List of amendments to the United States Constitution - wikipedia List of amendments to the United States Constitution This article is about the 33 constitutional amendments approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification since 1789. For proposals to amend the United States Constitution introduced in but not approved by the U.S. Congress, see List of proposed amendments to the United States Constitution. This article is part of a series on the Constitution of the United States of America Preamble and Articles of the Constitution Preamble II III IV V VI VII Amendments to the Constitution Bill of Rights II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII Unratified Amendments Congressional Apportionment Titles of Nobility Corwin Child Labor Equal Rights D.C. Voting Rights History Drafting and ratification timeline Convention Signing Federalism Republicanism Full text of the Constitution and Amendments Preamble and Articles I -- VII Amendments I -- X Amendments XI -- XXVII Unratified Amendments United States portal U.S. Government portal Law portal Wikipedia book Thirty - three amendments to the United States Constitution have been proposed by the United States Congress and sent to the states for ratification since the Constitution was put into operation on March 4, 1789. Twenty - seven of these, having been ratified by the requisite number of states, are part of the Constitution. The first ten amendments were adopted and ratified simultaneously and are known collectively as the Bill of Rights. Six amendments adopted by Congress and sent to the states have not been ratified by the required number of states. Four of these amendments are still technically open and pending, one is closed and has failed by its own terms, and one is closed and has failed by the terms of the resolution proposing it. Article Five of the United States Constitution detailed the two - step process for amending the nation 's frame of government. Amendments must be properly Proposed and Ratified before becoming operative. This process was designed to strike a balance between the excesses of constant change and inflexibility. An amendment may be proposed and sent to the states for ratification by either : The United States Congress, whenever a two - thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives deem it necessary ; OR A national convention, called by Congress for this purpose, on the application of the legislatures of two - thirds ( currently 34 ) of the states. To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by either ( as determined by Congress ) : The legislatures of three - fourths ( currently 38 ) of the states, within the stipulated time period -- if any ; OR State ratifying conventions in three - fourths ( currently 38 ) of the states, within the stipulated time period -- if any. Upon being properly ratified, an amendment becomes an operative addition to the Constitution. Approximately 11,539 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789 ( as of December 2014 ). Collectively, members of the House and Senate typically propose around 200 amendments during each two -- year term of Congress. Most, however, never get out of the Congressional committees in which they were proposed, and only a fraction of those that do receive enough support to win Congressional approval to go through the constitutional ratification process. Beginning in the early 20th century, Congress has usually, but not always, stipulated that an amendment must be ratified by the required number of states within seven years from the date of its submission to the states in order to become part of the Constitution. Congress ' authority to set ratification deadline was affirmed by the United States Supreme Court in Coleman v. Miller, 307 U.S. 433 ( 1939 ). The thirty - three amendments to the United States Constitution -- both ratified and unratified -- are listed and detailed in the tables below. Contents 1 Ratified amendments 1.1 Synopsis of each ratified amendment 1.2 Summation of ratification data for each ratified amendment 2 Unratified amendments 2.1 Synopsis of each unratified amendment 2.2 Summation of ratification data for each unratified amendment 3 See also 4 References 5 External links Ratified amendments Synopsis of each ratified amendment No. Subject Date submitted for Ratification Date ratification completed Ratification time span 1st Prohibits Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 2nd Protects the right to keep and bear arms. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 3rd Places restrictions on the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner 's consent, prohibiting it during peacetime. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 4th Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause as determined by a neutral judge or magistrate. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 5th Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self - incrimination and double jeopardy. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 6th Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 7th Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 8th Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 9th Protects rights not enumerated in the Constitution. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 10th Reinforces the principle of federalism by stating that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated to it by the states or the people through the Constitution. September 25, 1789 December 15, 1791 2 years 2 months 20 days 11th Makes states immune from suits from out - of - state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders ; lays the foundation for sovereign immunity. March 4, 1794 February 7, 1795 11 months 3 days 12th Revises presidential election procedures by having the President and Vice President elected together as opposed to the Vice President being the runner up. December 9, 1803 June 15, 1804 6 months 6 days 13th Abolishes slavery, and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. January 31, 1865 December 6, 1865 10 months 6 days 14th Defines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post -- Civil War issues. June 13, 1866 July 9, 1868 2 years 0 months 26 days 15th Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude. February 26, 1869 February 3, 1870 11 months 8 days 16th Permits Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the United States Census. July 12, 1909 February 3, 1913 3 years 6 months 22 days 17th Establishes the direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. May 13, 1912 April 8, 1913 10 months 26 days 18th Prohibited the manufacturing or sale of alcohol within the United States. ( Repealed December 5, 1933, via 21st Amendment. ) December 18, 1917 January 16, 1919 1 year 0 months 29 days 19th Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on sex. June 4, 1919 August 18, 1920 1 year 2 months 14 days 20th Changes the date on which the terms of the President and Vice President ( January 20 ) and Senators and Representatives ( January 3 ) end and begin. March 2, 1932 January 23, 1933 10 months 21 days 21st Repeals the 18th Amendment and makes it a federal offense to transport or import intoxicating liquors into US states and territories where such transport or importation is prohibited by the laws of those states and territories. February 20, 1933 December 5, 1933 9 months 15 days 22nd Limits the number of times that a person can be elected president : a person can not be elected president more than twice, and a person who has served more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected can not be elected more than once. March 24, 1947 February 27, 1951 3 years 11 months 6 days 23rd Grants the District of Columbia electors ( the number of electors being equal to the least populous state ) in the Electoral College. June 16, 1960 March 29, 1961 9 months 12 days 24th Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of a poll tax or any other tax. September 14, 1962 January 23, 1964 1 year 4 months 27 days 25th Addresses succession to the Presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, as well as responding to Presidential disabilities. July 6, 1965 February 10, 1967 1 year 7 months 4 days 26th Prohibits the denial of the right of US citizens, eighteen years of age or older, to vote on account of age. March 23, 1971 July 1, 1971 3 months 8 days 27th Delays laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of representatives. September 25, 1789 May 5, 1992 202 years 7 months 10 days Summation of ratification data for each ratified amendment `` Y '' indicates that the state ratified the amendment. `` N '' indicates that the state rejected the amendment and has not ratified it. `` Y '' indicates that the state 's ratification of the amendment came after the state had officially rejected it. `` Y '' indicates that after officially ratifying the amendment the state rescinded that ratification, but later re-ratified it. `` -- '' indicates that the state did not complete action on the amendment. `` '' indicates that the amendment was ratified before that state joined the Union. State ( in order of statehood ) 1 -- 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Delaware Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Pennsylvania Y -- Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- New Jersey Y -- Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Georgia Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y -- Y -- -- -- Y Y Connecticut Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Massachusetts Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Maryland Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y South Carolina Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y -- -- Y Y Y New Hampshire Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Virginia Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y New York Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- North Carolina Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y -- Y Y Y Y Rhode Island Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y Y Vermont Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Kentucky Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y -- -- Y Y -- Y Tennessee Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Ohio Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Louisiana Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y -- -- Y Y Y Indiana Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Mississippi Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y -- Y -- Y -- -- Illinois Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Alabama Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Maine Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Missouri Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Arkansas Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Michigan Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Florida Y Y Y -- -- Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y -- Y Texas Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y Iowa Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Wisconsin Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y California Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Minnesota Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Oregon Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Kansas Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y Y Y West Virginia Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y Y Nevada Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Nebraska Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y Y Y Colorado Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y North Dakota Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y -- -- Y South Dakota Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y -- -- Y Montana Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Washington Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Y Y Idaho Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Wyoming Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Y Y Utah Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Oklahoma Y Y Y Y Y -- Y -- Y Y Y New Mexico Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y Arizona Y Y Y Y Y Y -- Y -- Y Y Y Alaska Y Y Y Y Y Hawaii Y Y Y Y Y State ( in order of statehood ) 1 -- 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Unratified amendments Synopsis of each unratified amendment Title Subject Status Congressional Apportionment Amendment Would strictly regulate the size of congressional districts for representation in the House of Representatives. Pending since September 25, 1789 Titles of Nobility Amendment Would strip citizenship from any United States citizen who accepts a title of nobility from a foreign country. Pending since May 1, 1810 Corwin Amendment Would make the states ' `` domestic institutions '' ( slavery ) impervious to the constitutional amendment procedures established in Article V and immune to abolition or interference from Congress. Pending since March 2, 1861 Child Labor Amendment Would empower the federal government to limit, regulate, and prohibit child labor. Pending since June 2, 1924 Equal Rights Amendment Would have prohibited deprivation of equality of rights by the federal or state governments on account of sex. Initial ratification period ended March 22, 1979 and extension period ended June 30, 1982 ; amendment failed District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment Would have treated the District of Columbia as if it were a state regarding representation in the United States Congress ( including repealing the 23rd Amendment ), representation in the Electoral College and participation in the process by which the Constitution is amended. Ratification period ended August 22, 1985 ; Amendment failed Summation of ratification data for each unratified amendment `` Y '' indicates that the state ratified the amendment. `` N '' indicates that the state rejected the amendment and has not ratified it. `` Y '' indicates that the state 's ratification of the amendment came after the state had officially rejected it. `` Y '' indicates that after officially ratifying the amendment the state rescinded that ratification. `` ⋈ '' indicates that the state did not complete action on the amendment during the stated ratification period. `` '' An empty cell indicates that the state has not completed action on the pending amendment. State ( in alphabetical order ) Alabama ⋈ ⋈ Alaska Y ⋈ Arizona Y ⋈ ⋈ Arkansas Y ⋈ ⋈ California Y Y ⋈ Colorado Y Y ⋈ Connecticut Y Y Delaware Y Y Y Florida ⋈ ⋈ Georgia Y ⋈ ⋈ Hawaii Y Y Idaho Y Y ⋈ Illinois Y Y ⋈ ⋈ Indiana Y Y ⋈ Iowa Y Y Y Kansas Y Y ⋈ Kentucky Y Y Y Y Y ⋈ Louisiana ⋈ Y Maine Y Y Y Maryland Y Y Y Y Y Massachusetts Y Y Y Michigan Y Y Y Minnesota Y Y Y Mississippi ⋈ ⋈ Missouri ⋈ ⋈ Montana Y Y ⋈ Nebraska Y ⋈ Nevada Y Y ⋈ New Hampshire Y Y Y Y ⋈ New Jersey Y Y Y Y Y New Mexico Y Y ⋈ New York Y Y ⋈ North Carolina Y Y ⋈ ⋈ North Dakota Y Y ⋈ Ohio Y Y Y Y Y Oklahoma Y ⋈ ⋈ Oregon Y Y Y Pennsylvania Y Y Y Y ⋈ Rhode Island Y Y Y Y South Carolina Y ⋈ ⋈ South Dakota Y ⋈ Tennessee Y Y ⋈ Texas Y ⋈ Utah Y ⋈ ⋈ Vermont Y Y Y ⋈ Virginia Y ⋈ ⋈ Washington Y Y ⋈ West Virginia Y Y Y Wisconsin Y Y Y Wyoming Y Y ⋈ Number of ratifications : 11 12 5 28 35 16 See also History of the United States Constitution Convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution References Specific Jump up ^ England, Trent & Spalding, Matthew. `` Essays on Article V : Amendments ''. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved July 31, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Measures Proposed to Amend the Constitution ''. Statistics & Lists. United States Senate. Jump up ^ `` C - SPAN 's Capitol Questions ''. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 29. ^ Jump up to : U.S. Congress, House. The Constitution of the United States of America, As Amended, H. Doc. 102 - 188, 102nd Cong., 2nd sess., ( Washington : GPO, 1992 ). Jump up ^ The U.S. Constitution and Constitutional Law. Britannica Educational Publishing. 2012. pp. 105 -- 108. ISBN 9781615307555. General Congressional Research Service. ( 1992 ). The Constitution of the United States of America : Analysis and Interpretation. ( Senate Document No. 103 -- 6 ). ( Johnny H. Killian and George A. Costello, Eds. ). Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amendments to the United States Constitution. Wikisource has original text related to this article : Category : Constitution of the United States of America The Constitution of the United States of America : Analysis and Interpretation is available at : FindLaw -- FindLaw 's version of the official document ; incorporates 1996, 1998, and 2000 supplements into text, but does not include prefatory material included in official version. U.S. Constitution Online United States Constitution Text ( via Wikisource ) Preamble and Articles I -- VII Amendments 1 -- 10 Amendments 11 -- 27 Unsuccessful Proposed Amendments Debates in State Conventions on the Adoption of the Constitution Preamble and articles Preamble II III IV V VI VII Amendments Ratified Bill of Rights 5 6 7 8 9 10 Others 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Pending Congressional Apportionment Titles of Nobility Corwin Amendment Child Labor Repealed Eighteenth Amendment Unsuccessful Equal Rights District of Columbia Voting Rights List of Amendments Bill of Rights ( Amendments 1 -- 10 ) Reconstruction Amendments ( Amendments 13 -- 15 ) Amendment proposals in Congress Convention to propose amendments State ratifying conventions Formation History Articles of Confederation Mount Vernon Conference Annapolis Convention Philadelphia Convention Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Connecticut Compromise Three - Fifths Compromise Committee of Detail Signing Independence Hall Syng inkstand The Federalist Papers Anti-Federalist Papers Massachusetts Compromise Virginia Ratifying Convention Hillsborough Convention Rhode Island ratification Drafting and ratification timeline Clauses Appointments Appropriations Assistance of Counsel Bills of credit Case or Controversy Citizenship Commerce Compact Compulsory Process Confrontation Contract Copyright and Patent Double Jeopardy Due Process Equal Protection Establishment Exceptions Excessive Bail Ex post facto Extradition Free Exercise Free Speech Fugitive Slave Full Faith and Credit General Welfare Guarantee Impeachment Import - Export Ineligibility Militia Natural - born citizen Necessary and Proper New States No Religious Test Oath or Affirmation Origination Petition Postal Presentment Privileges and Immunities Privileges or Immunities Recommendation Self - Incrimination Speech or Debate Speedy Trial State of the Union Supremacy Suspension Take Care Takings Taxing and Spending Territorial Title of Nobility Treaty Trial by Jury Vesting Vicinage War Powers List of clauses Interpretation Concurrent powers Congressional enforcement Constitutional law Criminal procedure Criminal sentencing Dormant Commerce Clause Enumerated powers Equal footing Executive privilege Incorporation of the Bill of Rights Judicial review Nondelegation doctrine Preemption Saxbe fix Separation of church and state Separation of powers Taxation power Unitary executive theory Display and legacy National Archives Charters of Freedom Rotunda Independence Mall Constitution Day Constitution Gardens National Constitution Center Scene at the Signing of the Constitution ( painting ) A More Perfect Union ( film ) Worldwide influence US Government Portal Law Portal Wikipedia book Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_amendments_to_the_United_States_Constitution&oldid=816073115 '' Categories : Amendments to the United States Constitution United States history - related lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Беларуская Български Català Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français Magyar Polski Русский Simple English Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 19 December 2017, at 02 : 26. 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Question: the amendment process was included in the constitution in order to
Answer: strike a balance between the excesses of constant change and inflexibility