Ace the 2026 Founding Documents Blooket Quiz – Unleash Your Inner History Hero!

State sovereignty and immunity from lawsuits are the key ideas here. The Eleventh Amendment says federal courts cannot hear most cases brought against a state by citizens of another state or by non-US citizens. In other words, a state generally cannot be sued in federal court without its consent. This protection, sometimes invoked unless a state waives immunity or Congress authorizes certain suits under other constitutional powers, is what this amendment establishes. Other amendments cover different rights (like bearing arms or due process), so they don’t address this specific restriction on federal jurisdiction.