Amendments 11-27

Amendments 11-27: Detailed Notes

11th Amendment (1795)

• Purpose: Limits the ability of individuals to sue states in federal courts.

• Reason: In response to Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), which allowed citizens to sue a state they did not reside in.

12th Amendment (1804)

• Issue Addressed: Under the original electoral process, the runner-up in a presidential election became the vice president, potentially leading to political opponents holding these positions.

• Solution: Established separate electoral votes for president and vice president.

13th Amendment (1865)

• Purpose: Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for a crime).

14th Amendment (1868)

• Key Provisions:

  • Prohibits states from infringing on citizens’ rights without due process.

  • Grants citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the U.S.

  • Connection to the 5th Amendment: Restates the principle of due process but applies it to state governments.

  • Reason for Creation: To grant rights to formerly enslaved individuals following the 13th Amendment.

15th Amendment (1870)

• Purpose: Prohibits voting discrimination based on race, color, or previous servitude.

• Challenges: Despite this, states enacted restrictive measures like:

  • Poll taxes

  • Literacy tests

  • Property requirements

  • Grandfather clauses (to allow whites to vote while excluding Black voters)

16th Amendment (1913)

• Purpose: Allowed the federal government to levy an income tax.

• Previous Restriction: Taxation without apportionment was seen as tyrannical, which is why it was initially prohibited.

17th Amendment (1913)

• Key Change: Allowed for the direct election of U.S. senators by voters instead of state legislatures.

• Vacancy Procedure: If a Senate seat is vacant, the state legislature can authorize the governor to appoint a temporary replacement.

18th Amendment (1919)

• Purpose: Prohibited the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol.

• Reason: Moral and religious groups believed banning alcohol would reduce corruption, crime, and domestic violence.

19th Amendment (1920)

• Purpose: Granted women the right to vote.

• Pre-19th Amendment Status: Women had voting rights only in certain Western states at the state level.

• Opposition to 15th Amendment: Some suffragettes believed educated white women should have received the right to vote before Black men.

21st Amendment (1933)

• Purpose: Repealed the 18th Amendment (Prohibition).

• Reason for Repeal:

  • Alcohol-related businesses went bankrupt, leading to job losses.

  • Increased illegal alcohol production and crime.

  • Public opinion shifted against prohibition.

24th Amendment (1964)

• Issue Addressed: Some states imposed poll taxes to restrict African American and poor voters despite the 15th Amendment.

• Solution: Prohibited poll taxes in federal elections.

25th Amendment (1967)

• Purpose: Clarified presidential succession and vice-presidential vacancies.

• Key Provisions:

  • If the president dies, resigns, or is removed, the vice president becomes president.

  • The new president selects a vice president, subject to approval by Congress.

26th Amendment (1971)

• Reason for Creation:

  • Young men were drafted for World War II and the Vietnam War but couldn't vote.

  • "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" became a rallying cry.

• Counterarguments Against Lowering Voting Age:

  • Young adults may lack maturity for informed decision-making.

  • Susceptibility to peer pressure and political influence.

  • Less political awareness and experience.