Political Lens
Civic Basics

Constitution · Chapter 01

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

The United States Constitution has 27 amendments.

Plain English

What it actually means

An amendment is a formal change or addition to the Constitution. Once an amendment is ratified, it becomes part of the Constitution and has the same legal force as the original text.

The first 10 amendments were ratified together in 1791 and are known as the Bill of Rights. They cover protections like freedom of speech and religion, the right to a fair trial, and limits on government power.

The remaining 17 amendments were ratified between 1795 and 1992. They cover a wide range of changes — from abolishing slavery (13th) and guaranteeing women the right to vote (19th), to setting term limits for the President (22nd) and adjusting Congressional pay (27th).

Amending the Constitution is intentionally difficult: a proposed amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress (or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures) and then ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Why this matters when voting

Many candidates — for Congress, state legislature, even local boards — campaign on issues that touch constitutional rights. Knowing which amendments exist (and how hard they are to change) helps you understand what a candidate can realistically do if elected.

Common questions

Follow-up questions

What is the Bill of Rights?
The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. They were ratified in 1791 and protect individual rights and liberties from government interference.
When was the most recent amendment ratified?
The 27th Amendment was ratified in 1992. It says that any change to Congressional pay does not take effect until after the next election for the House of Representatives.
Can the Constitution be amended by a popular vote?
No. The U.S. Constitution can only be amended through the formal process in Article V, which requires action by Congress (or a convention of states) followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Last updated May 10, 2026. Civic Basics chapters cite official .gov sources where possible and are reviewed for neutrality.

Next chapter

What are the three branches of government?

Read next