List of Constitutional Amendments to the United States Constitution

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List of Constitutional Amendments
List of Constitutional Amendments

This article provides an overview of amendments and a list of constitutional amendments. First, we’ll define amendments and then provide the complete list. If you have any questions, please post a comment below.

What is a Constitutional Amendment?

An amendment is an alteration of or addition to a motion, bill, constitution, etc. The United States Congress has ratified a total of twenty-seven amendments since the United States Constitution was initially signed.

The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The procedure for amending the United States Constitution is governed by Article V of the original text.

List of Constitutional Amendments

Following is a list of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution that received the approval of the United States Congress. The list includes the name, a brief description, and the date it was enacted.

1st Amendment

It protects the freedom of religion, speech, and the press and the right to assemble and petition the government.
Enacted on December 15, 1791

2nd Amendment

Protects the right to keep and bear arms.
Enacted on December 15, 1791

3rd Amendment

Prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers.
Enacted on December 15, 1791

4th Amendment

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause.
Enacted on December 15, 1791

5th Amendment

Sets out rules for indictment by a grand jury and eminent domain. In addition, it protects the right to due process and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy.
Enacted on 12/15/1791

6th Amendment

Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the right to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses, and to retain counsel.
Enacted on December 15, 1791

7th Amendment

The seventh amendment provides for the right to a trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law. It was enacted on December 15, 1791.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive fines, bail, and cruel and unusual punishment.
Enacted on December 15, 1791

9th Amendment

Asserts the existence of unremunerated rights retained by the people.
Enacted on 12/15/1791

10th Amendment

Limits the federal government’s powers to those delegated to it by the Constitution. It was enacted on December 15, 1791.

11th Amendment

Provides immunity to states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders. In addition, it lays the foundation for sovereign immunity. Enacted on February 7, 1795.

12th Amendment

This one revises presidential election procedures.
Enacted on June 15, 1804

13th Amendment

Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. It was enacted on December 6, 1865

14th Amendment

Defines citizenship and deals with post–Civil War issues. It was enacted on July 9, 1868.


15th Amendment

Prohibits the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It was enacted on February 3, 1870

16th Amendment

It allows the federal government to collect income tax.
Enacted on February 3, 1913

17th Amendment

It requires United States senators to be directly elected.
Enacted on April 8, 1913

18th Amendment

Establishes the Prohibition of alcohol (eventually repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment – see below).
Enacted on January 16, 1919

19th Amendment

Establishes women’s suffrage.
Enacted on August 18, 1920


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20th Amendment

Fixes the dates of term commencements for Congress (January 3) and the President (January 20), known as the “lame duck amendment.”
Enacted on January 23, 1933

21st Amendment

This one repeals the Eighteenth Amendment, which established the prohibition of alcohol.
Enacted on December 5, 1933

22nd Amendment

Limits the United States President to two terms of service, or a maximum of 10 years. Two terms are usually eight years. However, if a Vice President serves not more than one-half of a President’s term, he/she can be elected to a further two terms.
Enacted on February 27, 1951

23rd Amendment

This one provides for the representation of Washington, D.C., in the Electoral College.
Enacted on March 29, 1961

24th Amendment

The 24th prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of poll taxes. Enacted on January 23, 1964

25th Amendment

The 25th defines the process of presidential succession. It allows the Vice President to become the President if the President dies. In addition, the VP becomes President if the President resigns, is removed from office, or is impaired and unable to perform the duties of the President. It was enacted on February 10, 1967.

26th Amendment

This amendment established 18 as the national voting age. Congress enacted it on July 1, 1971.

27th Amendment

Finally, the 27th prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress. Enacted on May 7, 1992.

Proposed Changes

Congress introduced many other proposals for amendments to the United States Constitution, but only those listed above became law.


More Information

For more detailed information, please visit Wikipedia.

If you have any questions about the list of constitutional amendments, please post a comment below. Also, view other Lists of Lists.

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