Eleventh Amendment Law and Legal Definition
The Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution deals with state sovereign immunity. It was intended to overturn the result in Chisholm v. Georgia, 2 U.S. (2 Dall.) 419 (1793) and prevent suits against states by citizens of other states or by citizens or subjects of foreign jurisdictions. However, a state may consent to be sued and the Supreme Court has held that Congress has the power to abrogate state sovereign immunity.
The Eleventh Amendment states as follows:
"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."
