1. The Constitution is a fluid document!
Amendments
The Constitution is a fluid document!

2. 11th Amendment proposed March, 1794; ratified February, 1795
Using provisions in Article III, sect. 2 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court had upheld a suit involving residents of South Carolina and the State of Georgia.
This annoyed the States, so they eliminated provisions in the Constitution.
No State can be sued in a federal court by a resident of another State or by a foreign country.

3. 12th Amendment - proposed Dec., 1803; ratified June, 1804
Cleans up the voting “mess” that was the 1800 election (Jefferson and Burr tied in electoral college voting).
Restricts House, in the event the election is “tossed” to them, to vote for top three vote-getters
Electors must vote for at least one (Pres./V-Pres.) from a different State (why Dick Cheney, a Texan, registered to vote in Wyoming!)
Requires that Vice-Presidential candidates meet same requirements as Presidential candidates.

4. 13th Amendment - proposed Jan., 1865; ratified Dec., 1865
First of 3 “Civil War” amendments
Forbids slavery
Forbids “involuntary servitude” (no - not “going to school!”)
Congress (not Executive branch) given authority to enforce this law.

5. 14th Amendment proposed June, 1866; ratified July 1868
major post Civil War Amendment
has MANY repercussions
Southern States required to accept this in order to rejoin the USA

6. 14th Amendment - cont. Section 1 - What is a Citizen and more!
citizenship is acquired at birth
States can’t arbitrarily deny U.S. citizens of basic rights without due process - this, basically, extends the Constitution’s federal coverage to the States (incorporation)
all citizens entitled to “Equal Protection” - has enormous legal ramifications

7. 14th Amendment - more!
Section 2 - basically eliminates the “Three-fifths” language from the Constitution
Section 3 - If you HAD been in the USA government before the Civil War, then became part of the CSA government, you can’t rejoin the USA government!
Section 4 - USA takes care of USA debt, but NOT CSA debt
Section 5 - Congress, not Executive branch to enforce this law

8. 15th Amendment proposed Feb., 1869; ratified Feb., 1870
last of the three Civil War - era amendments
ex-slaves cannot be denied the right to vote.
Actual implication is much more far-reaching today

9. 16th Amendment proposed July, 1909; ratified Feb., 1913
remember how we said we weren’t going to have an individual (capitation) tax....?
We were kidding!
this amendment gives Congress the power to levy a tax on a person’s income

10. 17th Amendment proposed May, 1912; ratified April 1913
Senators now to be directly elected from the people (not legislatures)
provisions for filling vacancies (due to death or removal from office.

11. 18th Amendment proposed Dec., 1917; ratified Jan., 1919
Alcohol manufacture, sale, and transportation PROHIBITED
this amendment HAD to be ratified in 7 years (first instance of a “time limit” for ratification)

12. 19th Amendment proposed June, 1919; ratified Aug., 1920
Votes for Women!
applies to ALL States as well as federal elections
misuse of the word “sex” (should be “gender”)

13. 20th Amendment proposed March, 1932; ratified Jan., 1933
The Lame Duck Amendment
moved dates up for starting terms - Congress to Jan. 3; President to Jan. 20
provides for circumstances in case President-elect dies before inauguration
had to be ratified in 7 years

14. 21st Amendment proposed Feb., 1933; ratified Dec., 1933
remember how we banned booze?
WE WERE KIDDING!
repeals the 18th amendment
gives States authority to regulate liquor industry
7 year time limit for ratification
only amendment to pass by State conventions - not legislatures

15. 22nd Amendment proposed March, 1947; ratified Feb., 1951
Limits President to two terms (up to 10 years)
all Presidents had limited themselves to two terms (George Washington had set the example) until Franklin D. Roosevelt
7 year limit on ratification

16. 23rd Amendment proposed June, 1960; ratified March, 1961
Citizens of Washington D.C. get to vote in Presidential elections!
Limited to number of electors equivalent to smallest State (3)

17. 24th Amendment proposed Sept., 1962; ratified Jan., 1964
prohibited any payment of a tax in order to cast a ballot for federal officers (a so-called “Poll Tax”)
this had been used in the South since the 15th amendment to disenfranchise black voters

18. 25th Amendment proposed July, 1965; ratified Feb., 1967
sect. 1 - Vice-President to become President if a vacancy (had been done before, but never actually stated
sect. 2 - President could fill a vacancy in Vice-President’s office (with approval of both houses of Congress) - used twice in the 1970’s
sect. 3 - If President says he’s temporarily incapacitated, he can remove himself from office
sect. 4 - provides for circumstances to remove incapacitated President from office if he couldn’t (or wouldn’t) remove himself.

19. 26th Amendment proposed March, 1971; ratified July, 1971
minimum voting age cannot be lower than 18 years old
passed during the Vietnam War

20. 27th Amendment proposed Sept., 1789; ratified May, 1992
proposed as one of the Bill of Rights
not approved by 3/4 margin until 203 years later!
pay raises for Congress don’t go into effect until after a two-year election