16C4

Sixteenth Amendment

Essential Question: How do the issues which prompted the creation of the amendments compare with the issues they are applied to today?


The 16th amendment states that The congress can lay and collect taxes from any citizens in the United States, without dividing it among the states and without approval from any census or branch of government.






1. Who proposed the amendment?
The 27th president of the United States, William Howard Taft, proposed the amendment. http://piercingtheillusion.org/index.php/the-income-tax/howard-taft-on-the-16th-amendment
- Sofia

2. When did Congress pass the amendment?
Congress passed the amendment on July 12, 1909. http://constitution.laws.com/16th-amendment
-Len

3. When was the amendment ratified?

It was ratified on February 3, 1913. http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=57

-Len

4.Does the amendment give more power to the states or federal government?
It gives more power the federal government because it allows them to collect taxes from people in the states, which means the government gains money.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxvi
-Len

5. Is the amendment somewhat based off of the results of the Articles of Confederation?
Yes. Under the Articles of Confederation, barely any power was given to the federal government. They weren’t allowed to lay or collect taxes. With the 16th amendment, federal government has more power. http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxvi
-Sofia

6. Why was this amendment written?
It allowed the federal government to levy an income tax. This allows them to build bridges, build roads, enforce laws, and carry out other important duties. http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=57
-Len

7. Did the citizens like the amendment?
The amendment was very controversial. A good amount of citizens supported it and believed it was fair that the federal government could levy and income tax. Others thought it was unreasonable and too much power was being given to the government. Most states ratified the 16th amendment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
-Sofia

8. Would the founding fathers have supported or rejected the amendment?
The founding fathers would have rejected income taxes unless they were apportioned to each state according to population. http://www.latterdayconservative.com/articles/history-of-the-16th-amendment/
-Sofia

9. Where does the government take the money from?
The government takes the money from workers' job payment.
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=57

-Sofia

10. Which states supported or disliked the 16th amendment?
Northern states disapproved while Western states approved and supported it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
-Len



Interesting facts!

• The amendment was actually introduced by the Republicans as a part of a political scheme to trick the Democrats, but it backfired, meaning that it was never supposed to be passed.
• A few hours before the 16th amendment's passage, the Senate rejected two separate proposals to include direct taxes within the authority of the amendment.
• After the amendment was passed, the federal government couldn't tax the states by apportionment.
• A tax on wages payable by the wage earner is a capitation tax.
• The amendment was never properly ratified.