Tuesday, Sept. 20 - The Amendments of the Constitution

We have talked about the Bill of Rights. Here is a look at the other Amendments to the constitution. They are grouped by topic. Pay particular attention to Amendments pertaining to civil rights.

Governmental authority (Amendments 11, 16, 18, and 21)

• Eleventh Amendment – Prevents federal courts from hearing cases where state s sued by and individual from another state or country – extending states protection from some legal liability.
• Sixteenth Amendment (1913) removed constraints limiting power of Congress to collect income taxes. Basis for federal income tax legislation.
• Eighteenth Amendment (1919) prohibited alcohol.
• Twenty-first Amendment (1933) repealed Eighteenth Amendment.

Safeguards of civil rights (Amendments 13, 14, 15, 19, 23, 24, and 26)

• Thirteenth Amendment (1865) abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment of a crime.
• Fourteenth Amendment (1868) granted citizenship to former slaves and limited states power: states can’t violate citizens’ rights; deprive person of life, liberty or property without due process; must give equal protection under the law.
• Fifteenth Amendment (1870) says people of all race, color can vote.
• Nineteenth Amendment (1920) gives women the right to vote.
• Twenty-third Amendment (1961) fiver right to vote to people in DC.
• Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) prohibits a poll tax on voting.
• Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971) lowers voting age to 18.

Government processes and procedures (Amendments 12, 17, 20, 22, 25, and 27)

• Twelfth Amendment (1804) modifies the electoral college – vote for president and vice president.
• Seventeenth Amendment (1913)  says senators must be elected by popular vote.
• Twentieth Amendment (1933) moves president and congress term from March 4 to January 20. To prevent lame duck sessions.
• Twenty-second Amendment (1951) limits president to two terms.
• Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967) clarifies succession rule.
• Twenty-seventh Amendment (1992) prevents Congress from granting pay raises during the current session.