Constitution – Ratification and Amendments
Ratification
State
Delaware
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Georgia
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Maryland
South Carolina
* New Hampshire *
Virginia
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island
* 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.
Date
12/7/1787
12/12/1787
12/18/1787
1/2/1788
1/9/1788
2/6/1788
4/28/1788
5/23/1788
6/21/1788
6/25/1788
7/26/1788
11/21/1789
5/29/1790
The Bill of Rights
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Amendment
* Freedom of speech
* Freedom of religion
* Freedom of press
* The right to assemble
* The right to petition the government.
* The right to bear arms
* Prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during war in civilians’ homes.
* Prohibits unreasonable search and seizure
* Sets requirements for search warrants and probable cause.
* 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
* 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.
* Right to a trial by jury in certain civil cases over $20
* Prohibits excessive fines and bail
* Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
* Protects rights not enumerated in the Constitution
* Limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated by it in the
Constitution. (Rights not listed are reserved for the states)
Ratified
President
12/15/1791
Washington
12/15/1791
12/15/1791
Washington
Washington
12/15/1791
Washington
12/15/1791
Washington
12/15/1791
Washington
12/15/1791
Washington
12/15/1791
Washington
12/15/1791
Washington
12/15/1791
Washington
#
11
12
Amendment
* Immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners
not living within the state borders.
* Lays the foundation for sovereign immunity.
* 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.
Ratified
President
4/4/1794
Washington
12/9/03
Jefferson
Ratified
President
12/6/1865
Johnson
7/9/1868
Johnson
2/3/1870
Grant
Slavery Amendments
#
13
14
15
Amendment
* Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a
crime
* 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.
* Prohibits the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous
condition of servitude
#
Amendment
Ratified
President
16
17
18
19
* Allows the federal government to collect an income tax
* Establishes the direct election of Senators by popular vote
* Establishes the prohibition of alcohol
* Establishes suffrage for women
* Fixes the dates of term commencements for Congress (January 3) and the
President (January 20); known as the "lame duck amendment"
* Repeals the prohibition of alcohol
* 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.
* The Electoral College may represent Washington D.C.
* Prohibits poll taxes
* 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.
* Establishes the voting age at 18
* Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the
beginning of the next session of Congress
2/3/1913
4/8/1913
1/16/1919
8/18/1920
Taft
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
1/23/33
F. Roosevelt
12/5/33
F. Roosevelt
2/27/51
Eisenhower
3/29/61
1/23/64
Kennedy
Johnson
2/10/67
Johnson
7/1/1971
Nixon
5/5/1992
Clinton
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27