Slavery Is Still a Legal Punishment. Voters in One State Have a (Second) Chance to Abolish It.

Governing: Americans learn about the 13th Amendment as the signature measure outlawing slavery throughout the country. But what most Americans likely don't know is that slavery is still legal in the U.S. Constitution as “a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” In other words, slavery is legal in federal prisons.

Similar language exists in a number of states' constitutions, including Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin. There have been attempts to change this -- most unsuccessful. In 2016, Colorado voters rejected a ballot measure that would have removed the language. A bill with similar goals failed this year in Wisconsin and stalled in Tennessee.

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