Fifteenth Amendment

Right to Vote Not Denied by Race

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870

Section 1

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 race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Section 2

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

Interpretations & Debate

Read scholarly interpretations of the Fifteenth Amendment from the National Constitution Center, where constitutional scholars across the political spectrum debate its meaning and application.

Source

Adapted from the National Constitution Center, which provides the canonical text and scholarly interpretations of the Fifteenth Amendment.