Letter from Tennessee with Certificate of Ratification of the 19th Amendment
8/24/1920
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The Governor of Tennessee, A. H. Roberts, sent this letter to President Woodrow Wilson along with a copy of Tennessee's certificate of ratification of the 19th Amendment. Governor Roberts also included the resolution passed by the Tennessee General Assembly ratifying the Woman Suffrage Amendment, and a transcript from the two houses of the General Assembly related to the amendment.
After Congress passed a women's suffrage amendment, three-fourths of states (36 at that time) had to ratify the 19th Amendment before it could be added to the Constitution. Many states quickly approved the 19th amendment. By the end of March 1920, only one additional state was needed for ratification. On August 18, 1920, after calling a special session of the state legislature, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify, clinching the passage of the amendment allowing women the right to vote.
The President doesn't actually have a constitutional role in the amendment process. President Wilson passed this certification on to the Secretary of State who, at the time, was responsible for administering the ratification process. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the certificate of ratification on August 26, 1920. Today this is done by the Archivist of the United States at the National Archives.
After Congress passed a women's suffrage amendment, three-fourths of states (36 at that time) had to ratify the 19th Amendment before it could be added to the Constitution. Many states quickly approved the 19th amendment. By the end of March 1920, only one additional state was needed for ratification. On August 18, 1920, after calling a special session of the state legislature, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify, clinching the passage of the amendment allowing women the right to vote.
The President doesn't actually have a constitutional role in the amendment process. President Wilson passed this certification on to the Secretary of State who, at the time, was responsible for administering the ratification process. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the certificate of ratification on August 26, 1920. Today this is done by the Archivist of the United States at the National Archives.
This primary source comes from the General Records of the United States Government.
National Archives Identifier: 120548516
Full Citation: Letter from A. H. Roberts, Governor of Tennessee to President Woodrow Wilson Enclosing Certificate of Ratification of the 19th Amendment Accompanied by the Resolution and Transcript of Journals of the Two Houses of the General Assembly; 8/24/1920; Amendment XIX: Women's Right to Vote, 1920 - State: Tennessee; Ratified Amendments, 1795 - 1992; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-tn-ratification-19th, December 6, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.