Amendments to the United States Constitution ratified after the Bill of Rights (1795–1992).

11th Amendment (1795) — Judicial Limits

Limits the jurisdiction of federal courts; bars suits against a state by citizens of another state or foreign country.

12th Amendment (1804) — Electoral College

Revised the Electoral College process so electors cast separate votes for President and Vice President.

13th Amendment (1865) — Abolition of Slavery

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for crime throughout the United States.

14th Amendment (1868) — Citizenship & Equal Protection

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.; guaranteed equal protection and due process to all citizens; overturned the Dred Scott decision.

15th Amendment (1870) — Voting Rights (Race)

Prohibited denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

16th Amendment (1913) — Income Tax

Authorized Congress to levy a federal income tax without apportioning it among the states.

17th Amendment (1913) — Direct Election of Senators

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote rather than by state legislatures.

18th Amendment (1919) — Prohibition

Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors. Repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.

19th Amendment (1920) — Women's Suffrage

Prohibited denying the right to vote on the basis of sex, granting women the right to vote.

20th Amendment (1933) — Presidential Terms

Changed the start of Presidential and Congressional terms ("Lame Duck Amendment").

21st Amendment (1933) — Repeal of Prohibition

Repealed the 18th Amendment, ending the federal prohibition of alcohol.

22nd Amendment (1951) — Presidential Term Limits

Limited the President to two terms in office, ratified in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms.

23rd Amendment (1961) — D.C. Electoral Votes

Granted Washington D.C. electoral votes for Presidential elections.

24th Amendment (1964) — Poll Taxes

Prohibited poll taxes as a condition for voting in federal elections.

25th Amendment (1967) — Presidential Succession

Clarified the order of presidential succession and procedures for filling a Vice Presidential vacancy.

26th Amendment (1971) — Voting Age

Lowered the federal voting age to 18, ratified during the Vietnam War era.

27th Amendment (1992) — Congressional Pay

Prevents laws varying Congressional pay from taking effect until after the next election. Originally proposed in 1789, it took 203 years to be ratified.

The Founding Documents

★ American & Texas Founding Documents ★