The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is passed by the U.S. Congress.

The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified on February 7, 1795, establishes sovereign immunity for states, preventing federal courts from hearing cases in which a citizen of one state or a foreign country sues another state. This amendment was a direct response to the Supreme Court’s 1793 ruling in Chisholm v. Georgia, which allowed a private citizen to sue a state in federal court. Concerned about the implications of this decision, Congress and the states moved quickly to limit federal judicial power. The amendment states: “The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.” While it originally applied only to cases brought by individuals from outside the state, later Supreme Court rulings expanded its interpretation, making it difficult for private citizens to sue their own states in federal court as well. This amendment remains a cornerstone of state sovereign immunity, shaping the balance of power between state governments and the federal judiciary.