The Eleventh Amendment

The Text

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

What It Says

Federal courts cannot hear suits brought against a state by citizens of another state or by foreign citizens.

What It Protects Against

Nothing on the citizen’s side. This amendment protects state governments from suit, and it was passed specifically to overturn a Supreme Court decision the states did not accept.

Protocol Media reading. Not sourced to a ratification-era document.

Problem Addressed

In Chisholm v. Georgia in 1793 the Supreme Court held that a citizen of one state could sue another state in federal court. The states reacted by amending the Constitution to reverse the ruling.