Ratification of Constitutional Amendments

Article 5 of the Constitution provides for the amendment of the Constitution by various means (see The Amendments Page for details). However an amendment is proposed, it does not become part of the Constitution unless it is ratified by three-quarters of the states (either the legislatures thereof, or in amendment conventions). The following is a record of each ratified amendment and the states and dates that led to the ratification. The Constitutional Timeline and the Ratification Grid may also be of interest.

The information contained on this page was found on the Amendments to the Constitution Page at Emory University's site and on the Text of the Amendments Page at the GPO's site. As noted on those pages, the dates published here are based on the best information available.

There is some disagreement about the ability of a state to rescind an amendment ratification prior to full ratification. In U.S. history, thus far, no rescinded ratifications have made a difference in the long run, though they certainly have happened, especially to the Reconstruction Amendments, 13 through 15. On this page, only dates of first ratification are listed. States that never accepted an amendment are not listed at all.

In each table, the "*" column will contain a * symbol next to the state that provided the required three-quarters vote for ratification. Note that the number of states required for ratification increased through history - some amendments, then, required more states at the time of ratification than they needed at the time of proposal.

Quick links: Bill of Rights, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th.

The first ten amendments, commonly known as a group as the Bill of Rights, were all ratified at once. The amendments were proposed on September 25, 1789.

The 11th Amendment, which limits Supreme Court jurisdiction, was proposed on March 4, 1794.

The 12th Amendment, which reworks the presidential selection process, was proposed on December 9, 1803.

This amendment was specifically rejected by Delaware on Jan 18, 1804; by Massachusetts on Feb 3, 1804; and by Connecticut, on May 10, 1804.

The 13th Amendment, which prohibits slavery, was proposed on January 31, 1865.

* Mississippi ratified the amendment in 1995, but the state didn't officially notify the US Archivist until 2012, when the ratification finally became official.

This amendment was specifically rejected by Delaware on Feb 8, 1865; by Kentucky on Feb 24, 1865; by New Jersey on Mar 16, 1865; and by Mississippi on Dec 4, 1865. Florida reaffirmed its ratification on Jun 9, 1868.

The 14th Amendment, which guarantees the rights of citizens and other persons, was proposed on June 13, 1866.

This amendment was specifically rejected by Texas on Oct 27, 1866; by Georgia on Nov 6, 1866; by North Carolina on Dec 14, 1866; by South Carolina on Dec 20, 1866; by Kentucky on Jan 8, 1867; by Virginia on Jan 9, 1867; by Louisiana on Feb 6, 1867; by Delaware on Feb 8, 1867; and by Maryland on Mar 23, 1867. New Jersey's ratification was rescinded on Mar 24, 1868; Ohio rescinded its ratification on Jan 15, 1868 and ratified again on Mar 13, 2003.

The 15th Amendment, which ensures the right of black men to vote, was proposed on February 26, 1869.

This amendment was specifically rejected by Kentucky on Mar 12, 1869; by Delaware on Mar 18, 1869; by Ohio on Apr 30, 1869; by Tennessee on Nov 16, 1869; by California on Jan 28, 1870; by New Jersey on Feb 7, 1870; and by Maryland on Feb 26, 1870. New York rescinded its ratification on Jan 5, 1870, and rescinded the rescission on Mar 30, 1970.

The 16th Amendment, which specifically authorizes the income tax, was proposed on July 12, 1909.

This amendment was specifically rejected by New Hampshire on Mar 2, 1911. It was also rejected by Arkansas prior to its subsequent ratification, and by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Utah.

The 17th Amendment, which required Senators be elected by the people, was proposed on May 13, 1912.

This amendment was specifically rejected by Utah on Feb 26, 1913.

The 18th Amendment, which prohibited alcohol, was proposed on December 18, 1917.