27 Amendment Meaning

 Purpose: The modification forbids any legislation that alters the salary for members of Congress from becoming effective until after the subsequent election of Representatives has taken place. This seeks to avert Congress from awarding itself immediate salary increases without responsibility to voters. Historical Context: Initially suggested by James Madison in 1789 as part of a collection of twelve amendments, it was not ratified at that time. Only ten of the amendments were confirmed in 1791, becoming recognized as the Bill of Rights.

15 Amendment Meaning

 Prohibition of Voting Discrimination: The amendment explicitly states that the right to vote cannot be denied or abridged by the United States or any state based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This means that African American men, who were previously enslaved, were granted the legal right to vote.

Enforcement Clause: The amendment also grants Congress the power to enforce its provisions through appropriate legislation. This has allowed for subsequent laws aimed at protecting voting rights, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Impact and Limitations: While it legally enfranchised African American men, various discriminatory practices like literacy tests and poll taxes emerged in many states, particularly in the South, effectively disenfranchising many Black voters until later civil rights advancements.