Jump to content

US Constitution study guide: Difference between revisions

Line 1,382: Line 1,382:
{| class="wikitable" style="max-width: 1000px "  
{| class="wikitable" style="max-width: 1000px "  
|
|
=== Amendment 11 (ratified Feb. 7, 1795) ===
=== Amendment 11:limits certain judicial powers (ratified Feb. 7, 1795) ===


{{#tip-text: Amendment 11|1795:
{{#tip-text: Amendment 11|1795:
Line 1,389: Line 1,389:
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.
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.


=== Amendment 12 (ratified July 27, 1804)===
=== Amendment 12: presidential election by "ticket" (ratified July 27, 1804)===


{{#tip-text: Amendment 12|
{{#tip-text: Amendment 12|
Line 1,401: Line 1,401:
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.
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 13 (ratified Dec. 6, 1865)===
===Amendment 13:abolishes slavery (ratified Dec. 6, 1865)===


{{#tip-text: Amendment 13|abolishes slavery
{{#tip-text: Amendment 13|abolishes slavery
Line 1,410: Line 1,410:
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


===Amendment 14 (ratified July 9, 1868)===
===Amendment 14: equal protection & due process (ratified July 9, 1868)===


{{#tip-text: Amendment 14|
{{#tip-text: Amendment 14|protects civil liberties of freed slaves
}}'''
}}'''


Line 1,424: Line 1,424:
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provision of this article.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provision of this article.


===Amendment 15 (ratified Feb. 3, 1870) ===
===Amendment 15: right to vote for all males (freed slaves) (ratified Feb. 3, 1870) ===


{{#tip-text: Amendment 15 |secures right to vote for former slaves
{{#tip-text: Amendment 15 |secures right to vote for former slaves
Line 1,433: Line 1,433:
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


===Amendment 16 (ratified Feb. 3, 1913) ===
===Amendment 16: income tax (ratified Feb. 3, 1913) ===


{{#tip-text: Amendment 16|establishes income tax
{{#tip-text: Amendment 16|establishes income tax
Line 1,440: Line 1,440:
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.
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 17:direct election of Senators (ratified April 8, 1913) ===
===Amendment 17 (ratified April 8, 1913) ===


{{#tip-text: Amendment 17|direct election of Senators
{{#tip-text: Amendment 17|direct election of Senators
* removes the power of state legislatures to choose senators
* senators to be elected by "direct vote" of the people
** i.e., by popular vote
* clarifies the language of the original Constitution regarding Senators
* provides power to state governors to fill Senate vacancies by temporary appointment
** and new election of that seat to be organized by the state legislature
}}'''
}}'''


he 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.
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.
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 18 (ratified Jan. 16, 1919) ===
===Amendment 18: abolition of sale of alcohol (ratified Jan. 16, 1919) ===
{{#tip-text: Amendment 18|abolition of interstate sale of alchohol
{{#tip-text: Amendment 18|abolition of interstate sale of alcohol
}}'''
}}'''


Line 1,460: Line 1,465:
Section 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.
Section 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 19 (ratified Aug. 18, 1920) ===
===Amendment 19: right to vote for women (ratified Aug. 18, 1920) ===
{{#tip-text: Amendment 19|secures right to vote for women
{{#tip-text: Amendment 19|secures right to vote for women
}}'''
}}'''
Line 1,466: Line 1,471:
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.
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 20 (ratified Jan. 23, 1933) ===
===Amendment 20: presidential inauguration moved to January (ratified Jan. 23, 1933) ===


{{#tip-text: Amendment 20|moves presidential inauguration to January from March  
{{#tip-text: Amendment 20|presidential inauguration & opening of new sessions of Congress moved to January from March  
* the new President and Vice President, and newly elected Congress were set by the original Constitution to open on March 4 of the year subsequent to those elections
* after the 1932 election, the "lame duck" (powerless) presidency of outgoing President, Hoover and the sitting Congress led to an extended period of inaction and uncertainty as the Great Depression worsened
* the Constitution was changed to ensure quicker inauguration of the newly elected government
}}'''
}}'''


Line 1,483: Line 1,491:
Section 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.
Section 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 xx (ratified Dec. 5, 1933) ===
===Amendment 21: repeal of 18th Amendment (ratified Dec. 5, 1933) ===
{{#tip-text: Amendment 21|overturns 18th amendment
{{#tip-text: Amendment 21|overturns 18th amendment
}}'''
}}'''