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 5 th 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 obsolete Section 5 – gives constitutional authority to Congress to enforce through law provision in the 14 th amendment Ex: Civil Rights Acts of 1960 (public accomodations),1964 (Fair Housing),1991 (EEOC)

The Bill of Rights – 15th Amendment Section 1 Right to vote cannot be denied because of race Section 2 Congress has the right to legislate on this Ex: Voting Rights Act of 1965, strengthened in 1975, 1982

The Bill of Rights – 16th Amendment Ratified in 1913 Congress can set and collect income taxes

The Bill of Rights – 17th Amendment Superseded Article I Section 3 Senators are directly elected by the citizens of that state and not by state legislatures Vacated seats may have them filled by the governor until the next election

The Bill of Rights – 18th Amendment Prohibition Ratified in 1919 Repealed by the 21 st amendment

The Bill of Rights – 19th Amendment Right to vote shall not be denied to women Ratified in 1920 Congress can enforce this article through legislation

The Bill of Rights – 20th Amendment Terms of President and Vice President Ratified in 1933 Originally Pres & VP took office in March This eliminated the lame duck period and installed the Pres & VP on Jan Congress adjourns before the elections and does not reseat until the 3 rd of January Also sets up solution to 3 person lack of majority in electoral College Vice President serves until the House decides the winner

The Bill of Rights – 21st Amendment Repealed the 18 th amendment Back to the Keg!!! Only amendment ratified by conventions rather than state legislatures They were used to specifically deal with just the alcoholic beverage issue

The Bill of Rights – 22nd Amendment Presidential Term Limits Ratified in 1951 Limits the presidency to two terms VP 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 Amendment Presidential Vote for the District of Columbia Ratified in 1961 Residents of the District of Columbia may vote for a president and VP They have as many electoral votes as the smallest state Always have at least 3 electoral votes

The Bill of Rights – 24th Amendment Barring Poll Tax in federal elections Ratified in 1964 No taxes may be levied against a voter in a federal election Left 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 14 th 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 – 26thAmendment Lowering 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 Amendment Congressional Pay Ratified in 1992 Written by James Madison 38 of 50 states voted in favor and it finally passed Only a little over 200 years later, why the rush?