List of amendments to the Constitution of the United States facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the ratified and unratified amendments to the United States Constitution which have received the approval of the U.S. Congress. For proposals to amend the U.S. Constitution introduced in but not approved by Congress, see List of proposed amendments to the United States Constitution.

The amendments to the Constitution of the United States are changes or additions made to the original plan of government for the United States. Since the U.S. Constitution started on March 4, 1789, the United States Congress has suggested 33 amendments. These suggestions are then sent to the states to be approved, a process called ratification.

Out of these 33 suggestions, 27 have been approved by enough states and are now part of the Constitution. The first ten amendments were all approved at the same time and are known as the Bill of Rights. These are very important because they protect many basic freedoms. Later, the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, which dealt with issues after the Civil War, are called the Reconstruction Amendments.

Six amendments suggested by Congress have not been approved by enough states. Some of these are still waiting, while others have failed because of deadlines. This article will explain how amendments are made and list the ones that have been approved and those that have not.

How Amendments Are Proposed and Approved
Approved Amendments
- What Each Approved Amendment Does
Unapproved Amendments
- What Each Unapproved Amendment Would Do
See also

How Amendments Are Proposed and Approved

The way to change the U.S. government's plan is explained in Article Five of the United States Constitution. An amendment must go through two main steps: it needs to be proposed (suggested) and then ratified (approved). This system makes sure that changes are not too easy or too hard to make.

An amendment can be suggested in two ways:

The United States Congress can propose an amendment if two-thirds of both the Senate and the House of Representatives agree it is needed.
A special national convention can be called by Congress. This happens if two-thirds of the state legislatures (34 states today) ask for it. This method has never been used.

To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be approved by three-fourths of the states (38 states today). This approval can happen in two ways, decided by Congress:

The legislatures (lawmaking bodies) of three-fourths of the states must vote to approve it.
Special State ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states must approve it. The only amendment approved this way was the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933. This amendment also famously canceled an earlier one, the Eighteenth Amendment, which was about alcohol.

Sometimes, Congress sets a time limit for states to approve an amendment, usually seven years. The Supreme Court of the United States said this is allowed in 1939.

Since 1789, about 11,848 ideas for amendments have been introduced in Congress. Most of these ideas do not become law. They usually stop in special committees in Congress. Since 1999, only about 20 suggested amendments have even been voted on by the full House or Senate. The last time an amendment got enough support in both the House and Senate to be sent to the states was the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment in 1978. However, only 16 states approved it before its seven-year deadline passed.

Approved Amendments

What Each Approved Amendment Does

No.	Subject	Approval
No.	Subject	Proposed	Completed	Time span
1st	Protects freedoms like religion, speech, press, freedom of assembly and the right to ask the government for changes.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
2nd	Protects the right to own and carry weapons.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
3rd	Limits how soldiers can be housed in private homes.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
4th	Stops unreasonable searches and seizures. It also sets rules for search warrants.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
5th	Sets rules for indictment by a grand jury. It protects the right to due process and stops self-incrimination and double jeopardy.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
6th	Protects the right to a speedy and public trial by jury. It also ensures the right to know your criminal accusations, face your accuser, call witnesses, and have a lawyer.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
7th	Gives the right to a jury trial in civil lawsuits.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
8th	Stops excessive fines and bail. It also prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
9th	Says that rights not specifically listed in the Constitution are still kept by the people.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
10th	States that the federal government only has the powers given to it by the Constitution. All other powers belong to the states or the people.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	2 years, 81 days
11th	Makes states safe from lawsuits by citizens from other states or foreigners.	March 4, 1794	February 7, 1795	340 days
12th	Changes how the president and vice president are elected. They are now elected together.	December 9, 1803	June 15, 1804	189 days
13th	Ends slavery and forced labor, except as punishment for a crime.	January 31, 1865	December 6, 1865	309 days
14th	Defines citizenship. It also ensures equal protection under the law and deals with issues after the Civil War.	June 13, 1866	July 9, 1868	2 years, 26 days
15th	Stops states from denying the right to vote based on race, color, or if someone was a slave.	February 26, 1869	February 3, 1870	342 days
16th	Allows Congress to collect an income tax from people.	July 12, 1909	February 3, 1913	3 years, 206 days
17th	Establishes that U.S. senators are elected directly by the people.	May 13, 1912	April 8, 1913	330 days
18th	(This amendment was canceled on December 5, 1933, by the 21st Amendment).	December 18, 1917	January 16, 1919	1 year, 29 days
19th	Stops states from denying the right to vote based on sex.	June 4, 1919	August 18, 1920	1 year, 75 days
20th	Changes the start and end dates for the terms of the president, vice president, and members of Congress.	March 2, 1932	January 23, 1933	327 days
21st	Cancels the 18th Amendment. It also makes it illegal to bring alcohol into states where it is forbidden by law.	February 20, 1933	December 5, 1933	288 days
22nd	Limits how many times a person can be elected president.	March 21, 1947	February 27, 1951	3 years, 343 days
23rd	Gives Washington, D.C. votes in the Electoral College for presidential elections.	June 16, 1960	March 29, 1961	286 days
24th	Stops states from taking away voting rights because someone did not pay a poll tax or other tax.	September 14, 1962	January 23, 1964	1 year, 131 days
25th	Deals with who takes over if the president dies or cannot do their job. It also covers what happens if the vice president's office becomes empty.	July 6, 1965	February 10, 1967	1 year, 219 days
26th	Stops states from denying the right to vote to U.S. citizens who are 18 years old or older.	March 23, 1971	July 1, 1971	100 days
27th	Says that laws about Congressional salaries cannot take effect until after the next election for representatives.	September 25, 1789	May 7, 1992	202 years, 223 days

Unapproved Amendments

What Each Unapproved Amendment Would Do

Title	Subject	Status
Congressional Apportionment Amendment	This amendment would strictly control the number of seats in the United States House of Representatives.	Still waiting for approval since September 25, 1789. The last state to approve it was on June 27, 1792.
Titles of Nobility Amendment	This amendment would take away citizenship from any U.S. citizen who accepts a title of nobility (like "Lord" or "Lady") or any gift, payment, or job from a foreign country without Congress's permission.	Still waiting for approval since May 1, 1810. The last state to approve it was on December 9, 1812.
Corwin Amendment	This amendment would have made states' "domestic institutions" (meaning slavery) impossible to change through the Constitution. It would have protected slavery from being ended by Congress.	Still waiting for approval since March 2, 1861. The last state to approve it was on June 2, 1863.
Child Labor Amendment	This amendment would give the federal government the power to limit, control, or stop child labor.	Still waiting for approval since June 2, 1924. The last state to approve it was on February 25, 1937.
Equal Rights Amendment	This amendment would stop the federal or state governments from taking away equal rights because of a person's sex.	It was suggested on March 22, 1972. The first time limit for approval ended on March 22, 1979. An extended time limit ended on June 30, 1982. The amendment failed to get enough approvals by the deadline.
District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment	This amendment would treat the District of Columbia like a state for representation in Congress, in the Electoral College, and for changing the Constitution. It would also cancel the 23rd Amendment.	It was suggested on August 22, 1978. The time limit for approval ended on August 22, 1985. The amendment failed to get enough approvals.