Amendments 11-14
Post-Civil War Reconstruction Amendments
Constitutional Text
Amendment XI (1795). The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
Amendment XII (1804). The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President... they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President...
Amendment XIII (1865). Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Amendment XIV (1868). Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Amendments Summary
11th Amendment (1795)
State sovereign immunity - Citizens cannot sue states in federal court. Passed to overturn Chisholm v. Georgia.
12th Amendment (1804)
Changed Electoral College to have separate votes for President and Vice President. Response to 1800 election tie.
13th Amendment (1865)
Abolished slavery throughout the United States. First of three "Reconstruction Amendments."
14th Amendment (1868)
Citizenship Clause - Anyone born in U.S. is a citizen.
Due Process Clause - States must respect legal procedures.
Equal Protection Clause - States must treat all people equally under the law.
Why the 14th Amendment Matters
The 14th Amendment is arguably the most important amendment since the Bill of Rights. Through incorporation, it has been used to apply most of the Bill of Rights to state governments, not just the federal government.
Key Supreme Court cases based on the 14th Amendment include: Brown v. Board of Education (school desegregation),Loving v. Virginia (interracial marriage), Roe v. Wade, Obergefell v. Hodges (same-sex marriage), and many others.
Key Takeaways
- 13th Amendment ended slavery in the United States
- 14th Amendment defines citizenship and equal protection
- Due Process applies Bill of Rights to states (incorporation)
- Equal Protection is basis for civil rights cases