Fifteenth Amendment

Passed by Congress: February 26, 1869

Ratified: February 3, 1870

Text

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. Congress may enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Plain English

Bans voting discrimination based on race, and lets Congress enforce that.