19th amendment - Definition and Overview

Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

Amendment XIX (the Nineteenth Amendment) to the United States Constitution was passed by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress on June 4, 1919, and was ratified by the last state necessary on August 18, 1920. The Secretary of State certified the ratification on August 26, 1920. It granted women the right to vote. It reads:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

On February 27, 1922, a challenge to the 19th Amendment was rebuffed by the Supreme Court of the United States.

See also

• Women's suffrage
• Feminism

External link

• National Archives: 19th Amendment (http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html#19)