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1st-10th Amendments "Bill of Rights"
The first ten Amendments to the United States Constitution are most commonly know as the Bill of Rights. These first ten Amendments were introduced to the American Congress in 1789, but were not ratified until 1791. The purpose of these first ten Amendments is to protect the rights of individuals in the United States such as rights to property, natural rights, and limitations of Government’s power over citizens.
Time required for ratification: 2 yrs, 2 mos, 20 days -
11th Amendment
The Eleventh Amendment provides immunity of states from certain suits. This means that the Federal Courts are limited, and therefor they are restricted from hearing lawsuits brought by citizens of a state against any other state's government . The Eleventh Amendment prohibits an individual from suing a state government in the Federal Courts.
Time Required for Ratification: 11 mos, 3 days -
12th Amendment
The Twelfth Amendment brought about changes in Electoral College procedure. It modified the procedure for electing the president and vice president. It also extended the elegibility requirements necessary in order to become president to include the position of vice president.
Time Required for Ratification: 6 mos, 3 days -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States. It says that, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
Time Required for Ratification: 10 mos, 3 days -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" and included former slaves who had recently been freed at the time. The amendment was initially rejected by majority of the Southern states, but was ratified by the required three-fourths of the states. It is also known as the "Reconstruction Amendment", and forbids any state to deny any person "life, liberty or property, without due process of law".
Time Required for Ratification: 2 yrs, 26 days -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment declared that 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." At the time of the 15th Amendment's ratificaiton, African American men were often prevented from being able to vote in most cases due to poll taxes and literacy tests, and women were not allowed to vote at all.
Time Required for Ratification: 11 mos, 8 days -
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment gave Congress the poew to tax income.The Sixteenth Amendment was proposed by President Howard, and states, "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".
Time Required for Ratification: 3 yrs, 6 mos, 22 days -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment changed the manner in which United States senators were elected. Formerly elected to office by state legislatures, the Seventeenth Amendment provided for a constitutional mandate that United States senators be elected by the popular vote of the citizens of each state. It also provided for unexpected vacancies in senate seats by allowing the governor of an affected state to appoint a senator until a special election can be held.
Time Required for Ratification: 10 mos, 26 days -
18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment established the National prohibition of alcoholic beverages. It defined the making, transportation, possession, and selling of liquor in the United States as a crime. Contrary to common belief, it did not prohibit the purchase or consumption of alcohol. It went into effect January 16th, 1920. It is the only amendment in the history of the United States Constitution to ever be repealed.
Time Required for Ratification: 1 yr, 29 days -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment granted women in the United States the right to vote. This right is known as womans' suffrage.
Time Required for Ratification: 1 yr, 2 mos, 14 days -
20th Amendment
The 20th Amendment changed the dates at which federal government elected offices end. It set the dates for congressional and presidential terms, and also defined who succeeds the president if the president passes away while in office.
Time Required for Ratification: 10 mos, 21 days -
21st Amendment
The 21st Amendment repeaded the 18th Amendment and the national prohibtion of alcohol. The 21st Amendment marked the one and only time that an amendment has been repeased in the history of the Uited States Constitution.
Time Required for Ratification: 9 mos, 15 days -
22nd Amendment
The 22nd Amendment set a limit on presidential tenure. Prior to the 22nd amendment, Presidents of the United States traditionally served only two terms. This was an example set by President George Washington. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only president to break this tradition, and served four terms,
Time Required for Ratification: 3 yrs, 11 mos, 3 days -
23rd Amendment
The 23rd Amendment gave presidential voting rights to citizens residing in the District of Columbia. It also granted representation for Washington D.C. in the Electoral College.
Time Required for Ratification: 9 mos, 13 days -
24th Amendment
The 24th Amendment outlawed the poll tax from being a voting requirement in federal elections,
Time Required for Ratification: 1 yr, 4 mos, 9 days -
25th Amendment
The 25th Amendment outlined procedures for determining persidential disability, and clarified the presidential succession in case of death, resignation, or disability. It also outlined procedure for filling a vice-presidential vacancy.
Time Required for Ratification: 1 yr, 7 mos, 4 days -
26th Amendment
The 26th Amendment lowered the legal, federal voting age from 21 to 18, and allowed millions of young people to participate actively in the democratic process. The 26th Amendment was passed faster than any Constitutional amendment in history.
Time Required for Ratification: 3 mos, 7 days -
27th Amendment
The 27th Amendment of the Constitution prohibits laws that decrease or increase the income of Congress representatives until the beginning of the succeeding terms served by these government officials. It is also the most current amendment that has been made to the United States Constitution. It was initally introduced by James Madison, in 1789, and did not have a time-limit for ratification like more recently proposed amendments do.
Time Required for Ratification: 202 yrs, 6 mos, 12 days
