American Government & Politics POL 105

Erik Rankin – Final Constitution Lecture

The Bill of Rights – 14th Amendment Section 1

Clause 1 Response to Dred Scott case, citizen of the nation is

independent of state citizenship Clause 2

Rights due to citizenship may not be denied by a state in any way. EX – to travel, to vote, engage in interstate commerce

Clause 3 Applied 5th amendment Due Process to states and the

protection of life, liberty, and property Clause 4

Equal protection, preventing the state from discriminating actions towards any group

Originally based on race and later included gender

The Bill of Rights – 14th Amendment

Sections 2-4 are obsoleteSection 5 – gives constitutional authority

to Congress to enforce through law provision in the 14th amendmentEx: Civil Rights Acts of 1960 (public

accomodations),1964 (Fair Housing),1991 (EEOC)

The Bill of Rights – 15th Amendment

Section 1Right to vote cannot be denied because of

raceSection 2

Congress has the right to legislate on thisEx: Voting Rights Act of 1965, strengthened

in 1975, 1982

The Bill of Rights – 16th Amendment

Ratified in 1913Congress can set and collect income

taxes

The Bill of Rights – 17th Amendment

Superseded Article I Section 3Senators are directly elected by the citizens

of that state and not by state legislaturesVacated seats may have them filled by the

governor until the next election

The Bill of Rights – 18th Amendment

ProhibitionRatified in 1919Repealed by the 21st amendment

The Bill of Rights – 19th Amendment

Right to vote shall not be denied to women

Ratified in 1920Congress can enforce this article through

legislation

The Bill of Rights – 20th Amendment

Terms of President and Vice PresidentRatified in 1933Originally Pres & VP took office in MarchThis eliminated the lame duck period and

installed the Pres & VP on JanCongress adjourns before the elections and

does not reseat until the 3rd of JanuaryAlso sets up solution to 3 person lack of

majority in electoral CollegeVice President serves until the House decides the

winner

The Bill of Rights – 21st Amendment

Repealed the 18th amendmentBack to the Keg!!!Only amendment ratified by conventions

rather than state legislaturesThey were used to specifically deal with just

the alcoholic beverage issue

The Bill of Rights – 22nd AmendmentPresidential Term Limits

Ratified in 1951Limits the presidency to two termsVP who assumes office after a death of the

Pres. may still hold two terms in addition to the years of elevation

The Bill of Rights – 23rd AmendmentPresidential Vote for the District of

ColumbiaRatified in 1961Residents of the District of Columbia may

vote for a president and VPThey have as many electoral votes as the

smallest stateAlways have at least 3 electoral votes

The Bill of Rights – 24th AmendmentBarring Poll Tax in federal elections

Ratified in 1964No taxes may be levied against a voter in

a federal electionLeft the window open for state poll taxes,

but this has been struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court as well

Payments said to violate the 14th amendments equal protection clause

The Bill of Rights – 25th Amendment

Presidential Disability and Succession Ratified in 1967 If a president considers himself unable to perform

the duties of his office for any reason must notify the Speaker and the President Pro Tempore

The VP then becomes acting president until the president chooses to return

Don’t always have to hear from Pres., he may be incapacitated and the same procedure occurs

Pres. May appoint new VP with majority in both houses confirming

What if there is no VP? Ever used?

The Bill of Rights – 26thAmendmentLowering the voting age to 18

Congress had no way to set voting age limits until this amendment

Ratified in less than 3 months- quick!18 to vote in any election, but don’t try and

buy beer!

The Bill of Rights – 27th AmendmentCongressional Pay

Ratified in 1992Written by James Madison38 of 50 states voted in favor and it finally

passedOnly a little over 200 years later, why the

rush?