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The 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime after conviction. It gives Congress the power to enforce this ban through legislation.

1865

The year this amendment was ratified in.

What is a constitutional amendment?

A constitutional amendment alters the Constitution of the United States by striking or inserting new language. The Constitution establishes the structure, powers, and responsibilities of the federal government. It has been formally amended 27 times.

The constitutional amendment process is as follows:

Step 1

Two-thirds vote

An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures.

Step 2

Three-fourths ratification

Once proposed, the archivist of the United States submits the amendment to the states for consideration. It becomes part of the Constitution once it is ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Full text of 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."

When did the states ratify the 13th Amendment?

Congress proposed this amendment on February 1, 1865. Ratification was completed on December 6, 1865, when the 27th state, Georgia, approved the amendment, with 36 states in the Union at the time. Illinois was the first state to approve, zero days after the amendment was proposed. Mississippi was the last state to approve, 47,500 days after the amendment was proposed.

Georgia completed ratification of the 13th Amendment.

Date of ratification by state, 13th Amendment

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How has the 13th Amendment shaped Supreme Court rulings?

The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, which is the authority to declare that federal or state government actions violate the Constitution. This power shows how individual amendments can have a lasting impact on how laws are interpreted and applied.

Under judicial review, there have been six cases where the Court struck down laws as unconstitutional using the 13th Amendment.

Supreme Court cases invoking this amendment

Cases, 1798–2021

Supreme Court cases invoking this amendment
CaseYear

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USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.