Twenty-seven amendments. Ratified 1791 to 1992.
The Constitution has been changed twenty-seven times. Ten of those changes arrived together as the Bill of Rights; the rest came one at a time, often in answer to a war, a court decision or a movement.
11ratified in the 1700s
4ratified in the 1800s
12ratified in the 1900s
6answered a Supreme Court decision
203years for the Twenty-seventh to be ratified
The Bill of Rights. Ratified December 15, 1791.
Proposed by the First Congress in 1789 to answer objections raised during ratification that the Constitution lacked guarantees of individual liberty.
1Religion, speech, press, assembly and petitionCongress may make no law establishing a religion or prohibiting its free exercise, or abridging the freedom of speech, of the press, of peaceable assembly, or of petition.2Right to keep and bear armsA well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.3Quartering of soldiersNo soldier may be quartered in a house in peacetime without the owner’s consent, nor in wartime except as the law prescribes.4Searches and seizuresProtects people, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures; warrants require probable cause and must describe what is to be searched or seized.5Rights of personsGrand jury indictment for serious crimes, no double jeopardy, no compelled self-incrimination, due process of law, and just compensation when private property is taken for public use.6Rights of the accusedA speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, notice of the charges, confrontation of witnesses, compulsory process for favorable witnesses, and the assistance of counsel.7Civil trialsPreserves the right of trial by jury in suits at common law where the value in controversy exceeds twenty dollars.8Bail, fines and punishmentExcessive bail and excessive fines may not be imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.9Rights retained by the peopleListing certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage others retained by the people.10Powers reserved to the statesPowers not delegated to the United States, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.
Seventeen more. One at a time.
The fastest, the Twenty-sixth, was ratified in July 1, 1971, the same year Congress proposed it.
- 11Suits against statesFederal judicial power does not extend to suits against a state by citizens of another state or of a foreign country.Structure of government
- 12Election of the President and Vice PresidentElectors cast separate ballots for President and Vice President.Voting
- 13Abolition of slaveryNeither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime of which the party has been duly convicted, shall exist in the United States.Reconstruction
- 14Citizenship, due process and equal protectionEveryone born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction is a citizen; no state may deny any person life, liberty or property without due process of law, or the equal protection of the laws.Reconstruction
- 15Race and the right to voteThe right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.Reconstruction
- 16Income taxCongress may tax incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the states.Structure of government
- 17Direct election of senatorsSenators are elected directly by the people of each state, replacing election by state legislatures.Voting
- 18Prohibition of alcoholProhibited the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors within the United States.Individual rights
- 19Women’s right to voteThe right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.Voting
- 20Terms of office and successionMoves the start of presidential terms to January 20 and congressional terms to January 3, and sets rules for when a President-elect dies or fails to qualify.Structure of government
- 21Repeal of ProhibitionRepeals the Eighteenth Amendment; states keep the power to regulate the import of alcohol.Structure of government
- 22Presidential term limitsNo person may be elected President more than twice.Structure of government
- 23Electors for the District of ColumbiaGives the District of Columbia electors in presidential elections, no more than the least populous state.Voting
- 24Poll taxesThe right to vote in federal elections may not be denied for failure to pay a poll tax or other tax.Voting
- 25Presidential disability and successionSets out how the Vice President becomes President or Acting President, how a vacancy in the vice presidency is filled, and how a President’s inability to serve is declared.Structure of government
- 26Voting age of eighteenThe right of citizens eighteen years of age or older to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of age.Voting
- 27Congressional payA law changing the pay of members of Congress takes effect only after the next election of Representatives.Structure of government
See them on the line. With the cases around them.
The timeline places every amendment beside the decisions and events of its years.