Amendment XI (1795/1798)

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.

The 11th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1795 as a response to the 1793 Supreme Court decision in Chisholm v. Georgia, serves to protect individual states from being sued by citizens of other states or foreign countries. This amendment aimed to limit the jurisdiction of federal courts and prevent them from hearing cases brought against a state by citizens of another state or foreign entities. The 11th Amendment underscores the principle of state sovereignty and the balance of power between the federal government and the states, contributing to the framework of the American legal system and the division of authority between the respective levels of government.