Constitution of the United States of America: Amendment XV
Ratified: February 3, 1870
This post is the latest of a series in which we share the verbatim text of the U.S. Code, a codification of all acts of the United States Congress. The Code starts with America’s “organic laws,” which provide the foundation for the government of the United States of America. The fourth of these documents is the Constitution itself, which has 4 parts: the Preamble, 7 Articles, the ratified amendments, and the proposed amendments.
ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURES OF THE SEVERAL STATES, PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE XV
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.
