Suits Against 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."

The Eleventh AmendmentEleventh AmendmentThe 1795 amendment barring federal suits against a state by citizens of another state, the textual anchor of modern state sovereign immunity.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) limits federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits brought against a state by residents of another state or country, an early statement of state sovereign immunitysovereign immunityThe rule that a government cannot be sued without its consent. Congress has waived much of the federal government's immunity by statute.Read the full definition (opens a new tab).