sixteenth amendment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal; Academic; Legal
Quick answer
What does “sixteenth amendment” mean?
The amendment to the United States Constitution that authorized Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states on the basis of population.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The amendment to the United States Constitution that authorized Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states on the basis of population.
The constitutional provision that fundamentally expanded federal revenue powers, enabling the modern funding system for federal government operations and social programs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is inherently American. In a UK context, it would only be used in discussions of comparative constitutional law or US history.
Connotations
In US context: foundational fiscal policy, federal power, progressivism. In non-US contexts: a specific case study in constitutional amendment.
Frequency
High frequency in US legal, historical, and political discourse; extremely low frequency in general UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “sixteenth amendment” in a Sentence
The Sixteenth Amendment [verb: allowed, authorized, permitted] Congress to...The ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment [verb: occurred, happened, took place] in 1913.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixteenth amendment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The legal framework was fundamentally altered when the United States Sixteenth Amendmented its constitution to permit direct taxation.
American English
- Progressives successfully campaigned to Sixteenth Amendment the Constitution, establishing a permanent federal income tax.
adjective
British English
- The Sixteenth-Amendment powers are central to the modern US fiscal state.
American English
- The court's decision was a landmark Sixteenth Amendment case.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in terms of corporate taxation history and fiscal policy foundations.
Academic
A critical subject in US constitutional history, law, and political science courses.
Everyday
Rarely used; may appear in news articles about tax debates or historical documentaries.
Technical
Precisely cited in legal briefs, tax court rulings, and legislative histories.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sixteenth amendment”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixteenth amendment”
- Writing it in lowercase ('sixteenth amendment').
- Referring to it as 'the 16th Amendment' without 'the' in formal writing.
- Confusing it with other amendments concerning taxes or apportionment.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, its sole purpose was to authorize Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states, overriding a previous Supreme Court decision.
Yes, like any constitutional amendment, it could be repealed by another amendment, but this is considered highly unlikely due to the income tax's central role in federal funding.
Not directly. It enabled the federal income tax, which necessitated a collection agency. The Internal Revenue Service was created by statute in 1862, but its modern form evolved after the 16th Amendment's ratification.
It was the sixteenth change or addition to be formally ratified and incorporated into the text of the United States Constitution.
The amendment to the United States Constitution that authorized Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states on the basis of population.
Sixteenth amendment is usually formal; academic; legal in register.
Sixteenth amendment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪksˈtiːnθ əˈmendmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪksˈtiːnθ əˈmendmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SIXteen' → 'SICKS' the rich? A debated effect of the income tax. Amendment 16 made income tax a legal fix.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CONSTITUTION IS A LIVING DOCUMENT (it can be amended); THE AMENDMENT IS A KEY (unlocking federal revenue).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary legal effect of the Sixteenth Amendment?