Which amendment changed the way vice presidents are elected?

The Twelfth Amendment refined the process of electing the president and vice president of the United States. Ratified in 1804, this amendment established a separate ballot for the vice presidency in the Electoral College, ensuring that voters could distinctly choose candidates for both offices. Prior to this amendment, the candidate with the second-highest number of votes in the presidential election would serve as vice president. This system often led to situations where the president and vice president belonged to different political parties, which created challenges in governance.

The importance of the Twelfth Amendment lies in its intention to create a clearer and more organized procedure for electing the president and vice president, reflecting the growth and evolution of the U.S. political system. In contrast, the other amendments mentioned—such as the Tenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth—address different issues like the powers of states, voting rights for African American men, and the direct election of senators, respectively, and do not relate to the election of vice presidents.