11th Amendment

Definition

The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution limits the ability of individuals to sue states in federal court, establishing state sovereign immunity. It is a crucial element in the balance of power between the federal government and the states.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The 11th Amendment was ratified in 1795, overturning the Supreme Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia, which had allowed a citizen of one state to sue another state in federal court.
2. The 11th Amendment establishes that federal courts do not have jurisdiction over suits brought against a state by citizens of another state or by citizens or subjects of a foreign state.
3. The 11th Amendment has been interpreted to apply to suits against a state by its own citizens, effectively shielding states from most lawsuits in federal court.
4. The 11th Amendment is a key aspect of state sovereignty and the balance of power between the federal government and the states.
5. The Supreme Court has ruled that the 11th Amendment does not apply to suits brought by the federal government or by other states against a state.

Review Questions

• Explain how the 11th Amendment impacts the Supreme Court's judicial decision-making and the implementation of its rulings.
  • The 11th Amendment limits the ability of the Supreme Court to hear cases where individuals sue states in federal court. This establishes state sovereign immunity, which the Court has upheld and expanded over time. As a result, the Court's rulings and the implementation of its decisions are constrained by the 11th Amendment, as the federal judiciary cannot directly compel states to comply with its judgments in cases where the states assert their immunity.
• Describe how the 11th Amendment relates to the concept of state power and delegation within the American federal system.
  • The 11th Amendment reinforces the principle of state sovereignty by shielding states from most lawsuits in federal court. This grants states a significant degree of autonomy and power within the federal system, as it limits the federal government's ability to override state decisions or actions through the courts. The 11th Amendment is a key component of the balance of power between the states and the federal government, preserving the states' ability to govern their own affairs without undue interference from the national judiciary.
• Analyze how the 11th Amendment's establishment of state sovereign immunity has impacted the relationship between the federal government and the states over time.
  • The 11th Amendment's protection of state sovereign immunity has shaped the ongoing power dynamic between the federal government and the states. By limiting the federal courts' jurisdiction over suits against states, the 11th Amendment has reinforced the states' status as semi-autonomous entities within the federal system. This has led to tensions and negotiations between the states and the federal government, as the states seek to preserve their autonomy while the federal government attempts to assert its authority. The 11th Amendment has been a key factor in the evolving federalist balance, with the Supreme Court's interpretations of the amendment playing a central role in defining the boundaries of state and federal power.

Related terms

Sovereign Immunity: The legal doctrine that prevents a state from being sued without its consent, protecting the state's status as a sovereign entity.

Federalism:

The division of power between the federal government and the state governments, with each having their own spheres of authority.

Judicial Review:

The power of the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, to review the actions of the legislative and executive branches and determine their constitutionality.