The Federal Convention convened with a seven state quorum, in the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) on May 25, 1787. All through the summer the delegates privately debated and eventually agreed to discard the Constitution of 1777. The Constitution of 1787 was completed and submitted to the United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) on September 17th, 1787. On September 28th, 1787, the USCA submitted the Constitution of 1787, unchanged, to the 13 United States for their approval.
Protects freedoms of speech, religion, and the press, and the right to assemble and to petition the government - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
2nd
Protects the right to bear arms- Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
3rd
Prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during peacetime - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
4th
Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
5th
Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, prohibits self-incrimination & double jeopardy - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
6th
Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
7th
Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
8th
Prohibits excessive fines , excessive bail, & cruel and unusual punishment - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
9th
Protects rights not enumerated in the constitution - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
10th
Limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the Constitution - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
11th
Makes states immune to suits by out-of-state citizens & foreigners not living within the state borders; foundation for sovereign - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
March 4, 1794
February 7, 1795
12th
Revises presidential election procedures - immunity - Signers: Speaker of the House Nathaniel Macon (R-NC) & Vice President Aaron Burr (R-NY)
December 9, 1803
June 15, 1804
13th
Abolishes slavery & involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA) - Signers: Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax (R-IN) & Vice President Hannibal Hamlin (R-M)
January 31, 1865
December 6, 1865
14th
Defines citizenship, contains the Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, & post-Civil War issues - Signers: Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax (R-IN) & US Senator Lafayette S. Foster (R-CT)
June 13, 1866
July 9, 1868
15th
Prohibits the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude - Signers: Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax (R-IN) & US Senator Benjamin F. Wade (R-OH)
February 26, 1869
February 3, 1870
16th
Allows the federal government to collect income tax - Signers: Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon (R-Ill) & Vice President James S. Sherman (R-NY)
July 9, 1909
February 3, 1913
17th
Establishes the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote - Signers: Speaker of the House Champ Clark (D-MS) & Vice President James S. Sherman (R-NY)
May 12, 1912
April 8, 1913
18th
Establishes prohibition of alcohol (repealed by Twenty-first Amendment) - Signers: Speaker of the House Champ Clark (D-MS) & Vice President Thomas R. Marshall (D - IN)
December 18, 1917
January 16, 1919
19th
Establishes women's suffrage - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Gillett (R-MA) & Vice President Thomas R. Marshall (D - IN)
June 4, 1919
August 18, 1920
20th
Fixes the dates of term commencements for Congress on January 3 and the President on January 20 popular name is "lame duck amendment" - Signers: Speaker of the House John Nance Garner (D-TX) & Vice President Charles Curtis (R-KA)
March 2, 1932
January 23, 1933
21st
Repeals the Eighteenth Amendment and prohibits violations of state laws regarding alcohol - Signers: Speaker of the House John Nance Garner (D-TX) & Vice President Charles Curtis (R-KA)
February 20, 1933
December 5, 1933
22nd
Limits the number of times that a person can be elected president: a person cannot be elected president more than twice, and a person who has served more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected cannot be elected more than once - Signers: Speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin, Jr. & US Senator William F. Knowland (R-CA)
March 24, 1947
February 27,1951
23rd
Provides for representation of Washington, D.C., in the Electoral College - Signers: Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn (D) & US Senator Michael Mansfield (D-MT)
June 16, 1960
March 29, 1961
24th
Prohibits voting rights revocation due to the non-payment of poll taxes - Signers: Speaker of the House John William McCormack (MA-D)& US Senator Carl Trumbull Hayden (D-AZ)
September 14, 1962
January 23,1964
25th
Codifies the Tyler Precedent; defines a process of presidential succession - Signers: Speaker of the House John William McCormack (MA-D) & Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey (MN-D)
July 6, 1965
February 10, 1967
26th
Establishes the right to vote for those age 18 years or older - Signers: Speaker of the House Carl Albert (OK-D) & US Senator Allen Joseph Ellender (LA-D)
March 23, 1971
July 1, 1971
27th
Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of the representatives. - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA)
September 25, 1789
May 7, 1992
US Constitution of 1787 Pending and Failed Amendments
There are six amendments to the
US Constitution of 1787 that have
been passed by United States Congress but did not get ratified by the
appropriate number of states' legislatures. Four of these amendments remain
pending before state lawmakers, one has expired by its own terms, and one has
expired by the terms of the resolution proposing it but the expiration is not
in the Amendment itself. Consequently
the expiration of the ERA Amendment is disputed.
Article The First is the only Amendment of the Bill Of Rights proposed by the First Congress - Signers: Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg (PA) & Vice President John Adams (MA) that is still pending before state lawmakers.
Expired 1982, though possibly still able to be ratified as the deadline was extended and not placed in the Amendment's text.
Prohibition of inequality of men and women
District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment
August 2, 1978
Expired 1985; cannot be revived as the deadline was in the amendment's text.
D.C. voting rights
FULL TEXT
Amendments to the U.S. Constitution of 1787
I - Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition - 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.
II - Right to keep and bear arms - 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.
III - Conditions for quarters of soldiers - 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.
IV - Right of search and seizure regulated - 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.
V - Provisons concerning prosecution - 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 offense 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.
VI - Right to a speedy trial, witnesses, etc. - 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 defense.
VII - Right to a trial by jury - 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 reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
VIII - Excessive bail, cruel punishment - Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
IX - Rule of construction of Constitution - The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
X - Rights of the States under Constitution - 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.
These first ten amendments were ratified by the States on December 15, 1791
XI - Judicial Powers Construed - 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 of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. This amendment was passed by Congress March 4, 1794 and ratified on February 7, 1795.
XII - Manner of Choosing a President and Vice-President - 1. 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 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 case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. 3. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such numbers 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. This Amendment altered Article 2 Section 1 Part 2 was passed by Congress on December 9, 1803 and ratified on July 27, 1804. Changed by Amendment XX
XIII - Slavery Abolished - 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. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 and ratified on December 6, 1865.
XIV - Citizen rights not to be abridged - 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 to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 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. 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. 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. 5. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Passed by Congress on June 13, 1866 and ratified on July 9, 1868
XV - Race no bar to voting rights - 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. 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Passed by Congress on February 26, 1869 and ratified on February 3, 1870.
XVI - Income taxes authorized -The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever sources derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. Passed by Congress on July 2, 1909 and ratified on February 3, 1913.[1]
XVII - U.S. Senators to be elected by direct popular vote - 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. Passed by Congress on May 13, 1912 and ratified on April 8, 1913.[2]
XVIII - Liquor Prohibition - 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. 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. 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. Passed by Congress on December 18, 1917 and ratified on January 16, 1919. Changed by Amendment XXI
XIX - Giving nationwide suffrage to women - 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 sex. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Passed by Congress on June 4, 1919 and ratified on August 18, 1920.
XX - Terms of the President and Vice-President - 1. The terms of the President and the Vice-President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3rd 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. 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. 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 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. 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. 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article (October 1933). 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. This Amendment altered Article 1 Section 4 Part 2 and Article 2 Section 1 Part 5. This was passed by Congress on March 2, 1932 and ratified on January 23, 1933.
XXI - Repeal of Amendment XVIII - 1. The Eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. 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. 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. Passed by Congress on February 20, 1933 and ratified on December 5, 1933.
XXII - Limiting presidential terms of office - 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 that two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. 2. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. 3. 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. Passed by Congress March 21, 1947 and ratified on February 27, 1951.
XXIII - Presidential vote for the District of Columbia - 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct: 2. 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. 3. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Passed by Congress on June 16, 1960 and ratified on March 29, 1961.
XXIV - Barring poll tax in federal elections - 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 poll tax or any other tax. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. This Amendment altered Article 1 Section 2 Part 3 and was passed by Congress on August 27, 1962 and ratified on January 23, 1964.
XXV - Presidential disability and succession - 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take the office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress. 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President Pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his 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. 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, transmits 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. 5. Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President Pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his 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 departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmits 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. This Amendment altered Article 2 Section 1 Part 5. This was passed by Congress on July 6, 1965 and ratified on February 10, 1967.
XXVI - Lowering the voting age to 18 years - The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. This Amendment altered Article 1 Section 9 Part 4. This was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971 and ratified on June 30, 1971.
XXVII - Congressional Pay - No law, varying the compensation for services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened. This Amendment altered Article 1 Section 3 Part 1 and Article 1 Section 3 Part 2. This was passed by Congress on September 25, 1789 and ratified on May 7, 1992.
The Congressional Evolution of the United States of America
Continental Congress of the United Colonies Presidents
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