19th Century Amendments


Lawsuits Against States
• Federal courts cannot hear cases where a state is sued by a citizen from another state or a foreign country
• Hear cases between states or states and the gov’t of foreign countries.


Electing the President and Vice President
• Electors meet in their own states
• vote for President and Vice President on separate ballots
• results sent to the President of Senate, who opens and counts them in joint session
• majority of the votes for President becomes
President
• majority of votes for V President becomes
V. President


If no majority
• President is chosen by House from top 3
– each state gets one vote
– 2/3rds of states must vote
– winner must get a majority
– if no one gets a majority by Jan. 20, the Vice
President serves as President until a new President is chosen
• Vice-President is chosen by Senate from top 2
– 2/3rds must vote
– must get a majority of the votes

Part of 19th Century Amend.
Amendments 13-14-15
Passed as result of Civil War
1865-1868-1870


1863 Lincoln passed to end slavery in the
Confederacy

Did not affect slavery in other states

Amendment would end slavery in all states and territories.


Slavery Abolished
• No slavery or involuntary servitudeexcept as punishment for a crime - shall exist in the
United States or any place within its jurisdiction.


Civil Rights in the States
•
• Any person born or naturalized in the US is a citizen of both the US and the state where they live.
Ensured that former slaves were full citizens
• No state can pass laws to deprive citizens of rights guaranteed by the Constitution without due process of law
– used to force school desegregation

• Entire population of a state is counted for purposes of determining representation in the House of
Representatives
–made 3/5ths rule obsolete
• If a state denies an eligible citizen the right to vote, the state’s number of representatives will be reduced

 aimed at former Confederate officials

No one who shall have engaged in insurrection against the U.S. can hold offices in either state of federal governments
• exception - 2/3rds of
Congress can vote to override this rule


Federal debts
• any debts the U.S. had during the Civil
War would be paid by the government
• Any debts of the former Confederate states would not be paid
• Former slave owners would not be paid for losing their slaves

Congress has the power to enforce


The Right to Vote
• No citizen can be denied the right to vote based on race, color or previous cond. of servitude - no literacy tests
–Voting Rights Act of 1965 - gave federal gov’t power to supervise state elections and end unfair practices