Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The 15th Amendment gave minorities group the right to vote. With this amendment in mind, states cannot deny an individual regarding any race to vote. However, women did not receive the same privilege until 50 years later of the ratification of the 19th amendment.
This amendment gave African American males the right to vote. However, in many southern states, the white men continue to find ways to prevent African American males to vote. Some of the strategies were an individual would have to pay a fee in order to vote or the grandfather clause.
The drawing above showed African Americans casting their vote for the first time in history. Thanks to the 15th Amendment, African Americans male are allow to vote, but people continue to try to prevent them from voting.
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.
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
The 14th Amendment was designed to to grant citizenship to and protect civil liberties of freed slaves and minorities. Basically, it guarantee equal protection under the laws.
The picture above showed a group of people protesting against the government, that is pushing to ban same sex marriage. Groups such as gays, lesbians, transgenders and other stereotypes of homosexual people. I think the government should not intervene with the decision people want to make. For example, if an individual choose to get marry to the same gender, he should be allow to do it. Under the 14th amendment, it guarantee equal protection under the laws.
The 14th amendment gave African Americans citizenship, stating that they are equal just like the white, however there are more obstacles for African American to overcome. In many southern states, the white would continue to discriminate the blacks from schools and many public accommodations.
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.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The 13th Amendment was designed to abolish slavery. It was adopted on December 6, 1865. President Abraham Lincoln was concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation did not free all slaves, so this amendment was necessary. This amendment guarantee that slavery would no longer exist.
Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves in the north, but not the southern slaves. It was at the end of the American Civil War that he delivered this speech to unified the north and south together as one.
The picture above is from Harper's Weekly in 1865. It depicted even with 13th amendment passed, African Americans are still struggling to fight to civil rights. It won't be until later that African Americans can receive the same privilege with the Caucasian people.
"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."
The 27th Amendment is saying that Congress are not allow to give themselves a raise until after the next election. It is to prevent Congress to from repeatedly raising their own salaries.
The picture above is Gregory Watson, who studied at the University of Texas at Austin, discovered the 27th Amendment in 1982. Watson assignment was to write a term paper on Equal Rights Amendment and through digging the books, he found out several states had passed the amendment and it was still out there. However, even with his discovery Watson received a C for his assignment.
This is the last amendment of the United States Constitution. The definition of this amendment is to prevent Congress to raise their own salaries cap. They cannot raise their salaries until the next election.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The 26th Amendment gave the right for 18 years old to vote. This amendment was made into law since 18 years old boys were getting drafted during the Vietnam War.
In my opinion, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 opened doors to blacks and other minorities group to express their opinions and vote for a change. Since this amendment was passed, boys were getting drafted are considered responsible young men that went oversea to aid the people of Vietnam.
I think it is important for everybody to vote because people has fought for voting rights in the longest of time throughout history. One vote can make a difference and if you don't like how the government is running, just go out and vote for a change.
Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
The 25th Amendment deals with the succession to the presidency and create a procedure for filling a vacancy of the Vice President as well as to the President's disabilities.
After Woodrow Wilson suffered from a stroke that leave his left leg paralyzed, his wife Edith helped him during his last term in office. This amendment was passed just in case of an emergency, another government official can replace the president.
The picture above showed president Woodrow Wilson signing a document with the help from his wife. Edith served as an assistant, pointing out issues to his cabinets. This was controversial which lead to the ratification of the 25th Amendment.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The 24th Amendment guarantees that no person can be denied the right to vote due to an inability to pay a tax prior to voting. The "poll tax" is now considered unconstitutional.
In my opinion, I think the government should find any strategy to make it easier for people to vote. I agree that some people want to vote, but the line was just too long or they cannot afford to miss work due to this economic crisis.
Congress ratified the 24th Amendment on January 23, 1964. This amendment prohibit any poll tax elections for federal officials. In my opinion, I think that this amendment needed to be passes because for example, you are waiting for a long to be old enough to vote. However, now you need money in order to vote. Not long ago, people in some states were required to pay a fee to vote.
