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Constitutional AmendmentsNumbers 11-27

+11th Amendment

Exempts states from being sued by citizens of other states.

This is called “Sovereign Immunity”

+12th Amendment

New Method of Electing President and Vice President

The old system had led to catastrophic results in the elections of 1796 and 1800.

In 1796, the two candidates who received the most votes were made President and Vice President. This meant they were political enemies

In 1800 one vote was cast for the candidate and one for his running mate. This meant the two ended up tied!

Now the Electoral College casts votes for President and Vice President separately.

+Civil War Amendments13th Amendment

Abolished Slavery and Involuntary Servitude, except as punishment for a crime (i.e. community service)

+Civil War Amendments14th Amendment

Gave citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States

Obligation of the states to uphold the privileges of United States citizens

No state can deny “equal protection of the laws” to any person. States cannot take people’s rights away.

+The Civil War Amendments15th Amendment

The right to vote shall not be denied to any citizen on the basis of race, color or previous condition of servitude.

+16th Amendment

Established Federal Income Tax

+17th Amendment

Popular election of senators This means that the states no longer elect the senators, but

rather the people elect their senators.

+18th Amendment

Prohibition of intoxicating liquors.

+19th Amendment

Women’s suffrage The Right to vote

+20th Amendment

Changed the dates when a new President and congress takes office from March to January. This shortened the “lame duck” period

+21st Amendment

Repeal of Prohibition. (18th Amendment)

+22nd Amendment

Limited the President of the United States to serving no more than two terms.

+23rd Amendment

Gives Washington D.C. three electoral votes during Presidential Elections. Because D.C. is not a state, it did not have a say in

presidential elections until the 1964 Election.

+24th Amendment

The right to vote can not be denied to any U.S. citizen because of an inability to pay a poll tax or any other taxes.

+25th Amendment

Clarifies the process of Presidential succession in the event that the President dies or is unable to perform his duties: VP becomes President New President nominates a VP and has to be approved by

both houses of Congress through majority vote

+26th Amendment

Suffrage extended to 18, 19, and 20 year olds in all local, state, and federal elections.

Lowered the voting age to 18

+27th Amendment

Senators and Representatives cannot increase their pay during the current term. They can only increase pay for the people elected to the next term.