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Federal Constitution, Sources for Analysis and Interpretation: 11th & 12 Amendments

A guide to resources to better understand the federal Constitution

11th Amendment Primary Sources

Annals of Congress:  The Annals of Congress, originally titled The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States are a retroactive publication of congressional debate in the First Congress to the Eighteenth Congress, spanning the years from 1789 to 1824.  Published between 1834-1856, the Annals are not a verbatim record of congressional speeches and discussions, but paraphrased accounts from available sources.  Use the appropriate timeline to locate relevant text.

11th Amendment Books

12th Amendment Books

11th Amendment's Passage Timeline

  • January 14, 1794: Proposed and passed in Senate.
  • March 14, 1794: Passed in House.
  • February 7, 1795: Ratified by states.

Curiously, official notification of ratification by the President, then John Adams, to Congress did not occur until January 8, 1798.

12th Amendment's Passage Timeline

  • October 1803: House committee considers amendment.
  • October 28, 1803: Passed in House
  • December 2, 1803: Amended version passed in Senate.
  • December 9, 1803: Senate version passed in House.
  • June 15, 1804: Ratified by the states.