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The United States still has slavery, in several forms. Private slavery was outlawed when the 13th Amendment passed and became law. HOWEVER, slavery by the government became a permanent part of the ongoing local, state, and federal governments' power. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution declared that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."