The constitution

  The 20th Amendment changed the dates when the president, vice president, and members of Congress take office. It moved the start of presidential terms to January 20 and congressional terms to January 3. This was done to shorten the “lame-duck” period—the time when outgoing officials are still in power after an election—so the new leaders can begin working sooner.

  The 19th Amendment guarantees that the right to vote cannot be denied based on sex, giving women the right to vote. It was ratified in 1920 after many years of activism and protests by the women’s suffrage movement. This amendment was a major step toward gender equality, although it still took time for all women—especially women of color—to fully gain access to voting rights in practice.

  The 18th Amendment made it illegal to produce, sell, and transport alcohol in the United States. It started the period known as Prohibition in 1920, but it led to problems like illegal alcohol sales and crime, so it was later repealed by the 21st Amendment.

  The 17th Amendment established that U.S. senators are elected directly by the people, instead of being chosen by state legislatures. It was passed in 1913 to make the government more democratic and give citizens a stronger voice in choosing their representatives.

  The 16th Amendment gives the federal government the power to collect an income tax from individuals and businesses. It was passed in 1913 and allows the government to fund things like public services, the military, and infrastructure based on people’s earnings.

  The 15th Amendment says the right to vote can’t be denied based on race or color. It was an important step toward equality after the Civil War, especially for formerly enslaved people. However, many states found ways around it at first, so it took later laws to truly protect voting rights.