Final answer:
After the Bill of Rights, 17 additional amendments have been incorporated into the U.S. Constitution, addressing issues like the abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, and presidential term limits. These have ensured the document remains relevant through the nation's evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amendments to the U.S. Constitution since 1791
Since the original Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, an additional 17 amendments have become part of the U.S. Constitution. These amendments have addressed various issues responding to the nation's changing needs. For instance, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, the Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote, and the Twenty-Second Amendment set term limits for the presidency. Other amendments like the Fifteenth and the Twenty-Sixth expanded voting rights regardless of race and for those who are at least 18 years old, respectively.
The process of amending the Constitution is intentionally rigorous to ensure only essential modifications are made. The amending process has allowed the Constitution to remain a vibrant and relevant document for over 225 years. The last ratified amendment is the Twenty-Seventh, which concerns congressional pay changes and was originally one of Madison's proposals.