The failed amendments
Throughout the history of the constitution, 27 changes have been made through the amendment
Process, amendments are not easy to pass and several amendments have been proposed over time
but which failed to pass the second hurdle acceptance by the states
Some because of the language of the bill that passed. The Congress have no expiration date and are still pending ratification
Others have built in expiration dates
the text details which of the amendments are expired. The failed amendments
Article one of the original bill of rights. This amendment proposed in 1789 dealt with a number of persons represented by each member of the
house and the number of members of the house
It essentially said that once the house hit 100 members it should not go below 100 and once it reached 200
it should not go below 200
Since there are over 400 members today, this amendment would be de facto today
It is however, still outstanding
Congressional research shows that the amendment was ratified by 10 states, the last being in 1791
The text
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the constitution
There shall be one representative for every 30,000 until the number shall amount to 100 after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress
that there shall be not less than 100 representatives, nor less than one representative for every 40,000 persons until the number of representatives shall amount
to 200 after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress
That there shall not be less than 200 representatives nor more than one representative for every 50,000 persons
The anti title amendment
This amendment submitted to the states in the 11th Congress in 1810 said that any citizen who accepted or received any title of nobility from
a foreign power or who accepted without the consent of Congress any gift from a foreign power but would no longer be a citizen
There is some debate about whether this amendment was actually ratified or not
mostly by those who put forth the fanciful notion that if it had been most if not all legislators who are lawyers and who used
the title, esquire would no longer be citizens and hence no longer be able to serve in Congress
This amendment is still outstanding
Congressional research shows that the amendment was ratified by 12 states, the last being in 1812
The text
if any citizen of the United States shall accept claim, receive or retain any title of nobility or honor or shall without the consent of
Congress accept and retain any present pension office or emolument of any kind
whatever from any emperor, king, prince or foreign power. Such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States and shall be incapable
of holding any office of trust or profit under them or either of them
slavery Amendment
In 1861, an amendment prohibiting the Congress from making any law interfering with the domestic institutions of any state slavery being specifically mentioned
was proposed and sent to the states
This amendment is still outstanding
Congressional research shows that the amendment was ratified by two states, the last being in 1862
This amendment is also known as the Corwin Amendment as it was proposed by Ohio representative thomas Corwin
The text
no amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere with in any state
with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held the labor or service by the laws of said state
The child labor amendment
In 1926, an amendment was proposed which granted Congress the power to regulate the labor of Children under the age of 18
This amendment is still outstanding. Having been ratified by 28 states
Ratification by 38 states is required to add an amendment
Congressional research shows that the amendment was ratified by 28 states. The last being in 1937
The text
Section one. The Congress shall have power to limit, regulate and prohibit the labor of persons under 18 years of age
Section two, the power of the several states is unimpaired by this article except that the operation of state laws shall be suspended to the
extent necessary to give effect to legislation enacted by the Congress
The equal rights amendment E. R. A
The er is first section States Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any
State on account of sex
It was intended to place into law the equality of men and women
It was sent to the states in March 1972
The original seven year deadline was extended to 10 years
It expired unratified in 1982
The text
Section one. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of
sex
Section two The Congress shall have the power to enforce by appropriate legislation
The provisions of this article
Section three This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification
The Washington D. C. Voting rights amendment
granted the citizens of Washington D. C. The same full representation in Congress as any state and repealed the 23rd Amendment granting the district votes
in the Electoral College. Since it would have been moved
Proposed in 1978. It expired unratified in 1985. The text
section one for purposes of representation in the Congress, election of the President and Vice President
An article V. Of this constitution the district constituting the seat of government of the United States shall be treated as though it were a
state
Section two. The exercise of the rights and powers conferred under this article shall be by the people of the district constituting the seat of
government and as shall be provided by the Congress
Section 3. 23rd article of amendment to the constitution of the United States is hereby repealed
Section four. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the constitution by the legislatures of 3/4 of
the several states within seven years from the date of its submission