Appendix
Table 1.  The Possibility of Federalist Minority Amendment:
Decade by Decade

1790 1800 1810 1820 1830
1840 1850 1860 1870 1880
1890 1900 1910 1920 1930
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980

The following table contains population data from each census from the first in 1790 to the most recent in l980. For each census year, I have listed the states in descending order by population size and shortened the names of the states to the current two-letter postal abbreviations. The population for each state is rounded off to the nearest thousand. When two or more states had the same rounded population in the same year, I have listed them in alphabetical order by their full names.

For each census year I have included only those states that were eligible to vote on constitutional amendments as of the beginning of that census year, although the census bureau often collected population figures for territories and dependencies ineligible to vote. This arrengement should help to highlight the crucial threshold of three-fourths of the states needed to amend; the list shown for each decade contains the total number of states from which the three-fourths would be calculated. The list does not include the District of Columbia because it has never been eligible to ratify amendments. A state becomes eligible to vote on amendments as soon as it is formally admitted to the Union; the number of states needed for ratification is increased if necessary at the same time.

At the top of each list, before the list of states begins, I have indicated how many states were then eligible to ratify amendments, and the number of states needed to meet the three-fourths requirement.

At the bottom of each list I have indicated the "total" population for that census year. This total is merely the sum of the state figures listed above it; it does not include the citizens of the District of Columbia, the citizens of the territories, or the Americans residing abroad. Curiously, although more complete totals are available for each census year, no totals are available that are published for each census year and calculated on the same basis for each census year.

The letter "M" stands for the "most" populous three-fourths of the states, and "L" for the "least" populous three-fourths of the states. The states comprising M and L are indicated by signs to the left of the respective threshold states in the lists themselves. I have calculated and noted the populations represented by M and L at the bottom of each list, along with the percentages that M and L represent of the "total" population. Note that if uniform, complete totals were available, M and L would comprise even smaller percentages of the national population than are shown here. Hence, when my data show L as less than 50% of the national population, better data would only show it even smaller. We cannot determine whether the four times that L exceeds 50% would actually dip below 50% with better data.

At the bottom of each list I have also indicated which of the twenty-six adopted, and six defeated, amendments were proposed and ratified in the decade beginning with that census. The "six defeated" amendments are those that were proposed by Congress with the requisite two-thirds votes of each house, but did not muster the requisite ratifying votes from three-fourths of the states. Of course, there have been thousands of proposals defeated at the congressional stage. I have given the dates of proposal and ratification for each adopted amendment, and the dates of proposal for the six defeated amendments. The date of proposal is the date the amendment was approved by Congress and sent to the states. The date of ratification is the day the Secretary of State or Administrator of General Services proclaimed the validity of the amendment. The defeated amendments, of course, have determinate dates of proposal, but they do not always have determinate dates of defeat. Only recently, since the eighteenth amendment, have we put a deadline for ratification into the texts of proposed amendments themselves. If the amendment contains no deadline, the rule seems to be that ratifications may continue for a "reasonable" time, when Congress is the judge of that reasonableness. Dillon v. Gloss, 256 U.S. 368 (1921).

At the bottom of each list I have also indicated which states were admitted to the Union in the decade beginning that year. By including these sub-lists on amendments and state admissions, I hope the reader will be able, without cross-checking from other tables, to determine which year's census data are most appropriate for calculating majority or minority support for a given amendment. Table 2 summarizes the data as they pertain to this question.

A summary of the data precedes the table. More complete summaries apear in the main text.

I have taken or derived all data data from census years prior to 1980 from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970, Volume I, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1975. Data from the 1980 census are taken or derived from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1981, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981. Finally, I have taken dates of the proposals and ratifications of amendments from the United States Constitution (proposals and ratifications) United States Code (1982).

Summary of Table 1

The least populous three-fourths of the states (called "L" in this Table) comprised less than half of the total national population in sixteen of the twenty census years. The four exceptions were 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1840. With a few dips and rises, the value of L (as a percentage) decreases steadily with time. The potential for a minority to amend the constitution by mustering the consent of three-fourths of the states first appeared in 1820, and has not disappeared since 1850.

1790  L = 56.74 %
1890  L = 48.08 %
1800  L = 50.86 % 1900  L = 43.68 %
1810  L = 52.29 % 1910  L = 46.95 %
1820  L = 49.60 % 1920  L = 43.88 %
1830  L = 46.84 % 1930  L = 41.80 %
1840  L = 50.19 % 1940  L = 41.97 %
1850  L = 49.26 % 1950  L = 41.21 %
1860  L = 48.40 % 1960  L = 40.43 %
1870  L = 46.09 % 1970  L = 39.87 %
1880  L = 49.64 % 1980  L = 41.12 %

The least populous 25 % + 1 of the states represents the smallest percentage of the national population that can veto an amendment. This can be calculated by subtracting from the national total the population of the most populous three-fourths of the states (called "M" in this Table) from the national total and then adding the population of the next most populous state; the ratio of the resulting number to the total national population at the time is the desired figure.

For purposes of this summary I have called the smallest percentage of the population that can veto an amendment "V". Note that V, as calculated by the algorithm above, will occasionally give a higher figure than the actual mimimum population sufficient to veto. When the total number of states in the Union is not evenly divisible by four, then the "three-fourths" of the states needed to amend will be the least number of states exceeding three-fourths. The number of states need to ratify will be rounded up rather than rounded down. When that happens, the complementary "one-fourth" of the states, rounded up, will suffice to veto, without the addition of another state. Hence, the figures below represent 25 % + 1 of the states, even though a mere 25 % has often sufficed to veto. Even though V as calculated may look low, one should realize that proper accounting for this round-off error would show it even lower for many census year.

1790  V = 13.32 %
1890  V = 4.88 %
1800  V = 11.03 % 1900  V = 4.58 %
1810  V = 12.ll % 1910  V = 5.11 %
1820  V = 6.17 % 1920  V = 5.04 %
1830  V = 8.70 % 1930  V = 4.74 %
1840  V = 8.29 % 1940  V = 4.69 %
1850  V = 6.89 % 1950  V = 4.69 %
1860  V = 6.87 % 1960  V = 4.09 %
1870  V = 5.87 % 1970  V = 4.07 %
1880  V = 5.79 % 1980  V = 4.34 %

1780

In 1780, there was no census and no constitution. Before the decade of the l780's was over, however, the constitutional convention was called on February 21, 1787, and it convened on May 25, 1787. Congress formally proposed the constitution written by the convention on September 28, 1787. Under article VII of the new Constitution, it was to be "established" when nine states had ratified it, which occurred with the vote of New Hampshire on June 21, 1788. The vote was eventually made unanimous, which, not incidentally was the requirement of the Articles of Confederation for its own amendment. The first 10 adopted amendments, the Bill of Rights, were proposed on September 25, l789. The original proposed Bill of Rights contained 12 amendments, but two were defeated by the states. One concerned the apprortionment of representatives, and the other wold have prevented Congressional salary increases from taking effect until after the next election of representatives.

Before the 1790 census, all thirteen of the original colonies, except Rhode Island, had become states of the United States of America. In their order of admission they were: Delaware (DE), 1st, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania (PA), 2d, December 12, 1787; New Jersey (NJ), 3d, December 18, 1787; Georgia (GA), 4th, January 2, 1788; Connecticut (CT), 5th, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts (MA), 6th, February 6, 1788; Maryland (MD), 7th, April 28, 1788; South Carolina (SC), 8th, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire (NH), 9th, June 21, 1788; Virgina (VA), 10th, June 26, 1788; New York (NY), 11th, July 26, 1788; and North Carolina (NC), 12th, November 21, 1789.

1790 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

12 states; 3/4 = 9

  1. VA  692
  2. PA  434
  3. NC  394
  4. MA  379  this and following = L
  5. NY  340
  6. MD  320
  7. SC  249
  8. CT  238
  9. NJ  184  this and preceding = M
  10. NH  142
  11. GA  83
  12. DE  59

Total = 3,514

M = 3,230 = 91.91 %

L = l,994 = 56.74 %

Ratification of the constitution became unanimous when Rhode Island voted to ratify on May 29, 1790. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, l791, when the eleventh (Virginia) of the then fourteen states voted to ratify. The eleventh amendment was proposed on March 4, 1794, and ratified on January 8, 1798.

The following states were admitted during this decade: Rhode Island (RI), 13th, May 29, 1790; Vermont (VT), 14th, March 4, 1791; Kentucky (KY), 15th, June 1, 1792; and Tennessee (TN), 16th, June 1, 1796.

1800 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

16 states; 3/4 = l2

  1. VA  808
  2. PA  602
  3. NY  589
  4. NC  478
  5. MA  423  this and following = L
  6. SC  346
  7. MD  342
  8. CT  251
  9. KY  221
  10. NJ  211
  11. NH  184
  12. GA  163  this and preceding = M
  13. VT  154
  14. TN  106
  15. RI  69
  16. DE  64

Total = 5,041

M = 4,648 = 92.20 %

L = 2,564 = 50.86 %

The Twelfth Amendment was proposed on December 9, l803, and ratified on September 25, 1804.

Ohio (OH) became the 17th state on March 1, 1803.

1810 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

17 states; 3/4 = 13

  1. NY  959
  2. VA  878
  3. PA  810
  4. NC  556
  5. MA  472  this and following = L
  6. SC  415
  7. KY  407
  8. MD  381
  9. CT  262
  10. TN  262
  11. GA  252
  12. NJ  246
  13. OH  231  this and preceding = M
  14. VT  218
  15. NH  214
  16. RI   77
  17. DE   73

Total = 6,713

M = 6,131 = 91.33 %

L = 3,510 = 52.29 %

The third amendment to be passed by Congress and defeated by the states (after the two in the original Bill of Rights) was proposed by the 11th Congress, 2d Session, between March of 1810 and March of 1811. It would have stripped persons of U.S. citizenship for accepting any title, present, or office from a foreign power without the consent of Congress.

The following states were admitted during this decade: Louisiana (LA), 18th, April 30, 1812; Indiana (IN), 19th, December 11, 1816; Mississippi (MS), 20th, December 10, 1817; Illinois (IL), 21st, December 3, 1818; and Alabama (AL), 22d, December 14, 1819.

1820 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

22 states; 3/4 = 17

  1. NY  1,373
  2. PA  1,049
  3. VA  938
  4. NC  639
  5. OH  581
  6. KY  564  this and following = L
  7. MA  523
  8. SC  503
  9. TN  423
  10. MD  407
  11. GA  341
  12. NJ  278
  13. CT  275
  14. NH  244
  15. VT  236
  16. LA  153
  17. IN  147  this and preceding = M
  18. AL  128
  19. RI  83
  20. MS  75
  21. DE  73
  22. IL  55

Total = 9,088

M = 8,674 = 95.44 %

L = 4,508 = 49.60 %

The following states were admitted this decade: Maine (ME), 23d, March 15, 1820; and Missouri (MO), 24th, August 10, 1821.

1830 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

24 states; 3/4 = 18

  1. NY  1,919
  2. PA  1,348
  3. VA  1,044
  4. OH  938
  5. NC  738
  6. KY  688
  7. TN  682  this and following = L
  8. MA  610
  9. SC  581
  10. GA  517
  11. MD  447
  12. ME  399
  13. IN  343
  14. NJ  321
  15. AL  310
  16. CT  298
  17. VT  281
  18. NH  269  this and preceding = M
  19. LA  216
  20. IL  157
  21. MO  140
  22. MS  137
  23. RI  97
  24. DE  77

Total = 12,557

M = 11,733 = 93.44 %

L = 5,882 = 46.84 %

The following states were admitted this decade: Arkansas (AR), 25th, June 15, 1836; and Michigan (MI), 26th, January 26, 1837.

1840 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

26 states; 3/4 = 20

  1. NY  2,429
  2. PA  1,724
  3. OH  1,519
  4. VA  1,025
  5. TN  829
  6. KY  780
  7. NC  753  this and following = L
  8. MA  738
  9. GA  691
  10. IN  686
  11. SC  594
  12. AL  591
  13. ME  502
  14. IL  476
  15. MD  470
  16. MO  384
  17. MS  376
  18. NJ  373
  19. LA  352
  20. CT  310  this and preceding = M
  21. VT  292
  22. NH  285
  23. MI  212
  24. RI  109
  25. AR  98
  26. DE  78

Total = 16,676

M = 15,602 = 93.56 %

L = 8,370 = 50.19 %

The following states were admitted this decade: Florida (FL), 27th, March 3, 1845; Texas (TX), 28th, December 29, 1845; Iowa (IA), 29th, December 28, 1846; and Wisconsin (WI), 30th, May 29, 1848.

1850 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

30 states; 3/4 = 23

  1. NY  3,097
  2. PA  2,312
  3. OH  1,980
  4. VA  1,119
  5. TN  1,003
  6. MA  995
  7. IN  988
  8. KY  982  this and following = L
  9. GA  906
  10. NC  869
  11. IL  851
  12. AL  772
  13. MO  682
  14. SC  669
  15. MS  607
  16. ME  583
  17. MD  583
  18. LA  518
  19. NJ  490
  20. MI  398
  21. CT  371
  22. NH  318
  23. VT  314  this and preceding = M
  24. WI  305
  25. TX  213
  26. AR  210
  27. IA  192
  28. RI  148
  29. DE  92
  30. FL  87

Total = 22,654

M = 21,407 = 94.50 %

L = 11,160 = 49.26 %

The following states were admitted this decade: California (CA), 31st, September 9, 1850; Minnesota (MN), 32d, May 11, 1858; and Oregon (OR), 33d, February 14, 1859.

1860 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

33 states; 3/4 = 25

  1. NY  3,881
  2. PA  2,906
  3. OH  2,340
  4. IL  1,712
  5. IN  1,350
  6. MA  1,231
  7. VA  1,220
  8. MO  1,182
  9. KY  1,156  this and following = L
  10. TN  1,110
  11. GA  1,057
  12. NC  993
  13. AL  964
  14. MS  791
  15. WI  776
  16. MI  749
  17. LA  708
  18. SC  704
  19. MD  687
  20. IA  675
  21. NJ  672
  22. ME  628
  23. TX  604
  24. CT  460
  25. AR  435  this and preceding = M
  26. CA  380
  27. NH  326
  28. VT  315
  29. RI  175
  30. MN  172
  31. FL  140
  32. DE  112
  33. OR  52

Total = 30,663

M = 28,991 = 94.55 %

L = 14,841 = 48.40 %

The Thirteenth Amendment was proposed on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 18, 1865. The Fourteenth Amendment was proposed on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 28, 1868. The Fifteenth Amendment was proposed on February 26, 1869. The fourth amendment to be passed by Congress and defeated by the states was proposed on March 2, 186l. It was the so-called Corwin amendment and would have barred future amendments authorizing Congress to interfere with the domestic insitutions of the states, including slavery.

The following states were admitted this decade: Kansas (KN), 34th, January 29, 1861; West Virginia (WV), 35th, June 20, 1863; Nevada (NV), 36th, October 31, 1864; and Nebraska (NB), 37th, March 1, 1867.

1870 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

37 states; 3/4 = 28

  1. NY  4,383
  2. PA  3,522
  3. OH  2,665
  4. IL  2,540
  5. MO  1,721
  6. IN  1,681
  7. MA  1,457
  8. KY  1,321
  9. TN  1,259
  10. VA  1,225  this and following = L
  11. IA  1,194
  12. GA  1,184
  13. MI  1,184
  14. NC  1,071
  15. WI  1,055
  16. AL  997
  17. NJ  906
  18. MS  828
  19. TX  819
  20. MD  781
  21. LA  727
  22. SC  706
  23. ME  627
  24. CA  560
  25. CT  537
  26. AR  484
  27. WV  442
  28. MN  440  this and preceding = M
  29. KN  364
  30. VT  331
  31. NH  318
  32. RI  217
  33. FL  188
  34. DE  125
  35. NB  123
  36. OR  91
  37. NV  42

Total = 38,115

M = 36,316 = 95.28 %

L = 17,566 = 46.09 %

The Fifteenth Amendment was ratified on March 30, 1870.

Colorado (CO) became the 38th state on August 1, 1876.

1880 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

38 states; 3/4 = 29

  1. NY  5,083
  2. PA  4,283
  3. OH  3,198
  4. IL  3,078
  5. MO  2,168
  6. IN  1,978
  7. MA  1,783
  8. KY  1,649
  9. MI  1,637
  10. IA  1,625  this and following = L
  11. TX  1,592
  12. GA  1,542
  13. TN  1,542
  14. VA  1,513
  15. NC  1,400
  16. WI  1,315
  17. AL  1,263
  18. MS  1,132
  19. NJ  1,131
  20. KN  996
  21. SC  996
  22. LA  940
  23. MD  935
  24. CA  865
  25. AR  803
  26. MN  781
  27. ME  649
  28. CT  623
  29. WV  618  this and preceding = M
  30. NB  452
  31. NH  347
  32. VT  332
  33. RI  277
  34. FL  269
  35. CO  194
  36. OR  175
  37. DE  147
  38. NV  62

Total = 49,363

M = 47,118 = 95.45 %

L = 24,506 = 49.64 %

The following states were admitted this decade: North Dakota (ND), 39th, November 2, 1889; South Dakota (SD), 40th, November 2, 1889; Montana (MT), 41st, November 8, 1889; and Washington (WA), 42d, November 11, 1889.

1890 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

42 states; 3/4 = 32

  1. NY  6,003
  2. PA  5,258
  3. IL  3,826
  4. OH  3,672
  5. MO  2,679
  6. MA  2,239
  7. TX  2,236
  8. IN  2,192
  9. MI  2,094
  10. IA  1,912
  11. KY  1,859  this and following = L
  12. GA  1,837
  13. TN  1,768
  14. WI  1,693
  15. VA  1,656
  16. NC  1,618
  17. AL  1,513
  18. NJ  1,445
  19. KN  1,428
  20. MN  1,310
  21. MS  1,290
  22. CA  1,213
  23. SC  1,151
  24. AR  1,128
  25. LA  1,119
  26. NB  1,063
  27. MD  1,042
  28. WV  763
  29. CT  746
  30. ME  661
  31. CO  413
  32. FL  391  this and preceding = M
  33. NH  377
  34. WA  357
  35. SD  349
  36. RI  346
  37. VT  332
  38. OR  318
  39. ND  191
  40. DE  168
  41. MT  143
  42. NV  47

Total = 61,844

M = 59,216 = 95.75 %

L = 29,735 = 48.08 %

The following states were admitted this decade: Idaho (ID), 43d, July 3, 1890; Wyoming (WY), 44th, July 10, 1890; and Utah (UT), 45th, January 4, 1896.

1900 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

45 states; 3/4 = 34

  1. NY  7,269
  2. PA  6,302
  3. IL  4,822
  4. OH  4,158
  5. MO  3,107
  6. TX  3,049
  7. MA  2,805
  8. IN  2,516
  9. MI  2,421
  10. IA  2,232
  11. GA  2,216
  12. KY  2,147  this and following = L
  13. WI   2,069
  14. TN  2,021
  15. NC  1,894
  16. NJ  1,884
  17. VA  1,854
  18. AL  1,829
  19. MN  1,751
  20. MS  1,551
  21. CA  1,485
  22. KN  1,470
  23. LA  1,382
  24. SC  1,340
  25. AR  1,312
  26. MD  1,188
  27. NB  1,066
  28. WV  959
  29. CT  908
  30. ME  694
  31. CO  540
  32. FL  529
  33. WA  518
  34. RI  429  this and preceding = M
  35. OR  414
  36. NH  412
  37. SD  402
  38. VT  344
  39. ND  319
  40. UT  277
  41. MT  243
  42. DE  185
  43. ID  162
  44. WY  93
  45. NV  42

Total = 72,610

M = 69,717 = 96.02 %

L = 31,713 = 43.68 %

The Sixteenth Amendment was proposed on July 12, 1909.

Oklahoma (OK) became the 46th state on November 16, 1907.

1910 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

46 states; 3/4 = 35

  1. NY  9,114
  2. PA  7,665
  3. IL  5,639
  4. OH  4,767
  5. TX  3,897
  6. MA  3,366
  7. MO  3,293
  8. MI  2,810
  9. IN  2,701
  10. WI  2,634
  11. GA  2,609
  12. NJ  2,537  this and following = L
  13. CA  2,378
  14. KY  2,290
  15. IA  2,225
  16. NC  2,206
  17. TN  2,185
  18. AL  2,138
  19. MN  2,076
  20. VA  2,062
  21. MS  1,797
  22. KN  1,691
  23. OK  1,657
  24. LA  1,656
  25. AR  1,574
  26. SC  1,515
  27. MD  1,295
  28. WV  1,221
  29. NB  1,192
  30. WA  1,142
  31. CT  1,115
  32. CO  799
  33. FL  753
  34. ME  742
  35. OR  673  this and preceding = M
  36. SD  584
  37. ND  577
  38. RI  543
  39. NH  431
  40. MT  376
  41. UT  373
  42. VT  356
  43. ID  326
  44. DE  202
  45. WY  146
  46. NV  82

Total = 91,410

M = 87,414 = 95.63 %

L = 42,915 = 46.95 %

The Sixteenth Amendment was ratified on February 25, 1913. The Seventeenth Amendment was proposed on May 13, 1912, and ratified on May 31, 1913. The Eighteenth Amendment was proposed on December 18, 1917, and ratified on January 29, 1919. The Nineteenth Amendment was proposed on June 4, 1919.

The following states were admitted this decade: New Mexico (NM), 47th, January 6, 1912; and Arizona (AZ), 48th, February 14, 1912.

1920 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

48 states; 3/4 = 36

  1. NY  10,385
  2. PA  8,720
  3. IL  6,485
  4. OH  5,759
  5. TX  4,663
  6. MA  3,852
  7. MI  3,668
  8. CA  3,427
  9. MO  3,404
  10. NJ  3,156
  11. IN  2,930
  12. WI  2,632
  13. GA  2,896  this and following = L
  14. NC  2,559
  15. KY  2,417
  16. IA  2,404
  17. MN  2,387
  18. AL  2,348
  19. TN  2,338
  20. VA  2,309
  21. OK  2,028
  22. LA  1,799
  23. MS  1,791
  24. KN  1,769
  25. AR  1,752
  26. SC  1,684
  27. WV  1,464
  28. MD  1,450
  29. CT  1,381
  30. WA  1,357
  31. NB  1,296
  32. FL  968
  33. CO  940
  34. OR  783
  35. ME  768
  36. ND  647  this and preceding = M
  37. SD  637
  38. RI  604
  39. MT  549
  40. UT  449
  41. NH  443
  42. ID  432
  43. NM  360
  44. VT  352
  45. AZ  334
  46. DE  223
  47. WY  194
  48. NV  77

Total = 105,270

M = 100,616 = 95.58 %

L = 46,189 = 43.88 %

The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified on August 26, 1920. The fifth amendment to be passed by Congress and defeated by the states was proposed in June of 1924. It was the so-called Child Labor Amendment and would have given Congress the jurisdiction to regulate the labor of those under 18 years of age.

1930 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

48 states; 3/4 = 36

  1. NY  12,588
  2. PA  9,631
  3. IL  7,631
  4. OH  6,647
  5. TX  5,825
  6. CA  5,677
  7. MI  4,842
  8. MA  4,250
  9. NJ  4,041  
  10. MO  3,629
  11. IN  3,239
  12. NC  3,170
  13. WI  2,939  this and following = L
  14. GA  2,909
  15. AL  2,646
  16. TN  2,617
  17. KY  2,615
  18. MN  2,564
  19. IA  2,471
  20. VA  2,422
  21. OK  2,396
  22. LA  2,102
  23. MS  2,010
  24. KN  1,881
  25. AR  1,854
  26. SC  1,739
  27. WV  1,729
  28. MD  1,632
  29. CT  1,607
  30. WA  1,563
  31. FL  1,468
  32. NB  1,378
  33. CO  1,036
  34. OR  954
  35. ME  797
  36. SD  693  this and preceding = M
  37. RI  687
  38. ND  681
  39. MT  538
  40. UT  508
  41. NH  465
  42. ID  445
  43. AZ  436
  44. NM  423
  45. VT  360
  46. DE  238
  47. WY  226
  48. NV  91

Total = 122,290

M = 117,192 = 95.83 %

L = 51,120 = 41.80 %

The Twentieth Amendment was proposed on March 2, 1932, and ratified on February 6, 1933. The Twenty-First Amendment was proposed on February 20, 1933, and ratified on December 5, 1933.

1940 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

48 states; 3/4 = 36

  1. NY  13,479
  2. PA  9,900
  3. IL  7,897
  4. OH  6,908
  5. CA  6,907
  6. TX  6,415
  7. MI  5,256
  8. MA  4,317
  9. NJ  4,160
  10. MO  3,785
  11. NC  3,572
  12. IN  3,428
  13. WI  3,138  this and following = L
  14. GA  3,124
  15. TN  2,916
  16. KY  2,846
  17. AL  2,833
  18. MN  2,792
  19. VA  2,678
  20. IA  2,538
  21. LA  2,364
  22. OK  2,336
  23. MS  2,184
  24. AR  1,949
  25. WV  1,902
  26. SC  1,900
  27. FL  1,897
  28. MD  1,821
  29. KN  1,801
  30. WA  1,736
  31. CT  1,709
  32. NB  1,316
  33. CO  1,123
  34. OR  1,090
  35. ME  847
  36. RI  713  this and preceding = M
  37. SD  643
  38. ND  642
  39. MT  559
  40. UT  550
  41. NM  532
  42. ID  525
  43. AZ  499
  44. NH  492
  45. VT  359
  46. DE  267
  47. WY  251
  48. NV  110

Total = 131,006

M = 125,577 = 95.86 %

L = 54,982 = 41.97 %

The Twenty-Second Amendment was proposed on March 21, 1947.

1950 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

48 states; 3/4 = 36

  1. NY  14,830
  2. CA  10,586
  3. PA  10,498
  4. IL  8,712
  5. OH  7,947
  6. TX  7,711
  7. MI  6,372
  8. NJ  4,835
  9. MA  4,691
  10. NC  4,062
  11. MO  3,955
  12. IN  3,934
  13. GA  3,445  this and following = L
  14. WI  3,435
  15. VA  3,319
  16. TN  3,292
  17. AL  3,062
  18. MN  2,982
  19. KY  2,945
  20. FL  2,771
  21. LA  2,684
  22. IA  2,621
  23. WA  2,379
  24. MD  2,343
  25. OK  2,233
  26. MS  2,179
  27. SC  2,117
  28. CT  2,007
  29. WV  2,006
  30. AR  1,910
  31. KN  1,905
  32. OR  1,521
  33. NB  1,326
  34. CO  1,325
  35. ME  914
  36. RI  792  this and preceding = M
  37. AZ  750
  38. UT  689
  39. NM  681
  40. SD  653
  41. ND  620
  42. MT  591
  43. ID  589
  44. NH  533
  45. VT  378
  46. DE  318
  47. WY  291
  48. NV  160

Total = 149,899

M = 143,646 = 95.83 %

L = 61,766 = 41.21 %

The Twenty-Second Amendment was ratified on March 1, l951.

The following states were admitted this decade: Alaska (AK), 49th, January 3, 1959; and Hawaii (HA), 50th, August 21, 1959.

1960 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

50 states; 3/4 = 38

  1. NY  16,782
  2. CA  15,717
  3. PA  11,319
  4. IL  10,081
  5. OH  9,706
  6. TX  9,580
  7. MI  7,823
  8. NJ  6,067
  9. MA  5,149
  10. FL  4,952
  11. IN  4,662
  12. NC  4,556
  13. MO  4,320  this and following = L
  14. VA  3,967
  15. WI  3,952
  16. GA  3,943
  17. TN  3,567
  18. MN  3,414
  19. AL  3,267
  20. LA  3,257
  21. MD  3,101
  22. KY  3,038
  23. WA  2,853
  24. IA  2,758
  25. CT  2,535
  26. SC  2,383
  27. OK  2,382
  28. KN  2,179
  29. MS  2,178
  30. WV  1,860
  31. AR  1,786
  32. OR  1,769
  33. CO  1,754
  34. NB  1,411
  35. AZ  1,302
  36. ME  969
  37. NM  951
  38. UT  891  this and preceding = M
  39. RI  859
  40. SD  681
  41. MT  675
  42. ID  667
  43. HA  633
  44. ND  632
  45. NH  607
  46. DE  446
  47. VT  390
  48. WY  330
  49. NV  285
  50. AK  226

Total = 178,612

M = 172,181 = 96.39 %

L = 72,218 = 40.43 %

The Twenty-Third Amendment was proposed on June 17, l960, and ratified on April 3, l961. The Twenty-Fourth Amendment was proposed on August 27, 1962, and ratified on February 4, 1964. The Twenty-Fifth Amendment was proposed on July 6, 1965, and ratified on February 23, 1967.

1970 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

50 states; 3/4 = 38

  1. CA  19,953
  2. NY  18,237
  3. PA  11,794
  4. TX  11,197
  5. IL  11,114
  6. OH  10,652
  7. MI  8,875
  8. NJ  7,168
  9. FL  6,789
  10. MA  5,689
  11. IN  5,194
  12. NC  5,082
  13. MO  4,677  this and following = L
  14. VA  4,648
  15. GA  4,590
  16. WI  4,418
  17. TN  3,924
  18. MD  3,922
  19. MN  3,805
  20. LA  3,641
  21. AL  3,444
  22. WA  3,409
  23. KY  3,219
  24. CT  3,032
  25. IA  2,824
  26. SC  2,591
  27. OK  2,559
  28. KN  2,247
  29. MS  2,217
  30. CO  2,207
  31. OR  2,091
  32. AR  1,923
  33. AZ  1,771
  34. WV  1,744
  35. NB  1,483
  36. UT  1,059
  37. NM  1,016
  38. ME  992  this and preceding = M
  39. RI  947
  40. HA  769
  41. NH  738
  42. ID  713
  43. MT  694
  44. SD  666
  45. ND  618
  46. DE  548
  47. NV  489
  48. VT  444
  49. WY  332
  50. AK  300

Total = 202,455

M = 195,197 = 96.42 %

L = 80,711 = 39.87 %

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was proposed on March 23, 1971, and ratified on July 5, 1971. The sixth amendment to be passed by Congress and defeated by the states was proposed on March 22, 1972. It was the Equal Rights Amendment and would have prohibited discrimination by the state and federal governments on account of sex.

1980 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

50 states; 3/4 = 38

  1. CA  23,669
  2. NY  17,557
  3. TX  14,228
  4. PA  11,867
  5. IL  11,419
  6. OH  10,797
  7. FL  9,739
  8. MI  9,259
  9. NJ  7,364
  10. NC  5,874
  11. MA  5,737
  12. IN  5,491
  13. GA  5,464  this and following = L
  14. VA  5,346
  15. MO  4,917
  16. WI  4,706
  17. TN  4,591
  18. MD  4,216
  19. LA  4,203
  20. WA  4,130
  21. MN  4,077
  22. AL  3,891
  23. KY  3,661
  24. SC  3,119
  25. CT  3,107
  26. OK  3,026
  27. IA  2,914
  28. CO  2,890
  29. AZ  2,718
  30. OR  2,632
  31. MS  2,520
  32. KN  2,363
  33. AR  2,285
  34. WV  1,950
  35. NB  1,570
  36. UT  1,461
  37. NM  1,299
  38. ME  1,125  this and preceding = M
  39. HA  965
  40. RI  948
  41. ID  945
  42. NH  921
  43. NV  799
  44. MT  787
  45. SD  690
  46. ND  654
  47. DE  596
  48. VT  512
  49. WY  471
  50. AK  400

Total = 225,870

M = 217,182 = 96.15 %

L = 92,869 = 41.12 %

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[Blue Ribbon] Peter Suber, Department of Philosophy, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, 47374, U.S.A.
peters@earlham.edu. Copyright © 1987, Peter Suber.