H.R. 4853:

 House to Consider Pomeroy Estate Tax Amendment (Updated to Reflect Turmoil) 

• By ALLISON BELL & ARTHUR D. POSTAL
•  
• An estate tax proposal to set the personal exemption at $3.5 million for 2 years and the maximum rate at 45% is likely to come to the House floor today.
  The House Rules Committee agreed Wednesday on House Resolution 1766, a measure that sets the rules for consideration of H.R. 4853, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, on the House floor. Debate could occur this afternoon, and a vote could occur this evening.
  But, since we posted the first version of this story, House Democrats who oppose the version of the bill passed by the Senate apparently have been battling with Senate version supporters off the House floor.
  Some House Democrats have mentioned the turmoil while speaking in support of other bills, such as patent system improvement bills, that are being handled on through a system that suspends the usual procedural rules for uncontroversial measures.
  Members of the Senate voted 81-19 to pass H.R. 4853, which would preserve extended unemployment insurance benefits for 13 months and extend many of the tax breaks in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) for 2 years.
  In the House, many Democrats say the bill is too generous to the rich, and both Democrats and Republicans have argued that the bill would do too much to increase the budget deficit. For many Democrats, the estate tax provision has been especially troubling.
  EGTRRA called for the estate tax to disappear this year and spring back to 2001 levels, with a $1 million personal exemption and a 55% top tax rate, in 2011. H.R. 4853, a measure negotiated by Obama administration officials and Republican congressional leaders, would set the personal exemption at $5 million and the top rate at 35%.
  The House resolution governing consideration of H.R. 4853 by the House provides for 3 hours of debate.
  In addition to setting the personal exemption at $3.5 million and the top rate at 45%, House Rules Committee officials say the estate tax amendment, offered by Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., would:
  

  • Give estates from decedents in 2010 the ability to elect to be treated under the 2009 levels or to be treated under current law for tax purposes. This election would let estates receive a step up in basis on inherited property rather than the 2010 carryover basis rules.
  • Affect about 6,600 estates in 2011.
  • Cost the government about $23 billion less than the estate tax provision in the bill passed by the Senate.

  The Senate does not have much time left to consider bills, and H.R. 4853 watchers are not sure whether supporters of the bill could get an amended version back through the Senate.
  
   

Published 12/16/2010 

Questionaire

Questionaire 

Kieth Ellison

Early survey results: 85% say extend UI benefits, 85% middle class tax cuts, 14% wealthy tax cuts, 10% estate tax cuts 

Over 900 5th CD constituents responded to our tax cut/UI survey. Share your thoughts before the vote:

Tax Cut and Unemployment Extension Survey for the Fifth District of Minnesota

Exit this survey

1.

As you know, Congress is in the midst of a critical debate about taxes, unemployment insurance, and the future of our fiscal solvency. In good faith, President Obama has put forth a legislative proposal. There are parts of this proposal that I strongly support. There are parts of the proposal that I oppose. I want to know what you think.

The President’s proposal consists of four chief components, please take two minutes of your time and tell me what you think of each. 

Thank you,

Keith Ellison

1. Should Congress extend unemployment insurance benefits for over 4 million Americans?

Should Congress extend unemployment insurance benefits for over 4 million Americans?  Yes, extend unemployment benefits No, allow unemployment benefits to expire Unsure

2. Should Congress extend tax cuts for the middle class (individuals making under $200,000 and couples making under $250,000 a year)?

Should Congress extend tax cuts for the middle class (individuals making under $200,000 and couples making under $250,000 a year)?  Yes, extend middle class tax cuts No, allow middle class tax cuts to expire Unsure

3. Should Congress extend tax cuts for the top 2% (on income above $200,000 for individuals and income above $250,000 for couples)?

Should Congress extend tax cuts for the top 2% (on income above $200,000 for individuals and income above $250,000 for couples)?  Yes, extend tax cuts for the wealthy No, allow tax cuts for the wealthy to expire Unsure

4. Should Congress give an additional tax break on estates worth more than $5 million?

Should Congress give an additional tax break on estates worth more than $5 million?  Yes, give tax breaks to estates worth more than $5 million No, do not give additional tax breaks to estates worth more than $5 million Unsure

2. Questions or Comments?

I take your feedback seriously and value your questions and comments on this matter. If you'd like to receive a response, please include your contact information below. This is completely optional.

1. Please enter any questions or comments about the legislative proposal below.

Please enter any questions or comments about the legislative proposal below.

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Please enter your phone number and/or e-mail address here if you would like Congressman Ellison to be able to respond to your question or comments.

3. If you have a Twitter account, please add it here. Congressman Ellison may reply directly to your questions/comments via Twitter. His Twitter account is @KeithEllison

If you have a Twitter account, please add it here. Congressman Ellison may reply directly to your questions/comments via Twitter. His Twitter account is @KeithEllison

4. What is your Zip Code? This helps us verify that you are a constituent of Congressman Ellison

Dems push GOP senators to withdraw their earmarks from omnibus

By Michael O'Brien - 12/15/10 04:58 PM ET

Senate Democrats pressured GOP lawmakers to strip earmarks they had previously requested from the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill. 

Democrats put out a memo on Wednesday asking Senate Republicans about whether they would follow the lead of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) andwithdraw earmarks from the omnibus spending bill after having voted as a party to reject the practice in the next Congress. 

"If Republicans are truly as opposed to earmarks as they would have us believe, why don’t they all follow Sen. Hatch’s example and ask Senate appropriators to strip their earmarks from the omnibus?" Senate Democrats asked in a memo to reporters. 

Hatch had announced on Wednesday that he'd withdrawn his earmarks from the omnibus bill following the Senate Republican Conference's vote to put a moratorium on the practice. The omnibus package is cobbled together from previous unfinished bills that had been crafted before the GOP earmark ban. 

Democrats have sought to make political hay of the issue by questioning Republicans' commitment to earmark reform. 

GOP senators have at times stumbled with their explanation about the earmarks and the process behind it. Virtually all Republicans have announced their opposition to the omnibus, meaning that, if the package is defeated or blocked, Democrats' attacks might be rendered moot. 

"I am actively working to defeat it. I think there are many Senate members who have provisions in it for their states who are also actively working to defeat it," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has earmarks in the omnibus, on Tuesday. "This bill should not go forward. We didn't pass a single appropriation bill."

Dems Introduce 1,924-Page, $1.1 Trillion Spending Boondoggle 2.5 Weeks Before Lame Duck Session Ends

News - OP/ED - Blogs - Government

WRITTEN BY COPY DESK

THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2010 11:47

(CNSNews.com) – Senate Democrats yesterday introduced a 1,924-page omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2011, forgoing a planned continuing resolution to fund the federal government until the next Congress could take up the issue after Jan. 3.

The massive bill, the FY2011 Omnibus Appropriations Act, includes funding for the new health care law backed by the Obama administration, an increased number of I.R.S. agents, and an unknown number of earmarks.

The Senate had been scheduled to adjourn on Dec. 17, meaning that unless Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) elects to extend the current session, which he has hinted at doing, the bill theoretically would be voted on in less than three days. Reid has said that Congress could return right after Christmas to finish up legislative business.

The current continuing resolution to keep the government running expires on Dec. 18, meaning that unless new funding is approved--either with another continuing resolution or the omnibus bill--the federal government will be forced to shut down.

The omnibus spending  bill is reported to cost $1.1 trillion, according to The Hill.

Republican Policy Committee chief Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said that the attempt to pass the omnibus spending bill ignored the will of the American people.

“The attempt by Democrat leadership to rush through a nearly 2,000-page spending bill in the final days of the lame-duck session ignores the clear will expressed by the voters this past election,” Thune said in a statement. “This bill is loaded up with pork projects and should not get a vote. Congress should listen to the American people and stop this reckless spending.”

The lame duck session of Congress ends on Jan. 3, 2011. The next Congress officially begins later that same day. In that Congress, the division in the House of Representatives is 242 Republicans and 193 Democrats; and in the Senate, 47 Republicans and 53 Democrats.

Standard Editor: Democrats and some Republicans in name only do not care less whether the country goes into economic ruin. Obama's 111th Congress, without reservation, is the most un-American group of self-centered, self-serving miscreants and thieves to ever hold office and deserve the disdain of every patriotic American in this country. What a disgrace and embarrassment.

It is Snowing in the Capital and The White House Christmas Tree

Rep_Giffords

Posted about 10 hours ago

Cornyn whines about getting called out for hypocrisy

by Jed Lewison

Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 01:30:04 PM PST

John Cornyn, Wednesday:

HEMMER: Now, you yourself have asked for earmarks, too, according to this list, some 16 million for your home state. Can you defend that, senator?

CORNYN: Well, I believe I can. But I'm not going to, because I'm going to vote against this bill.

...

HEMMER: But I'm confused, then, why there 16 million in requests listed from you here? Is that not true?

CORNYN: Early on in the year, I did request earmarks that I think are individually defensible, and if we had a debate on the floor I think I could show how they help our men and women in uniform fight.

John Cornyn, Thursday:

Ever notice how dangerous it is for an elected official to publically change their mind on an issue?

First, given that you only get 140 characters on Twitter, would it be too much to ask Cornyn to learn how to spell publicly? His spelling isn't just wrong, it wastes 2 precious characters! Anyway, talk about thin-skinned...if John Cornyn can't even getting through an interview on Fox News without getting questioned about the GOP's earmark flip-flop, maybe he should pause for a moment and realize the problem is with him...not the people who can't understand why Republicans are making such a big deal about a symbolic policy stand with which they obviously disagree.

In any event, until (if?) Republicans come to their senses, it's time to follow this proposal from Matthew Yglesias:

Dems should start stripping earmarks requested by GOP Senators who are whining about the omnibus. No vote, no pork.

• ::

DeMints Tweets

Reid finally admitted he didn't have the votes to pass it and is withdrawing Dem pork-filled omnibus.

Too embarrassed to read their own spending bill, Dems have agreed to a short-term CR, funding government at current levels without earmarks.

Thanks to the Republican appropriators who stood up against this pork-filled omnibus bill.

And most of all thanks to all of you who spoke up, called your senator and demanded an end to reckless big spending Washington!

Keep the pressure up! Reid still trying to ram through flawed START Treaty, DREAM Act amnesty, & DADT repeal.

McCain's Thursday Earmarks - More little Piggies

How much in earmarks did “anti-earmark” GOP senators request? Hutchison: $140M. Ensign: nearly $100M. Snowe: 44 separate ones.

 THE ONLY THING I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY McCAIN DOESN"T INCLUDE WHICH SENATOR DID THIS AND WHAT PARTY..........
Getting a late start, but here is Thursday's Top To 10 Pork List:
#10. $1,000,000 for a Hawaii Seafood Program in Honolulu
#9. $400,000 for a National Textile Center at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY
#8. $500,000 for (another?!) National Textile Center Research at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC
#7 $1,000,000 4 Textile Research Program @ the Textile/Clothing Technology Corp in NC-guess the textile lobbyists earned their $ this year!
#6. $300,000 for a museum of farming in Urbandale, IA
#5. $1,000,000 for a sewer pipe in North Pole, AK - population a grand total of 1,700, does that include Santa's workshop?
#4 $1,000,000 for improvements to a pond in Maplewood, MN – those are some lucky frogs… 
 

Frog Song

Frog Song from Liam Lynch's podcast

#3 $250,000 for a ceramics museum in Biloxi, MS - a coffee mug for everyone!
#2. $1,000,000 for a “weather camera installation” in Hawaii. Not the camera…just the installation!
and the #1 Thursday pork project is...

#1. $2,000,000 million for ferry boats & terminal facilities at Port Lions, Alaska (population 237). The Ferry to Nowhere.

Graham Discusses Omnibus on Greta Van Susteren

Senator Lindsey Graham appeared on Fox News "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren to discuss his lack of support for the omnibus bill.

Happy Birthday Tea Party 1773

Happy Birthday TeaParty! You look great at 237 years young...here's to a healthy 237 more! A little birthday reading:

"Once vigorous measures appear to be the only means left to bringing the Americans to a due submission to the mother country, the colonies will submit." -King George III

On May 10, 1773, the British parliament authorized the East India Co., which faced bankruptcy due to corruption and mismanagement, to export a half a million pounds of tea to the American colonies for the purpose of selling it without imposing upon the company the usual duties and tariffs. With these privileges, the company could undersell American merchants and monopolize the colonial tea trade. Not only did this action create an unfair commerce to the merchants of the colonies but it proved to be the spark that revived American passions about the issue of taxation without representation. To fully understand the resentment of the colonies to Great Britain and King George III, one must understand that this was not the first time that the colonists were treated unfairly. In previous years, the 13 colonies saw a number of commercial tariffs including the Sugar Act of 1764, which taxed sugar, coffee, and wine, the Stamp Act of 1765, which put a tax on all printed matter, such as newspapers and playing cards, and the Townshend Acts of 1767 which placed taxes on items like glass, paints, paper, and tea. The Tea Act of 1773 was the last straw.

"If our trade be taxed, why not our lands, in short, everything we posses? They tax us without having legal representation." -Samuel Adams

Three ships from London, the Dartmouth, the Eleanorand the Beaver, sailed into Boston Harbor from November 28th to December 8, 1773. Loaded with tea from the East India Company, they were all anchored at Griffin’s Wharf but were prevented from unloading their cargo. Fearing that the tea would be seized for failure to pay customs duties, and eventually become available for sale, something had to be done. Demanding that the tea be returned to where it came from or face retribution, the Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams began to meet to determine the fate of the three cargo ships in the Boston harbor.

On the cold evening of December 16, 1773, a large band of patriots, disguised as Mohawk Indians, burst from the South Meeting House with the spirit of freedom burning in their eyes. The patriots headed towards Griffin's Wharf and the three ships. Quickly, quietly, and in an orderly manner, the Sons of Liberty boarded each of the tea ships. Once on board, the patriots went to work striking the chests with axes and hatchets. Thousands of spectators watched in silence. Only the sounds of ax blades splitting wood rang out from Boston Harbor. Once the crates were open, the patriots dumped the tea into the sea.

The silence was broken only by the cry of "East Indian" as patriots caught Charles

O'Conner filling the lining of his coat with tea. George Hewes removed O'Connor's coat, threatened him with death if he revealed the identity of any man present, and sent him scurrying out of town. The patriots worked feverishly, fearing an attack by Admiral Montague at any moment. By nine o'clock p.m., the Sons of Liberty had emptied a total of 342 crates of tea into Boston Harbor. Fearing any connection to their treasonous deed, the patriots took off their shoes and shook them overboard. They swept the ships' decks, and made each ship's first mate attest that only the tea was damaged.

When all was through, Lendall Pitts led the patriots from the wharf, tomahawks and axes resting on their shoulders. A fife played as they marched past the home where British Admiral Montague had been spying on their work. Montague yelled as they past, "Well boys, you have had a fine, pleasant evening for your Indian caper, haven't you? But mind, you have got to pay the fiddler yet!"

Montague's words were to be an omen for the patriots. The party was indeed over for Boston.

VIDEO: Newt Urges GOP To Filibuster Omnibus Bill

by Jason Mattera

12/16/2010

If Congress fails to pass a spending bill before Sunday, all non-essential portions of the federal government are effectively “shutdown.”  Regardless, Newt Gingrich tells HUMAN EVENTS that Republicans must filibuster the Omnibus bill and not allow it to move in the Senate.

Republicans should offer to pass a “very clean, simple Continuing Resolution that keeps the government open.” The GOP shouldn’t budge, insists the former Speaker of the House. “This [past] election was in part over pork-barrel spending by earmarks” and the “Democrats are trying to behave as though the election didn’t occur.” 



As reported by HUMAN EVENTS, Harry Reid’s Omnibus behemoth has 6,714 earmarks in it, totaling $8.3 billion, which would fund “pork” projects including the production of virus-free wine grapes, the monitoring of aquatic invasive species in the Columbia River Basin, the building solar parking canopies, and the harvesting of salmon. 

Newt also favors the tax “compromise” arranged by Obama and GOP leaders, arguing that it's a necessary bridge to avoid further economic malaise.

“If taxes go up on Jan. 1, you’re going to have an enormous mess in this country, and we’re already at 9.8 percent unemployment. . . .

“Nobody should believe that a two-year extension of the current tax code is a stimulus. It’s a catastrophe avoidance; it’s a disaster avoidance, but it’s not a stimulus. In order to get this economy growing again, we need substantially more real permanent tax cuts that incentivize manufacturing, incentivize investment, [and] incentivize small business. Give people who create jobs a reason to go back out and create jobs.”

Compare and contrast:

GOP vs. Dems’ plans to keep government in business

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 16, 2010 11:58 AM

Scroll for updates…Senate Repubs to force full reading of Dems’ omnibus spending bill…

This is the Senate Republicans’ one-page joint resolution to keep the government funded through February 2011 (via GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell):

This is the Senate Democrats’ nearly 2,000-page omnibus spending spree:

DIVISION-FINAL -
DIVISION-FINAL

Take your pick.

***

Yes, finally. A GOP threat about to be fulfilled:

Republicans will paralyze the Senate floor for 50 hours by forcing clerks to read every single paragraph of the 1,924-page, $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill.

Senate clerks are expected to read the massive bill in rotating shifts around the clock — taking breaks to drink water and pop throat lozenges — to keep legislative business on track, according to a Democratic leadership aide.

The bill is so long that it took the Government Printing Office two days to print it.

The Senate is currently debating the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty. It is expected to take up the omnibus spending bill on a separate and parallel track later Thursday.

If Republicans follow through on their threat, legislative business couldn’t resume until late Saturday in order to give the staff enough time to read the bill aloud, according to a Democratic leadership estimate.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), the Senate Republican Steering Committee chairman, vowed not to back down.

McCain: Filibuster omnibus, even if it prompts government shutdown

By Michael O'Brien - 12/16/10 07:23 PM ET

McCain said he would filibuster the $1.1 trillion spending bill due to his concerns over the size of the legislation and earmarks.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) threatened on late Thursday a filibuster that, if successful, could threaten a government shutdown this weekend.

McCain said he would filibuster the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill pending in the Senate, due to his concerns over the size of the legislation, and the earmark projects contained within it. 

"The fact is, we should filibuster it, no matter if we shut down the government, because the American people have spoken," McCain said on CNBC.

Congress must authorize new spending to fund basic government operations by Saturday at midnight. Otherwise, the government will undergo a shutdown until funding is provided. 

Democrats had made fear of a government shutdown a key aspect of their campaign against Republicans during the fall campaign. The GOP, Democrats charged, would look to re-live the 1995 shutdown produced after a disagreement between President Clinton and then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). 

RELATED ARTICLES

• GOP swing-vote senators have $1.1B in requests

Republicans who are mindful of the negative political fallout they suffered due to that shutdown have repeatedly denied interest in a similar showdown with President Obama. 

“I don’t think this country is desirous of seeing a government that is shut down,” incoming House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said shortly before the election. “People want to see a government that does what people expect it to do, which is to limit it in scope and reduce spending.”

McCain's threat is the latest move in an ongoing game of brinksmanship between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. The GOP prefers a so-called "continuing resolution" that would extend funding at current levels for two months. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) introduced a one-page bill to accomplish just that earlier on Thursday. 

McCain said that a continuing resolution would be a satisfactory outcome that would force him off of his filibuster threat. He noted, though, that at least 41 senators would have to join together to support his effort -- and some Republicans might not. 

If the GOP were to filibuster, McCain said he expected voters to understand. 

"The American people i think will understand that all we have to do is pass this continuing resolution," he said.

Supreme Court: Scalia Will Teach Bachmann's Conservative Caucus Seminar

Jillian Rayfield | December 16, 2010, 11:59AM

A spokesman for the Supreme Court has confirmed that Justice Antonin Scalia will be teaching the kick-off class for Rep. Michele Bachmann's Constitutional Conservative Caucus.

Supreme Court spokesman Kathy Arberg toldPolitico that "Justice Scalia accepted an invitation from Rep. Bachmann to be a guest speaker at a constitutional seminar for members of Congress."

"He will discuss Separation of Powers," she said.

Bachmann has been talking up her plans for a weekly refresher course on the Constitution, to be offered to her new caucus -- different from her Tea Party Caucus -- and any other House members who would like to attend. She explained: "We're going to do what the NFL does and what the baseball teams do: we're going to practice every week, if you will, our craft, which is studying and learning the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights."

In addition to Scalia, Bachmann said she hopes to enlist Justice Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts to teach seminars, as well as conservative mainstays like evangelical historian David Barton.

The Bill of Rights

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the 

time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in 

order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that 

further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: 

And as extending the ground of public confidence in the 

Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its 

institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

The Bill of Rights: A Transcription

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."

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Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

---

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

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Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

---

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

---

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

---

Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

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Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

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Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

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Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The Constitution: Amendments 11-27

Constitutional Amendments 1-10 make up what is known as The Bill of Rights.
Amendments 11-27 are listed below.

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AMENDMENT XI

Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.

Note: Article III, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 11.

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

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AMENDMENT XII

Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804.

Note: A portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th amendment.

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate; -- the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. --]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

*Superseded by section 3 of the 20th amendment.

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AMENDMENT XIII

Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.

Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.

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.

---

AMENDMENT XIV

Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.

Note: Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th amendment.

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 the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

*Changed by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

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AMENDMENT XV

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

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.

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AMENDMENT XVI

Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.

Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16.

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.

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AMENDMENT XVII

Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.

Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.

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.

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AMENDMENT XVIII

Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Repealed by amendment 21.

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.

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AMENDMENT XIX

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.

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.

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AMENDMENT XX

Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.

Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3.

Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d 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 3d 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 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.

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AMENDMENT XXI

Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.

Section 1.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

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AMENDMENT XXII

Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951.

Section 1.
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2.
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 to the States by the Congress.

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AMENDMENT XXIII

Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.

Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

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AMENDMENT XXIV

Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

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 poll tax or other tax.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

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AMENDMENT XXV

Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.

Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.

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.

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AMENDMENT XXVI

Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.

Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

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 power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

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AMENDMENT XXVII

Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.