Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution

The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on February 7, 1795. It was introduced in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), which held that states did not enjoy sovereign immunity from lawsuits filed by citizens of other states in federal courts. This amendment was designed to address concerns that such lawsuits could undermine the sovereignty of the states and potentially lead to their financial ruin.

Text

The text of the Eleventh Amendment is as follows:

"The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State."

Background

The immediate cause for the amendment was the Supreme Court case Chisholm v. Georgia. In this case, the Court ruled that the state of Georgia could be sued in federal court by a citizen of another state. This decision was controversial because it implied that federal courts had the authority to hear cases against states without their consent, potentially subjecting them to the control of federal authorities and threatening their sovereignty.

Ratification

The Eleventh Amendment was quickly ratified by the states in response to the Chisholm decision. It effectively overturned this decision by making it clear that states could not be sued by individuals from another state or country in federal court, thus restoring the principle of state sovereign immunity.

Interpretation and Impact

Over the years, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Eleventh Amendment to provide broad immunity to states from most types of legal claims in federal court. This includes not only suits by citizens of other states but also suits by a state's own citizens. However, there are exceptions to this immunity, such as when a state consents to be sued or when Congress lawfully abrogates that immunity under certain federal laws.

The Eleventh Amendment has had a significant impact on the balance of power between the federal government and the states, and on the rights of individuals to seek redress against states. It has been a central element in debates over federalism and the limits of federal judicial power.

See Also

• United States Constitution
• Sovereign immunity
• Federalism in the United States
• Chisholm v. Georgia
• Supreme Court of the United States