proposed by Congress on February 20,
1933, when it passed the House, Cong. Rec. (72d Cong., 2d Sess.)
4516, having previously passed the Senate on February 16. Id., 4231.
It appears officially in 47 Stat. 1625. Ratification was completed
on December 5, 1933, when the thirty-sixth State (Utah) approved the
amendment, there being then 48 States in the Union. On December 5,
1933, Acting Secretary of State Phillips certified that it had been
adopted by the requisite number of States. 48 Stat. 1749.
The several state conventions ratified the Twenty-first Amendment on
the following dates: Michigan, April 10, 1933; Wisconsin, April 25,
1933; Rhode Island, May 8, 1933; Wyoming, May 25, 1933; New Jersey,
June 1, 1933; Delaware, June 24, 1933; Indiana, June 26, 1933;
Massachusetts, June 26, 1933; New York, June 27, 1933; Illinois,
July 10, 1933; Iowa, July 10, 1933; Connecticut, July 11, 1933; New
Hampshire, July 11, 1933; California, July 24, 1933; West Virginia,
July 25, 1933; Arkansas, August 1, 1933; Oregon, August 7, 1933;
Alabama, August 8, 1933; Tennessee, August 11, 1933; Missouri,
August 29, 1933; Arizona, September 5, 1933; Nevada, September 5,
1933; Vermont, September 23, 1933; Colorado, September 26, 1933;
Washington, October 3, 1933; Minnesota, October 10, 1933; Idaho,
October 17, 1933; Maryland, October 18, 1933; Virginia, October 25,
1933; New Mexico, November 2, 1933; Florida, November 14, 1933;
Texas, November 24, 1933; Kentucky, November 27, 1933; Ohio,
December 5, 1933; Pennsylvania, December 5, 1933; Utah, December 5,
1933; Maine, December 6, 1933; Montana, August 6, 1934. The
amendment was rejected by a convention in the State of South
Carolina, on December 4, 1933. The electorate of the State of North
Carolina voted against holding a convention at a general election
held on November 7, 1933.
14
The Twenty-second Amendment was proposed by Congress on March 24,
1947, having passed the House on March 21, 1947, Cong. Rec. (80th
Cong., 1st Sess.) 2392, and having previously passed the Senate on
March 12, 1947. Id., 1978. It appears officially in 61 Stat. 959.
Ratification was completed on February 27, 1951, when the
thirty-sixth State (Minnesota) approved the amendment, there being
then 48 States in the Union. On March 1, 1951, Jess Larson,
Administrator of General Services, certified that it had been
adopted by the requisite number of States. 16 Fed. Reg. 2019.
A total of 41 state legislatures ratified the Twenty-second
Amendment on the following dates: Maine, March 31, 1947; Michigan,
March 31, 1947; Iowa, April 1, 1947; Kansas, April 1, 1947; New
Hampshire, April 1, 1947; Delaware, April 2, 1947; Illinois, April
3, 1947; Oregon, April 3, 1947; Colorado, April 12, 1947;
California, April 15, 1947; New Jersey, April 15, 1947; Vermont,
April 15, 1947; Ohio, April 16, 1947; Wisconsin, April 16, 1947;
Pennsylvania, April 29, 1947; Connecticut, May 21, 1947; Missouri,
May 22, 1947; Nebraska, May 23, 1947; Virginia, January 28, 1948;
Mississippi, February 12, 1948; New York, March 9, 1948; South
Dakota, January 21, 1949; North Dakota, February 25, 1949;
Louisiana, May 17, 1950; Montana, January 25, 1951; Indiana, January
29, 1951; Idaho, January 30, 1951; New Mexico, February 12, 1951;
Wyoming, February 12, 1951; Arkansas, February 15, 1951; Georgia,
February 17, 1951; Tennessee, February 20, 1951; Texas, February 22,
1951; Utah, February 26, 1951; Nevada, February 26, 1951; Minnesota,
February 27, 1951; North Carolina, February 28, 1951; South
Carolina, March 13, 1951; Maryland, March 14, 1951; Florida, April
16, 1951; and Alabama, May 4, 1951.
15
The Twenty-third Amendment was proposed by Congress on June 16,
1960, when it passed the Senate, Cong. Rec. (86th Cong., 2d Sess.)
12858, having previously passed the House on June 14. Id., 12571. It
appears officially in 74 Stat. 1057. Ratification was completed on
March 29, 1961, when the thirty-eighth State (Ohio) approved the
amendment, there being then 50 States in the Union. On April 3,
1961, John L. Moore, Administrator of General Services, certified
that it had been adopted by the requisite number of States. 26 Fed.
Reg. 2808.
The several state legislatures ratified the Twenty-third Amendment
on the following dates: Hawaii, June 23, 1960; Massachusetts, August
22, 1960; New Jersey, December 19, 1960; New York, January 17, 1961;
California, January 19, 1961; Oregon, January 27, 1961; Maryland,
January 30, 1961; Idaho, January 31, 1961; Maine, January 31, 1961;
Minnesota, January 31, 1961; New Mexico, February 1, 1961; Nevada,
February 2, 1961; Montana, February 6, 1961; Colorado, February 8,
1961; Washington, February 9, 1961; West Virginia, February 9, 1961;
Alaska, February 10, 1961; Wyoming, February 13, 1961; South Dakota,
February 14, 1961; Delaware, February 20, 1961; Utah, February 21,
1961; Wisconsin, February 21, 1961; Pennsylvania, February 28, 1961;
Indiana, March 3, 1961; North Dakota, March 3, 1961; Tennessee,
March 6, 1961; Michigan, March 8, 1961; Connecticut, March 9, 1961;
Arizona, March 10, 1961; Illinois, March 14, 1961; Nebraska, March
15, 1961; Vermont, March 15, 1961; Iowa, March 16, 1961; Missouri,
March 20, 1961; Oklahoma, March 21, 1961; Rhode Island, March 22,
1961; Kansas, March 29, 1961; Ohio, March 29, 1961, and New
Hampshire, March 30, 1961.
16
The Twenty-fourth Amendment was proposed by Congress on September
14, 1962, having passed the House on August 27, 1962. Cong. Rec.
(87th Cong., 2d Sess.) 17670 and having previously passed the Senate
on March 27, 1962. Id., 5105. It appears officially in 76 Stat.
1259. Ratification was completed on January 23, 1964, when the
thirty- eighth State (South Dakota) approved the Amendment, there
being then 50 States in the Union. On February 4, 1964, Bernard L.
Boutin, Administrator of General Services, certified that it had
been adopted by the requisite number of States. 25 Fed. Reg. 1717.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed this certificate.
Thirty-eight state legislatures ratified the Twenty-fourth Amendment
on the following dates: Illinois, November 14, 1962; New Jersey,
December 3, 1962; Oregon, January 25, 1963; Montana, January 28,
1963; West Virginia, February 1, 1963; New York, February 4, 1963;
Maryland, February 6, 1963; California, February 7, 1963; Alaska,
February 11, 1963; Rhode Island, February 14, 1963; Indiana,
February 19, 1963; Michigan, February 20, 1963; Utah, Februar |
