Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865. The 13th Amendment changed a portion of Article IV, Section 2
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.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Explore key historical documents that inspired the Framers of the Constitution and each amendment during the drafting process, the early drafts and major proposals behind each provision, and discover how the drafters deliberated, agreed and disagreed, on the path to compromise and the final text.
Teach the Constitution in your classroom with nonpartisan resources including videos, lesson plans, podcasts, and more. Check out our classroom resources organized by each article or amendment, and by key constitutional questions.
Authors and experts join a Town Hall for a discussion on what made Marshall, Harlan, and other influential Supreme Court justices.
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery on September 3, 1838, aided by a disguise and job skills he had learned while forced to…
In this Friday session, Judge Theodore McKee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit joins National Constitution Center…
The Interactive Constitution is available as a free app on your mobile device.
Find out about upcoming programs, exhibits, and educational initiatives on the National Constitution Center’s website.
The National Constitution is a private nonprofit. Please support our educational mission of increasing awareness and understanding of the U.S. Constitution.
