Legal Definitions - Twenty-first Amendment

The Twenty-First Amendment is a change to the United States Constitution that was ratified in 1933. It ended the national prohibition of alcohol that was established by the Eighteenth Amendment and gave the power to regulate alcohol back to the individual states.

For example, before the Twenty-First Amendment, it was illegal to sell or consume alcohol in the United States. But after the amendment was ratified, states were allowed to decide for themselves whether or not to allow alcohol sales and consumption within their borders. This meant that some states continued to prohibit alcohol, while others allowed it.

The Twenty-First Amendment is important because it shows how the Constitution can be changed to reflect the changing values and needs of society. It also demonstrates the balance of power between the federal government and the states, as it returned the regulation of alcohol to the states.