Twenty-Seventh Amendment

Ratified May 7, 1992


The twenty-seventh amendment states...
      No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.


What it means to me...
      This amendment prohibits Congress from raising their salaries during their terms of service. Members of Congress cannot receive a salary increase until after the next election. It was originally proposed as part of the original Bill of Rights, but it failed to be ratified at that time. It was later re-introduced in the early 1980's and was finally ratified in 1992.

The following is a cartoon depicting Congressional greed...

This political cartoon suggests that Congress is greedy and that their solution for our crumbling economy is to give themselves raises, to an extent.

The following is a second political cartoon about congress being greedy while we are suffering...

This political cartoon is suggesting that Congressman are greedy and are more likely to give themselves a pay raise at our expense. Everyone else is making sacrifices, but Congressman do not have the same mindset.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Ratified July, 1, 1971


The twenty-sixth amendment states...
      Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
      Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


What it means to me...
      This amendment lowered the voting age from 21 years old to 18 in federal, state, and local elections.

The following is a poster...

This is a poster that was created in support of lowering the voting age from the 1969 New Jersey campaign.

The following is a video of the signing of this amendment...

This is a video showing the signing of the 26th amendment to the US Constitution, which took place on July 5,  1971.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

Ratified February 10, 1967


The twenty-fifth amendment states...
      Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
      Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
      Section 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.
      Section 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, transmit 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 th epowers and duties of the office as Acting President.
      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 department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit 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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment basically layed out the plan of succession for Presidents and gave an outline for President and Vice President power in case of vacancy or resignation.


The following is a newspaper article regarding the first Presidential resignation...

When President Nixon resigned from his Presidency, Ford was the one to take his place, as stated by the 25th amendment.

The following is a video relating to the 25th amendment...

In this video, Alec Baldwin reads the 25th amendment at People For the American Way Foundation's Constitution Reading  at the Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York. This event took place on September 1, 2004.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Ratified January 23, 1964

The twenty-fourth amendment states...
      Section 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 or failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
      Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


What it means to me...
      This amendment basically eliminated the poll tax. And Congress could enforce this law through legislation as well.

The following is a news article about the poll tax...

This newspaper article discusses our victory of overcoming the poll tax and how we are still struggling with the aspect of having to pay for an ID in order to vote.

The following ...

The above image depicts a group of people rallying for no more poll taxes. This was the biggest movement in our country's history in terms of everyone coming together and rallying for a single cause.

Twenty-Third Amendment

Ratified March 29, 1961

The twenty-third amendment states...
      Section 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: 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.
      Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


What it means to me...
      This amendment basically amended Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution because it gave electors to the District of Columbia. It  also gave Congress the authority to enforce the amendment through legislation.

The following is a video relating to this amendment...

This is a video some students made as a way to depict the 23rd amendment.

The following is another video relating to the 23rd amendment...

This is another student-made video to teach us about the 23rd amendment.

Twenty-Second Amendment

Ratified February 27, 1951

The twenty-second amendment states...
      Section 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 than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President, when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
      Section 2. 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.


What it means to me...
      Basically, this amendment set Presidential term limits at two terms.


The following is a video about the 22nd amendment...

This video explains this amendment in detail, as well as gives examples of Presidents who served terms in this way.

The following is another video...

This video explains how Obama has plans to be in office for 8 to 10 years and how he wants to repeal this amendment.

Twenty-First Amendment

Ratified December 5, 1933

The twenty-first amendment states...
      Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby replaced.
      Section 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.
      Section 3. The 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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment repealed the 18th amendment, therefor ending the Prohibition. This amendment returned the regulation of alcohol to the states.

The following is a video about the liquor industry...

This video shows Repeal Day, with iconic figures and historical video clips. Repeal Day is the day we earned the right to drink again.

The following is a news article about the prohibition...

This newspaper story is about the prohibition ending and how relieved the people were.

Twentieth Amendment

Ratified January 23, 1933

The twentieth amendment states...
      Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end 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.
      Section 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.
      Section 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 elect 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.
      Section 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.
      Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.
      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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment reduced the four-month-long lag period between the November elections and the March 4th starting date of the new congressional and presidential terms. It moved the commencement of the new congressional session from March 4 to January 3. If a Presidential election were thrown into the House of Representatives, then the decision would be made by the newly elected House. Now, the nation would only have to go two months instead of four months without a chief executive. This amendment modified Section 1 of the 12th amend. and Article 1 of the Constitution.


The following image relates to the 20th amendment...

This amendment is often referred to as the "lame-duck" amendment. This cartoon of the Lame duck refers to the lack of quality work during the the lag time when the nation is waiting for their new president to take office. Bills are often shuffled through the system and signed without serious debate. This amendment shortened this lag time and helped improve the system.

The following is an illustration about the 20th amendment...

This cartoon shows, once again, the lame-duck aspect of this amendment. The caption states, "Lame-Duck Migration Descends on Washington to Carry Forward the Nation's Business.

Nineteenth Amendment

Ratified August 18, 1920

The nineteenth amendment states...
      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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment gave women the right to vote. It guaranteed that anyone could vote at this point in time, no matter color of skin, gender, or any other factors. Congress now had the authority to enforce this amendment through legislation.

The following is a picture about women's suffrage...

Women were finally given the right to vote thanks to this amendment.

The following is another photo for women's voting rights...

Women gathered together to rally for getting votes for women to count.

Eighteenth Amendment

Ratified January 16, 1919


The eighteenth amendment states...
      Section 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.
      Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
      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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment instituted the Prohibition. It also gave both Congress and the States the authority to enforce the amendment through legislation.

The following is a cartoon about this amendment...

This is a classic Simpsons cartoon for Homer vs. the 18th amendment.

The following is a newspaper article...

This newspaper article is about when the United States was voted as dry, meaning there would be stricter laws put on the selling, transportation, and consuming of alcoholic beverages in many  if not all states.

Seventeenth Amendment

Ratified April 8, 1913

The seventeenth amendment states...
       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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment basically states that the Senate is composed of people elected by the people, and states the guidelines Senators must face.

The following is a video...

This is a video made by the National States Rights Coalition to show some of the reasons why we are in dire need of taking action now to repeal this amendment.

The following is a political cartoon...

     This political cartoon shows how people feel this amendment is nothing but a big problem and how so many people want to repeal it.

Sixteenth Amendment

The sixteenth amendment 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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment reversed an 1895 Supreme Court decision by declaring a federal income tax law unconstitutional.

The following is a political cartoon...

This cartoon shows Uncle Sam heading towards the easier path of general sales tax, but Congress is more for income tax. This is the debate to introduce sales tax in the US and end the income tax in 1933.

The following is a video about taxes...

This Schoolhouse Rock video is about celebrating taxes and teaching kids exactly what taxes are and how they work.

Fifteenth Amendment

Ratified February 3, 1870


The fifteenth amendment states...
      Section 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.
      Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


What it means to me...
      This amendment prohibited the restriction of voting rights "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Basically, African Americans could now have the right to vote.

The following video relates to the 15th amendment...

This video illustrates the 15th amendment after reconstruction. It shows the steps that African Americans had to take in order to be able to vote, and how they now everyone has the right to vote no matter the color of their skin. However, everyone was not equal since women still could not vote.

The following cartoon relates the the 15th amendment...

The cartoon shows how black suffrage has finally ended and that the colored line separating blacks from whites is no longer a boundary. 

Fourteenth Amendment

Ratified July 9, 1868


The fourteenth amendment states...
      Section 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 priveledges 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 deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
      Section 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting th ewhole number of persons in each State, escluding 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.
      Section 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.
      Section 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.
      Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.


What it means to me...
      This amendment defined national citizenship, forbidding the states to restrict the basic rights of citizens or other persons.

The following video relates to the fourteenth amendment...

Since its ratification in 1886, this amendment has been closely related to Civil Rights. This video, a section of the video series "Cases in Controversy" uses actual Supreme Court decisions and interviews with legal educators and professionals, and historical reenactments to examine the cases that helped shape the fourteenth amendment.

The following is a political cartoon relating to the 14th amendment...

This cartoon depicts that by banning gay marriage, we are violating Section 1 of the fourteenth amendment, which states that, "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the priveledges 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 deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Thirteenth Amendment

Ratified December 6, 1865


The thriteenth amendment states...
      Section 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.
      Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropiate legislation.

What it means to me...
      Basically, this amendment officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and any involuntary servitude, except for use in criminal punishment. This amendment gave African Americans their freedom.

The following is a video about animal rights and slavery...

The group known as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is suing Sea World for keeping the orca whales captive. They are stating that the 13th amendment to the US Constitution offers protection for the orcas in Sea World. They argue that the 13th amendment is very vague and that it is not limited to humans. Although the 13th amendment states that slavery of humans is wrong, that does not mean that animals are not entitled to this right as well. As a big proponent of animal rights in society, I agree that these animals deserve this right just as much as we do.

The following is a cartoon illustrating the 13th amendment and slavery...

This cartoon shows how the 13th amendment helped the issue of slavery in our society. When the 13th amendment was ratified, slavery was abolished once and for all. Jim Crow laws were soon created to help put segregation into play.

Twelfth Amendment

Ratified June 15, 1804


The twelfth amendment 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 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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment states that separate ballots are to be used for President and Vice President, that the candidate with the greatest number of votes for each office will be elected if that number constitutes a majority of the total Electors. It also states that if there is no majority for the President then the House of Representatives shall vote by state from among the two highest candidates, and if there is no majority for the Vice President then the Senate shall vote by state from among the two highest candidates. Also, the Vice President candidate shall need to meet the same requirements as for President. This is good to have so that there is a strict code to go by when electing our country's Presidential leaders.


The following is a video about the 12th amendment...

This video was made by two students to honor the 12th amendment and show why it was originally created, to ease the tension between the President and Vice President in the future..


The following is a cartoon that makes fun of the 12th amendment...

This cartoon makes fun of the 12th amendment's section regarding the electoral process. It mandates that electors must vote for presidential and vice-presidential candidates seperatley, and that the winner must have the most number of majority votes to be elected. 

Eleventh Amendment

Ratified February 7, 1795


The eleventh amendment states...
     The Judicial power of the United States shall not be constructed 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 an Foreign State.


What it means to me...
      This amendment prevents lawsuits against States by citizens of other States as well as foreign citizens. Also, it immunizes states from suit for money damages without their consent.

The following is an image that sums up the eleventh amendment...

This amendment protected state sovereignty and provided for what is known as the doctrine of sovereign immunity. (http://www.csc.noaa.gov/ptd/module08/lesson01/0801.htm)

The following is a video that relates the issue of sovereign immunity and the eleventh immunity...

In this video, Geraldo presents the horrifying story of a boy named Haseeb who is a resident of Willowbrook Mental Institution in Texas, a center for the mentally handicapped. His parents admitted him in order to help him improve his condition, but that was far from real. Haseeb was mercilessly beaten by an instutition employee multiple times. Today, even though his assailant has testified and is now serving time, Haseeb has yet to receive the justice he is due-all because of the sovereign immunity policy that the state of Texas maintains. Thus, Haseeb's family have been unable to sue because of this immunity, which is being protected by the eleventh amendment. This issue still needs to be dealt with today.

Tenth Amendment

The tenth amendment states...
      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.


What it means to me...
      This amendment does not hold as much power as it used to because when it was originally proposed, the
Bill of Rights only pertained to federal law, not the states. And many states had slavery,. which was protected by this amendment. Thus, the fourteenth amendment was put into place to make it so that the Bill of Rights applied to both state and federal law, making this amendment less meaningful.

The following is a video about the tenth amendment...

This is a video about Pennsylvania State Representative Sam Rohrer and his rally for sovereignty under the 10th amendment. On March 16, 2009, Rohrer introduced a tenth amendment resolution with overwhelming support. Rohrer and his supporters organized a day-long rally entitled "Mobilize for Liberty", which included seminars and speeches. 

The following is another video about federal states and the tenth amendment...

This video summarizes that The Constitution does not protect the sovereignty of States for the benefits of the States or state government as abstract political entities, or even for the benefit of the public officials governing the states. To the contrary, the Constitution divides authority between federal and state governments for the protection of individuals. State sovereignty is not just an end in itself, but rather federalism secures to citizens the liberties that derive from sovereign power.

Ninth Amendment

The ninth amendment states...
      The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.


What it means to me...
      This amendment was written to address the concern that the government was free to violate any rights that were not specifically protected in the Constitution.

The following is a video about the ninth amendment and our enumerated rights...

      This is a video that discusses an interview between Donald Trump and NBC's Savannah Guthrie. In the interview, she asks Trump a question about abortion and privacy and he responds with a very uneducated answer. This not only made both Trump and Guthrie look bad, but the poor phrasing of the question fundamentally misconstrued the US constitution.

The following video is a Public Service Announcement take on the ninth amendment...

This video shows students depicting how we have more right than just those listed directly in the Constitution.

Eighth Amendment

The eighth amendment states...
      Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.


What it means to me...
      This amendment helps restrict bail, prison sentences, fines, and the death penalty when it comes to criminals. Bail is crucial because defendants who are not released on bail have greater difficulty preparing their defense. It also prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, states that excessive fines can not be put on defendants since most if not all convicts are poor, and prohibits the torture of US citizens.

The following is a video that depicts what our life would be without the 8th amendment...

This video illustrates a day in the life of someone without the 8th amenment. It would be pretty extreme.

The following is another video that focuses on cruel and unusual punishment...

These series of images are examples to show just how unjust forms of cruel and unusual punishment are and how nobody, no matter how serious of a crime that they commit, should be put through that kind of torture. It's just inhumane.