Amendment XX

Section 1.

The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3rd day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3.

If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section 4.

The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section 5.

Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6.

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission.

Amendment 20 is divided up into six sections. These sections are clear and concise on certain aspects of many governmental things. The 20th Amendment states when the president and vice president assume office, when Congress is to meet, what happens in the death of a President, and how this Amendment is to take effect. 

This video explains the 20th Amendment, including lame duck, the meeting of Congress and the dates of the Congress meetings as well as the date the President is to take office.

This video gives us background in to this Amendment and also explains the history of lame-duck lawmaking. 

Amendment XIX

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 sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

The 19th Amendment allowed the women to finally vote. 

This picture shows girls rallying for their right to vote in the women's suffrage movement. 

This picture takes a look at a rally ran by women after the Amendment was passed and women were allowed to vote. 

Amendment XVIII

Section 1.

After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2.

The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3.

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress.

The 18th Amendment was based on the prohibition of alcohol. This Amendment made it illegal to make, sale, move, and use of alcohol. This Amendment was later repealed. 

This picture shows a protest of the Amendment during the prohibition era.

This video is not the best, but gives a representation of why some thought the Amendment would help America possibly become safer. 

Amendment XVII

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

The 16th Amendment writes on the aspect of U.S. Senators. It states how many senators there can be from each state, what their qualifications must be, how long they stay in their office, and how they are elected. 

This picture gives us a brief history of the 17th Amendment and hwy it was created. 

This video shows and sort of explains the 17th Amendment. It also shows the reason why it was created and how it gives empowerment back to the states. 

Amendment XVI

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

Amendment 16 states that the government has the power to set income tax rates as well as collect those taxes that are required to be paid. 



This picture is a political cartoon showing how the government can really take a lot of our money. Although it is sometimes used for the betterment of the people. 

This video shows and explains the 16th Amendment, how it works and how Congress can set and take taxes. 

Amendment XV

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 the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. 

Amendment 15 talks about equal rights and who can vote. Most notably the right to vote for all, no matter their race or skin color. 



This picture is an example of the 15th Amendment. It shows a black hand casting their vote as a representation of black people now getting the right to vote because of this Amendment.

This video gives us a story behind the 15th Amendment, why it was imposed and lastly what this Amendment means. 

Amendment XIV

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.

Amendment 14 has five different sections. The first section deals with citizenship and the rights of citizens of the United States and their equal protection rights. The second section talks about those who can hold office. Section three also writes about who can hold office and the rules of who can hold what office. Section four deals with debt of the United States. Lastly, section five writes about the powers of Congress. 

This video talks about the Fourteenth Amendment, and digs more deeply on equal protection. 

This picture shows two people, black and white, marching together for what looks like equality. This picture represents the Fourteenth Amendment and how everybody deserves the same rights. This is especially a huge topic today.