what does the 13th amendment do

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime where the party has been duly convicted. It was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, effectively ending chattel slavery in the United States. This amendment also empowered Congress to pass appropriate legislation to enforce this abolition. The exception allows involuntary servitude as a legal punishment for crime, which has had implications for prison labor practices. The 13th Amendment provided a constitutional solution to the issue of slavery and greatly expanded civil rights in the post-Civil War era.