We think of ratification of amendments to the Constitution as a lengthy process, but of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, ten were ratified in less than a year and a half (less than 548 days). <\/p>
This wasn’t only true when the US was relatively small: the last “fast-tracked” amendment was ratified as recently as January 1964.<\/p>
12th Amendment (Electors are directed to vote for a President and for a Vice President rather than for two choices for President), approved in Congress on December 9, 1803, and ratified on June 15, 1804 (189 days)<\/p>
13th Amendment (slavery or involuntary servitude prohibited), proposed on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865 (309 days).<\/p>
15th Amendment (a person’s race, color, or prior history as a slave could not be used to bar that person from voting): the Congress passed the amendment on February 26, 1869, and it was ratified on February 3, 1870 (342 days).<\/p>
17th Amendment (election of Senators by voters rather than state legislatures): passed by Congress on May 13, 1912, and was ratified on April 8, 1913 (330 days).<\/p>
18th Amendment (Prohibition): passed by Congress on December 18, 1917, ratified on January 16, 1919 (394 days).<\/p>
19th Amendment (women’s sufferage): passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, ratified on August 18, 1920 (441 days).<\/p>
20th Amendment (shortens the time frame between federal elections and inauguration; stipulates that if a President-elect dies before inauguration, the Vice President-elect becomes President): passed by Congress on March 2, 1932, and was ratified by the states on January 23, 1933 (327 days).<\/p>
21st Amendment (repeal of Prohibition): passed by Congress on February 20, 1933 and was ratified on December 5, 1933 (288 days).<\/p>
23rd Amendment (gives voters in Washington DC the right to elect a President and Vice-President): The Congress passed the amendment on June 17, 1960; the amendment was ratified on March 29, 1961 (285 days).<\/p>
24th Amendment (made it illegal to impose a poll tax): passed by Congress on August 27, 1962, ratified on January 23, 1964 (514 days).<\/p>
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