Constitution – Ratification and Amendments

Ratification

State / Date
Delaware / 12/7/1787
Pennsylvania / 12/12/1787
New Jersey / 12/18/1787
Georgia / 1/2/1788
Connecticut / 1/9/1788
Massachusetts / 2/6/1788
Maryland / 4/28/1788
South Carolina / 5/23/1788
* New Hampshire * / 6/21/1788
Virginia / 6/25/1788
New York / 7/26/1788
North Carolina / 11/21/1789
Rhode Island / 5/29/1790

* Delegates of the Constitutional Convention agreed that 9 votes of 13 ratified the Constitution. However, the framers knew that is the Constitution was not unanimously ratified then there would be no cohesiveness. New Hampshire, being the 9th state to ratify the Constitution officially made it the law of the land. However, Rhode Island’s vote fulfilled the wishes of the framers of the Constitution. The States were in fact, United.

The Bill of Rights

# / Amendment / Ratified / President
1 / * Freedom of speech
* Freedom of religion
* Freedom of press
* The right to assemble
* The right to petition the government. / 12/15/1791 / Washington
2 / * The right to bear arms / 12/15/1791 / Washington
3 / * Prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during war in civilians’ homes. / 12/15/1791 / Washington
4 / * Prohibits unreasonable search and seizure
* Sets requirements for search warrants and probable cause. / 12/15/1791 / Washington
5 / * Sets out rules for indictment by a grand jury and eminent domain
* Protects the right to due process
* Prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy.
* Cannot be denied the rights to life, liberty, or property without due process / 12/15/1791 / Washington
6 / * The right to a fair and speedy public trial by an impartial jury
* The right to be notified of the accusation
* The right to confront the accuser
* The right to obtain witnesses
* The right to retain counsel. / 12/15/1791 / Washington
7 / * Right to a trial by jury in certain civil cases over $20 / 12/15/1791 / Washington
8 / * Prohibits excessive fines and bail
* Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. / 12/15/1791 / Washington
9 / * Protects rights not enumerated in the Constitution / 12/15/1791 / Washington
10 / * Limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated by it in the Constitution. (Rights not listed are reserved for the states) / 12/15/1791 / Washington
# / Amendment / Ratified / President
11 / * Immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders.
* Lays the foundation for sovereign immunity. / 4/4/1794 / Washington
12 / * Revises presidential election procedures. A majority of electoral votes is required to be elected President or Vice President. When no one has a majority the House of Representatives chooses a President. It requires the House to choose from the 3 highest receivers of electoral votes, instead of 5 under the original procedure. / 12/9/03 / Jefferson

Slavery Amendments

# / Amendment / Ratified / President
13 / * Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime / 12/6/1865 / Johnson
14 / * All persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens
* No State shall make or enforce any law abridging the right of citizens; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person the equal protection of the laws.
* No one may hold office in more than one branch of government at a time. / 7/9/1868 / Johnson
15 / * Prohibits the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude / 2/3/1870 / Grant
# / Amendment / Ratified / President
16 / * Allows the federal government to collect an income tax / 2/3/1913 / Taft
17 / * Establishes the direct election of Senators by popular vote / 4/8/1913 / Wilson
18 / * Establishes the prohibition of alcohol / 1/16/1919 / Wilson
19 / * Establishes suffrage for women / 8/18/1920 / Wilson
20 / * Fixes the dates of term commencements for Congress (January 3) and the President (January 20); known as the "lame duck amendment" / 1/23/33 / F. Roosevelt
21 / * Repeals the prohibition of alcohol / 12/5/33 / F. Roosevelt
22 / * Limits presidential terms to a maximum of 2. If the vice-president serves more than one-half of the president’s term, he/she may not have more than two terms as president. / 2/27/51 / Eisenhower
23 / * The Electoral College may represent Washington D.C. / 3/29/61 / Kennedy
24 / * Prohibits poll taxes / 1/23/64 / Johnson
25 / * Codifies the Tyler precedent; defines the process of presidential succession. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. Succession afterwards is the Speaker of the House and then various cabinet positions. / 2/10/67 / Johnson
26 / * Establishes the voting age at 18 / 7/1/1971 / Nixon
27 / * Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress / 5/5/1992 / Clinton