Chapter 4 - Beyond the Bill of
Rights
The “Eleventh Amendment”

The “Eleventh Amendment” places limits on
civil lawsuits against the states and says that
these lawsuits must be tried in state courts.
The “Twelfth Amendment”
The “Twelfth Amendment” changes the
procedure of electing the President and Vice
President.
 Electing the President is done through the
“Electoral College”
 Presidential candidates choose their own vice
presidential candidates.

Protecting the Rights of All
Protecting the Rights of All
The “Bill of Rights”
did not restrain the
power of the state or
local governments,
only the national
government.
 Many states used
their “reserve
powers” to violate the
civil liberties of some
Americans.

Protecting the Rights of All

Before 1865,
African Americans
remained enslaved
throughout the
South.
 These slaves had
little, if any, civil
liberties.
Protecting the Rights of All

From 1865 to 1870,
three “Civil War
amendments” (13, 14,
15) were added to
extend civil liberties by
limiting state abuses of
power to newly freed
African Americans.
 It broadened the reach
of Constitutional
rights.
The “Thirteenth Amendment”

The “Thirteenth Amendment” (“Civil War
Amendment”) officially ended slavery (or
forced labor) in the U.S., freeing thousands of
African Americans in the South
The “Fourteenth Amendment”
The “Fourteenth Amendment” (“Civil War
Amendment”) defined a U.S. citizen as anyone “born or
naturalized in the U.S.”
 This included most newly freed African Americans, who
were required to be granted by the state “equal
protection of the laws” (to counter Southern “black
codes”)
 And, In order to ensure the rights of African American
citizens, every state was also now required to grant its
citizens “due process of law” (equal protection under the
law – known as Due Process Clause of the 14th
Amendment)

The “Fifteenth Amendment”
The “Fifteenth Amendment” (“Civil War
Amendment”) granted African Americans
“suffrage” (the right to vote).
 This “suffrage”, however, was granted
only to African American men in most
states.

The “Sixteenth Amendment”

The “Sixteenth Amendment” gives the
Congress the power to pass an income tax
on the citizens. (the government taxes
your pay/income)
The “Seventeenth Amendment”
The “Seventeenth Amendment” allows
voters to elect their U.S. senators directly
(rather than having state legislatures
choosing)
 This gives the people a greater voice in
the U.S. government.

The “Eighteenth Amendment”
Nicknamed “Prohibition Amendment”…
 The “Eighteenth Amendment” outlawed
the making, drinking, transporting, or
selling of alcohol in the U.S.

Protecting the Rights of All

Before 1920, women
were not permitted to
vote in almost all U.S.
states.

The “suffrage
movement” was the
effort to gain women
the right to vote.
The “Nineteenth Amendment”
The “Nineteenth Amendment” extended
“suffrage” (right to vote) to include
women in all states and national elections
 Nicknamed “universal suffrage”…

The “Twentieth Amendment”

The “Twentieth Amendment” changes the
presidential inauguration date to January
20th…

Nicknamed the “Lame Duck Amendment”…
explain why it is called this…..
The “Twenty First Amendment”
The “Twenty First Amendment” repealed
“Prohibition” (18th Amendment).
 This action made alcohol legal again…
 The “18th Amendment” is the only one to
be repealed (cancelled)

The “Twenty Second Amendment”

The “Twenty Second Amendment” limits
the U.S. President to only two (2) terms in
office (10 years total)
The “Twenty Third Amendment”

The “Twenty Third Amendment” granted
residents of the “District of Columbia”
(Washington, DC) the right to vote for
(Electoral College) President and Vice
President. They have 3 electoral votes.
The “Twenty Fourth Amendment”
The “Twenty Fourth Amendment” made “poll
taxes” (money paid for the right to vote) illegal
in national elections
 The U.S. Supreme Court would also later rule
that “poll taxes” were illegal in state elections as
well
 “Poll taxes” were common “Jim Crow Laws”
that discriminated against African Americans in
the South

The “Twenty Fifth Amendment”
The “Twenty Fifth Amendment” established the
procedures for the succession to the Presidency in
case of death or incapacitation. (order)
 “Vice President,
Speaker of House,
President Pro Tempore of the Senate,
Cabinet”

The “Twenty Sixth Amendment”
The “Twenty Sixth Amendment” lowered the
voting age to 18 for all national, state, and local
elections
 Came about during the “Vietnam Conflict”
when many believed if an 18 year old was old
enough to fight in war, they should be able to
vote.

The “Twenty Seventh Amendment”

The “Twenty Seventh Amendment” states
that Congressional pay raises begin the
following term