Overview
This lecture covers the procedures for amending the U.S. Constitution, highlights key amendments like the Bill of Rights and those expanding civil rights, and explains their historical context and significance.
The Amendment Process
- The Constitution can be amended to address the nation’s evolving needs and unforeseen issues.
- Amendments may be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a convention called at the request of two-thirds of state legislatures.
- Ratification requires approval by three-quarters of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
- All current amendments have been proposed by Congress and ratified by state legislatures or conventions.
- The amendment process is intentionally difficult, resulting in only 27 amendments since 1789.
The Bill of Rights
- The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 to protect individual liberties and address Anti-Federalist concerns.
- Many rights, such as jury trial, bear arms, and protection from cruel punishment, draw from English legal traditions.
- Other liberties, including freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly, were new innovations.
- The Ninth Amendment ensures unenumerated rights are protected, and the Tenth reserves unspecified powers for states.
Key Constitutional Amendments
- The Seventeenth Amendment allowed direct election of U.S. Senators.
- The Twentieth changed the presidential inauguration date to January.
- The Twenty-Second limited presidential terms to two.
- The Twenty-Seventh restricts congressional pay changes.
Civil Rights and Voting Amendments
- The Thirteenth Amendment (1865) abolished slavery.
- The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) granted citizenship and equal protection regardless of race.
- The Fifteenth Amendment (1870) granted voting rights regardless of race or color.
- The Nineteenth Amendment (1920) extended voting rights to women.
- Later, the Twenty-Third (1961) gave D.C. residents presidential voting rights, and the Twenty-Fourth (1964) ended poll taxes.
- The Twenty-Sixth (1971) lowered the voting age to 18.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Amendment — A formal change or addition to the Constitution.
- Bill of Rights — The first ten amendments protecting individual freedoms.
- Ratification — Official approval of a proposed amendment by states.
- Suffrage — The right to vote in political elections.
- Poll tax — A fee required to vote, abolished by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the ACLU website for current First Amendment issues.
- Reflect on which First Amendment protections are most at risk and why.