OAE Middle Grades Social Studies (031) Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

The 11th Amendment to the United States Constitution is primarily concerned with the concept of sovereign immunity, which protects states from being sued in federal court by citizens of another state or by foreign citizens. This amendment was adopted in response to the Supreme Court case Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), which allowed individuals to sue states. The 11th Amendment clearly states that the judicial power of the United States does not extend to suits 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.

This provision emphasizes the principle that states enjoy a degree of legal immunity from lawsuits brought by individuals from other states, thereby reinforcing state sovereignty. This context is crucial in understanding the framers' intention behind the amendment and its implications for the relationship between state and federal authority in legal matters.

The other choices touch on different areas of law but do not relate to the key principle established in the 11th Amendment regarding the limitations of lawsuits against states.