The U.S. Constitution Summarized: Amendments 14-27

The United States Constitution

Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

 The U.S. Constitution has 27 amendments. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791, just two years after the Constitution itself. They were added to address concerns raised by Anti-Federalists who feared the new strong central government might infringe upon individual liberties.

Amendments 14 - 27

Amendment 14: Citizenship Rights, Due Process, and Equal Protection
(1868)

The Fourteenth Amendment was another pivotal Reconstruction Amendment, designed to ensure civil rights and equal protection for newly freed slaves in the aftermath of the Civil War. It aimed to counter discriminatory state laws and practices. This amendment grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction. It also contains the Due Process Clause, which prohibits states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, and the Equal Protection Clause, guaranteeing that all citizens receive equal protection of the laws.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 15: Right to Vote (Race) (1870)

The Fifteenth Amendment, the last of the Reconstruction Amendments, was enacted to protect the voting rights of African American men after the Civil War. Despite its passage, various tactics like poll taxes and literacy tests were later used to circumvent its intent. This amendment prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It aimed to ensure that all male citizens, regardless of their race, could exercise their suffrage.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 16: Income Tax

(1913)

The Sixteenth Amendment arose from a long-standing debate about the federal government's power to levy income taxes. An 1895 Supreme Court decision, Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co., had declared a federal income tax unconstitutional, leading to the need for a constitutional amendment.

This amendment grants Congress the 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. This provided the constitutional basis for the modern federal income tax system.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 17: Direct Election of Senators

(1913)

The Seventeenth Amendment was a product of the Progressive Era, a period of widespread social activism and political reform. Before this amendment, state legislatures elected senators, a system often criticized for corruption, political deadlock, and unresponsiveness to the popular will.

This amendment changes the method of electing U.S. Senators from selection by state legislatures to direct popular election by the people of each state. It also provides for how vacancies in the Senate are to be filled.

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Amendment 18: Prohibition of Alcohol

(1919)

The Eighteenth Amendment was the culmination of the temperance movement, a social and political crusade against alcoholic beverages that gained significant momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by religious and social reform groups.

This amendment prohibited 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 its jurisdiction for beverage purposes. It ushered in the era of Prohibition.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 19: Women's Right to Vote

(1920)

The Nineteenth Amendment was the result of a long and arduous struggle by the women's suffrage movement, which advocated for decades for women's right to vote. Many activists were inspired by the abolitionist movement and sought equal political rights.

This amendment grants women the right to vote, stating that 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.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 20: Presidential Term and Succession (Lame Duck)

(1933)

The Twentieth Amendment, often called the "Lame Duck" Amendment, was enacted to shorten the period between election day and the beginning of new presidential and congressional terms. This was a response to the inefficiencies and potential for political paralysis caused by the longer "lame duck" periods.

This amendment sets the dates for the end of the terms of the President and Vice President (January 20th) and members of Congress (January 3rd). It also addresses presidential succession if the President-elect dies or fails to qualify.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 21: Repeal of Prohibition

(1933)

The Twenty-First Amendment was a direct response to the widespread failures and unintended consequences of Prohibition, including the rise of organized crime, economic impact, and general disregard for the law. Public opinion had largely turned against the Eighteenth Amendment.

This amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, ending nationwide Prohibition. It allowed for the legal manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, though it also granted states the power to regulate alcohol within their borders.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 22: Presidential Term Limits

(1951)

The Twenty-Second Amendment was ratified in the wake of Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms as president, which broke the long-standing tradition (set by George Washington) of a two-term limit. Concerns about concentrated power led to calls for a formal limit.

This amendment limits the President to two terms in office. A person who has served more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President cannot be elected to the office of President more than once.

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Amendment 23: Presidential Electors for District of Columbia

(1961)

The Twenty-Third Amendment addressed the unique status of Washington D.C., which, as the nation's capital, had a significant population but no electoral votes for presidential elections. This denied D.C. residents a voice in choosing the President.

This amendment grants the District of Columbia electoral votes in presidential elections, as if it were a state. It allows D.C. to have a number of electors equal to the least populous state, but never more than the number of electoral votes of the most populous state.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 24: Prohibition of Poll Taxes

(1964)

The Twenty-Fourth Amendment aimed to eliminate poll taxes in federal elections, which had been used in some southern states to disenfranchise poor citizens, particularly African Americans, after the Civil War.

This amendment prohibits the federal government and states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax or any other tax.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 25: Presidential Disability and Succession

(1967)

The Twenty-Fifth Amendment was prompted by historical ambiguities and concerns regarding presidential succession and disability, particularly after President John F. Kennedy's assassination and President Dwight D. Eisenhower's illnesses.

This amendment clarifies the process of presidential succession and disability. It provides for the Vice President to become President if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office, and outlines procedures for temporarily transferring presidential power if the President is unable to perform their duties.

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Amendment 26: Right to Vote (18-year-olds)

(1971)

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was a direct response to the Vietnam War era, where young Americans were old enough to be drafted and fight for their country but were not old enough to vote in many states. The rallying cry was "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote."

This amendment lowered the voting age to 18 for all federal and state elections. It aimed to align the right to vote with the age of military conscription and other legal adult responsibilities.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

Amendment 27: Congressional Pay Raises

(1992)

The Twenty-Seventh Amendment has a unique history, as it was originally proposed as part of the Bill of Rights in 1789 but took over two centuries to be ratified. Its long delay was due to the lack of a time limit for ratification.

This amendment prohibits any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress from taking effect until the start of the next set of terms of office for Representatives. It was ratified in 1992.

Would you like to know more?  USA Founding Documents

FAQs about the U.S. Constitution

Q: How many people signed the U.S. Constitution?

A: The U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

Q: How many states were there when the U.S. Constitution was signed?

A: At the time the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787, there were 13 states in the newly formed United States.

Q: What is the main purpose of the U.S. Constitution?

A: The main purpose of the U.S. Constitution is to establish the framework of the federal government, define its powers and limitations, and guarantee the rights of its citizens.

Q: What is the Bill of Rights?

A: The Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which were ratified in 1791. They outline fundamental individual rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial.

Q: Can the U.S. Constitution be changed?

A: Yes, the U.S. Constitution can be changed through the amendment process outlined in Article V. This process is intentionally difficult, requiring broad consensus to ensure stability and prevent frequent alterations.

Komorn Law

Since 1993, Komorn Law has been a staunch advocate for the equal protection and due process rights guaranteed by the constitution.

Attorney Michael Komorn and his team possess a mature understanding of how these fundamental principles apply to state and federal level criminal defense.

Komorn Law is dedicated to challenging any actions that deny our clients their constitutional rights.

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