---
title: "Eleventh Amendment — AP Gov Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "The Eleventh Amendment (1795) gives states sovereign immunity from lawsuits in federal court. See how it connects to federalism and Unit 3 of AP Gov."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms/eleventh-amendment"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP US Government"
unit: "Unit 3"
---

# Eleventh Amendment — AP Gov Definition & Exam Guide

## Definition

The Eleventh Amendment (ratified 1795) bars federal courts from hearing lawsuits brought against a state by citizens of another state or a foreign country, establishing state sovereign immunity and overturning the Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793).

## What It Is

The Eleventh Amendment says you generally can't sue a state government in federal court if you're a citizen of a different state or another country. The legal idea behind it is **sovereign immunity**, the old principle that a government can't be dragged into court without its consent.

Here's the backstory. In *Chisholm v. Georgia* (1793), the [Supreme Court](/ap-gov/key-terms/supreme-court "fv-autolink") let a South Carolina citizen sue the state of Georgia in federal court. States were furious, and Congress and the states responded fast. The Eleventh Amendment was ratified in 1795, making it the first constitutional amendment ever passed to overturn a Supreme Court decision. That's the part worth remembering for [AP Gov](/ap-gov "fv-autolink"). The amendment is a real-world example of how the amendment process can check the judiciary, and how states pushed back to protect their power early in the republic.

## Why It Matters

This term lives in **[Unit 3](/ap-gov/unit-3 "fv-autolink") (Civil Liberties and Civil Rights), Topic 3.6: Amendments**, which supports learning objective **AP Gov 3.6.A** on how the Supreme Court balances individual claims against government authority. The Eleventh Amendment is the flip side of most Unit 3 amendments. While the Bill of Rights protects individuals *from* government, the Eleventh Amendment protects state governments *from* individual lawsuits. That makes it a great federalism example too. When you need evidence that [the Constitution](/ap-gov/key-terms/the-constitution "fv-autolink") preserves state power, or that the amendment process can override the Court, this amendment does both jobs in one sentence.

## Connections

### Federalism and State Power (Unit 1)

Sovereign immunity is fundamentally a federalism issue. The Eleventh Amendment was the states telling the new national [judiciary](/ap-gov/key-terms/judiciary "fv-autolink") to back off, just two years after the Court ruled in Chisholm v. Georgia. It pairs naturally with the Tenth Amendment as evidence that states retain real constitutional protections.

### [Eighth Amendment (Unit 3)](/ap-gov/key-terms/eighth-amendment)

Both sit in Topic 3.6, but they pull in opposite directions. The [Eighth Amendment](/ap-gov/key-terms/eighth-amendment "fv-autolink") limits what government can do to individuals (cruel and unusual punishment), while the Eleventh limits what individuals can do to state governments in court. Seeing that contrast helps you understand that amendments don't all protect the same party.

### [Gideon v. Wainwright (Unit 3)](/ap-gov/key-terms/gideon-v-wainwright)

Gideon shows the [federal courts](/ap-gov/key-terms/federal-courts "fv-autolink") forcing states to respect individual rights through selective incorporation. The Eleventh Amendment is the counterweight, a constitutional shield that keeps states out of federal court in many private lawsuits. Together they map the push and pull between federal judicial power and state autonomy.

### Fifteenth and Nineteenth Amendments (Unit 3)

These amendments expanded [individual rights](/ap-gov/key-terms/individual-rights "fv-autolink") (voting rights by race and sex), while the Eleventh expanded government immunity. Comparing them shows the amendment process working in two directions, sometimes empowering people and sometimes empowering states.

## On the AP Exam

The Eleventh Amendment is a low-frequency term on the AP Gov exam. No released FRQ has asked about it directly, and it isn't one of the required Supreme Court cases or foundational documents. Where it earns its keep is as supporting evidence. In an Argument Essay on federalism or judicial power, citing the Eleventh Amendment (and the fact that it overturned Chisholm v. Georgia in 1795) is concrete, specific evidence that the amendment process checks the Supreme Court and protects state sovereignty. A multiple-choice question could also use it in a stem about checks on the judiciary or about which amendments protect states rather than individuals. Know the one-line definition, the Chisholm backstory, and the phrase "sovereign immunity," and you're covered.

## Eleventh Amendment vs Tenth Amendment

Both protect state power, so they blur together. The Tenth Amendment is about reserved powers, meaning powers not given to the federal government belong to the states. The Eleventh Amendment is about courtrooms, meaning states can't be sued in federal court by out-of-state citizens. Quick check: if the question is about policy authority, think Tenth; if it's about lawsuits and sovereign immunity, think Eleventh.

## Key Takeaways

- The Eleventh Amendment (1795) prevents federal courts from hearing lawsuits against a state brought by citizens of another state or a foreign country.
- It was the first amendment ever ratified to overturn a Supreme Court decision, reversing Chisholm v. Georgia (1793).
- The amendment is the constitutional foundation of state sovereign immunity, the idea that a state can't be sued without its consent.
- Unlike most Unit 3 amendments, it protects governments from individuals rather than individuals from government.
- On the exam, use it as evidence that the amendment process can check the judiciary and that the Constitution preserves state power.
- It belongs to Topic 3.6 (Amendments) in Unit 3 and supports learning objective AP Gov 3.6.A.

## FAQs

### What is the Eleventh Amendment in simple terms?

It says a state government generally can't be sued in federal court by a citizen of another state or a foreign country. Ratified in 1795, it established the principle of state sovereign immunity.

### Does the Eleventh Amendment mean states can never be sued?

No. States can consent to lawsuits, Congress can sometimes authorize suits under later amendments, and individuals can often sue state officials rather than the state itself. The amendment limits federal lawsuits against states; it doesn't make states untouchable.

### How is the Eleventh Amendment different from the Tenth Amendment?

The Tenth Amendment reserves unlisted powers to the states; the Eleventh Amendment shields states from certain lawsuits in federal court. Tenth is about policy power, Eleventh is about sovereign immunity in court.

### Why was the Eleventh Amendment passed?

It was a direct response to Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), where the Supreme Court allowed a South Carolina citizen to sue Georgia in federal court. States saw that as a threat to their sovereignty and ratified the amendment by 1795 to overturn the ruling.

### Is the Eleventh Amendment on the AP Gov exam?

It's not a required document or case, so don't expect a whole FRQ on it. It's most useful as specific evidence in federalism or judicial-checks arguments, since it's a real example of an amendment overturning a Supreme Court decision.

## Related Study Guides

- [3.6 Amendments: Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order and Safety](/ap-gov/unit-3/amendments-balancing-individual-freedom-with-public-order-safety/study-guide/WYgvYdKXvwZ7Ygu6rWXk)

## Structured Data

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"LearningResource","@id":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms/eleventh-amendment#resource","name":"Eleventh Amendment — AP Gov Definition & Exam Guide","url":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms/eleventh-amendment","learningResourceType":"Concept explainer","educationalLevel":"AP® / High School","about":{"@id":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms/eleventh-amendment#term"},"audience":{"@type":"EducationalAudience","educationalRole":"student"},"dateModified":"2026-06-11T05:53:07.395Z","isPartOf":{"@type":"Collection","name":"AP US Government Key Terms","url":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Fiveable","url":"https://fiveable.me"}},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","@id":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms/eleventh-amendment#term","name":"Eleventh Amendment","description":"The Eleventh Amendment (ratified 1795) bars federal courts from hearing lawsuits brought against a state by citizens of another state or a foreign country, establishing state sovereign immunity and overturning the Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793).","url":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms/eleventh-amendment","inDefinedTermSet":{"@type":"DefinedTermSet","name":"AP US Government Key Terms","url":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the Eleventh Amendment in simple terms?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It says a state government generally can't be sued in federal court by a citizen of another state or a foreign country. Ratified in 1795, it established the principle of state sovereign immunity."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does the Eleventh Amendment mean states can never be sued?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. States can consent to lawsuits, Congress can sometimes authorize suits under later amendments, and individuals can often sue state officials rather than the state itself. The amendment limits federal lawsuits against states; it doesn't make states untouchable."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How is the Eleventh Amendment different from the Tenth Amendment?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Tenth Amendment reserves unlisted powers to the states; the Eleventh Amendment shields states from certain lawsuits in federal court. Tenth is about policy power, Eleventh is about sovereign immunity in court."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why was the Eleventh Amendment passed?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It was a direct response to Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), where the Supreme Court allowed a South Carolina citizen to sue Georgia in federal court. States saw that as a threat to their sovereignty and ratified the amendment by 1795 to overturn the ruling."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is the Eleventh Amendment on the AP Gov exam?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It's not a required document or case, so don't expect a whole FRQ on it. It's most useful as specific evidence in federalism or judicial-checks arguments, since it's a real example of an amendment overturning a Supreme Court decision."}}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"AP US Government","item":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Key Terms","item":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/key-terms"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Unit 3","item":"https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/unit-3"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Eleventh Amendment"}]}]}
```