THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
We the People of the United States, in Order
to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.
Article. I.
Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall
be vested in a Congress of the United States, which
shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Section. 2.
Clause 1: The House of Representatives shall be composed
of Members chosen every second Year by the People of
the several States, and the Electors in each State shall
have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the
most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
Clause 2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall
not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and
been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and
who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that
State in which he shall be chosen.
Clause 3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall be
apportioned among the several States which may be included
within this Union, according to their respective Numbers,
which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number
of free Persons, including those bound to Service for
a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three
fifths of all other Persons. (See Note 2) The actual
Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the
first Meeting of the Congress of the United States,
and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such
Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives
shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but
each State shall have at Least one Representative; and
until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New
Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts
eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one,
Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania
eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North
Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
Clause 4: When vacancies happen in the Representation
from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall
issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse
their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the
sole Power of Impeachment.
Section. 3.
Clause 1: The Senate of the United States shall be
composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by
the Legislature thereof, (See Note 3) for six Years;
and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Clause 2: Immediately after they shall be assembled
in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be
divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The
Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated
at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second
Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the
third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so
that one third may be chosen every second Year; and
if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during
the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive
thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next
Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such
Vacancies. (See Note 4)
Clause 3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not
have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine
Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall
not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for
which he shall be chosen.
Clause 4: The Vice President of the United States shall
be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote,
unless they be equally divided.
Clause 5: The Senate shall chuse their other Officers,
and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of
the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office
of President of the United States.
Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try
all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they
shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President
of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall
preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the
Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Clause 7: Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not
extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification
to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit
under the United States: but the Party convicted shall
nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial,
Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Section. 4.
Clause 1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections
for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed
in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress
may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations,
except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
Clause 2: The Congress shall assemble at least once
in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first
Monday in December, (See Note 5) unless they shall by
Law appoint a different Day.
Section. 5.
Clause 1: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections,
Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a
Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business;
but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and
may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent
Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as
each House may provide.
Clause 2: Each House may determine the Rules of its
Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour,
and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Clause 3: Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings,
and from time to time publish the same, excepting such
Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and
the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on
any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those
Present, be entered on the Journal.
Clause 4: Neither House, during the Session of Congress,
shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for
more than three days, nor to any other Place than that
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section. 6.
Clause 1: The Senators and Representatives shall receive
a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained
by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.
(See Note 6) They shall in all Cases, except Treason,
Felony and Breach of the Peace, beprivileged from Arrest
during their Attendance at the Session of their respective
Houses, and in going to and returning from the same;
and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall
not be questioned in any other Place.
Clause 2: No Senator or Representative shall, during
the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any
civil Office under the Authority of the United States,
which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof
shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person
holding any Office under the United States, shall be
a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section. 7.
Clause 1: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate
in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may
propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Clause 2: Every Bill which shall have passed the House
of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it
become a Law, be presented to the President of the United
States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he
shall return it, with his Objections to that House in
which it shall have originated, who shall enter the
Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to
reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds
of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall
be sent, together with the Objections, to the other
House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and
if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become
a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses
shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names
of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall
be entered on the Journal of each House respectively.
If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within
ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been
presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner
as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their
Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall
not be a Law.
Clause 3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which
the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives
may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment)
shall be presented to the President of the United States;
and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved
by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed
by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives,
according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in
the Case of a Bill.
Section. 8.
Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and
collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the
Debts and provide for the common Defence and general
Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts
and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United
States;
Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations,
and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
Clause 4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization,
and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout
the United States;
Clause 5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof,
and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights
and Measures;
Clause 6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting
the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
Clause 7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
Clause 8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful
Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors
the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and
Discoveries;
Clause 9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme
Court;
Clause 10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies
committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the
Law of Nations;
Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque
and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on
Land and Water;
Clause 12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation
of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than
two Years;
Clause 13: To provide and maintain a Navy;
Clause 14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation
of the land and naval Forces;
Clause 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia
to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections
and repel Invasions;
Clause 16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining,
the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as
may be employed in the Service of the United States,
reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment
of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia
according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
Clause 17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all
Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding
ten Miles square) as may, byCession of particular States,
and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the
Government of the United States, and to exercise like
Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of
the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall
be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals,
dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
Clause 18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary
and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing
Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution
in the Government of the United States, or in any Department
or Officer thereof.
Section. 9.
Clause 1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons
as any of the States now existing shall think proper
to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior
to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but
a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not
exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
Clause 2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus
shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion
or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
Clause 3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law
shall be passed.
Clause 4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall
be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration
herein before directed to be taken. (See Note 7)
Clause 5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles
exported from any State.
Clause 6: No Preference shall be given by any Regulation
of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over
those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from,
one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties
in another.
Clause 7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury,
but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and
a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and
Expenditures of all public Money shall be published
from time to time.
Clause 8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by
the United States: And no Person holding any Office
of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent
of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office,
or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince,
or foreign State.
Section. 10.
Clause 1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance,
or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal;
coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but
gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass
any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing
the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
Clause 2: No State shall, without the Consent of the
Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports,
except what may be absolutely necessary for executing
it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties
and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports,
shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States;
and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and
Controul of the Congress.
Clause 3: No State shall, without the Consent of Congress,
lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War
in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact
with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage
in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent
Danger as will not admit of delay.
Article. II.
Section. 1.
Clause 1: The executive Power shall be vested in a
President of the United States of America. He shall
hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and,
together with the Vice President, chosen for the same
Term, be elected, as follows:
Clause 2: Each State shall appoint, in such Manner
as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors,
equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives
to which the State may be entitled in the Congress:
but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding
an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States,
shall be appointed an Elector.
Clause 3: The Electors shall meet in their respective
States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom
one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same
State with themselves. And they shall make a List of
all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes
for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and
transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the
United States, directed to the President of the Senate.
The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of
the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the
Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The
Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be
the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole
Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than
one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number
of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately
chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no
Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on
the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the
President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall
be taken by States, the Representation from each State
having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist
of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States,
and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary
to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the
President, the Person having the greatest Number of
Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But
if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes,
the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice
President. (See Note 8)
Clause 4: The Congress may determine the Time of chusing
the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their
Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United
States.
Clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen,
or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the
Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to
the Office of President; neither shall any Person be
eligible to that Office who shall not have attained
to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years
a Resident within the United States.
Clause 6: In Case of the Removal of the President from
Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to
discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office,
(See Note 9) the Same shall devolve on the VicePresident,
and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of
Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the
President and Vice President, declaring what Officer
shall then act as President, and such Officer shall
act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or
a President shall be elected.
Clause 7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive
for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither
be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which
he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive
within that Period any other Emolument from the United
States, or any of them.
Clause 8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office,
he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I
do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully
execute the Office of President of the United States,
and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Section. 2.
Clause 1: The President shall be Commander in Chief
of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the
Militia of the several States, when called into the
actual Service of the United States; he may require
the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in
each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject
relating to the Duties of their respective Offices,
and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons
for Offences against the United States, except in Cases
of Impeachment.
Clause 2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice
and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided
two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall
nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of
the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public
Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court,
and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments
are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall
be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest
the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think
proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law,
or in the Heads of Departments.
Clause 3: The President shall have Power to fill up
all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the
Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at
the End of their next Session.
Section. 3. He shall from time to time give to the
Congress Information of the State of the Union, and
recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he
shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary
Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and
in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to
the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such
Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors
and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that
the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission
all the Officers of the United States.
Section. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil
Officers of the United States, shall be removed from
Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Article. III.
Section. 1. The judicial Power of the United States,
shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior
Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain
and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior
Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour,
and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services,
a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during
their Continuance in Office.
Section. 2.
Clause 1: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases,
in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution,
the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or
which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all
Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers
and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime
Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United
States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two
or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another
State; (See Note 10)--between Citizens of different
States, --between Citizens of the same State claiming
Lands under Grants of different States, and between
a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States,
Citizens or Subjects.
Clause 2: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other
public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State
shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original
Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned,
the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction,
both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under
such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
Clause 3: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases
of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall
be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have
been committed; but when not committed within any State,
the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress
may by Law have directed.
Section. 3.
Clause 1: Treason against the United States, shall
consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering
to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person
shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony
of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession
in open Court.
Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to declare
the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason
shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except
during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article. IV.
Section. 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in
each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial
Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may
by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts,
Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect
thereof.
Section. 2.
Clause 1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled
to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the
several States.
Clause 2: A Person charged in any State with Treason,
Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice,
and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the
executive Authority of the State from which he fled,
be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction
of the Crime.
Clause 3: No Person held to Service or Labour in one
State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another,
shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein,
be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall
be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service
or Labour may be due. (See Note 11)
Section. 3.
Clause 1: New States may be admitted by the Congress
into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or
erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State;
nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more
States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the
Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the
Congress.
Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to dispose
of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting
the Territory or other Property belonging to the United
States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so
construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States,
or of any particular State.
Section. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every
State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and
on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive
(when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic
Violence.
Article. V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall
deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this
Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures
of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention
for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall
be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this
Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three
fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in
three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode
of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided
that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year
One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner
affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section
of the first Article; and that no State, without its
Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in
the Senate.
Article. VI.
Clause 1: All Debts contracted and Engagements entered
into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
be as valid against the United States under this Constitution,
as under the Confederation.
Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United
States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and
all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the
Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme
Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall
be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws
of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
Clause 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned,
and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and
all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United
States and of the several States, shall be bound by
Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but
no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification
to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
Article. VII.
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States,
shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution
between the States so ratifying the Same. done in Convention
by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth
Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence
of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness
whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,
GO WASHINGTON--Presidt. and deputy from Virginia
[Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.]
Delaware
Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom
Maryland
James MCHenry
Dan of ST ThoS. Jenifer
DanL Carroll.
Virginia
John Blair--
James Madison Jr.
North Carolina
WM Blount
RichD. Dobbs Spaight.
Hu Williamson
South Carolina
J. Rutledge
Charles 1ACotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler.
Georgia
William Few
Abr Baldwin
New Hampshire
John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King
Connecticut
WM. SamL. Johnson
Roger Sherman
New York
Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey
Wil: Livingston
David Brearley.
WM. Paterson.
Jona: Dayton
Pennsylvania
B Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
RobT Morris
Geo. Clymer
ThoS. FitzSimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson.
Gouv Morris
Attest William Jackson Secretary
Amendments to the Constitution
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURES
OF THE SEVERAL STATES, PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE
OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION (See Note 12)
Note: On September 25, 1789, Congress transmitted to
the state legislatures twelve proposed amendments, two
of which, having to do with Congressional representation
and Congressional pay, were not adopted. The remaining
ten amendments became the "Bill of Rights."
Article [I.] (See Note 13)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article [II.]
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security
of a free State, the right of the people to keep and
bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Article [III.]
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in
any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in
time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Article [IV.]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants
shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath
or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article [V.]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising
in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when
in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor
shall any person be subject for the same offence to
be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against
himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall private property
be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article [VI.]
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy
the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial
jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district shall have been
previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of
the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted
with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process
for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Article [VII.]
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy
shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury
shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall
be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United
States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Article [VIII.]
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive
fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article [IX.]
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights,
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained
by the people.
Article [X.]
The powers not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are
reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
[Article XI.]
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The eleventh amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several
States by the Third Congress, on the 4th of March 1794;
and was declared in a message from the President to
Congress, dated the 8th of January, 1798, to have been
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the
States. The dates of ratification were: New York, March
27, 1794; Rhode Island, March 31, 1794; Connecticut,
May 8, 1794; New Hampshire, June 16, 1794; Massachusetts,
June 26, 1794; Vermont, between October 9, 1794 and
November 9, 1794; Virginia, November 18, 1794; Georgia,
November 29, 1794; Kentucky, December 7, 1794; Maryland,
December 26, 1794; Delaware, January 23, 1795; North
Carolina, February 7, 1795.
Ratification was completed on February 7, 1795.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by South Carolina
on December 4, 1797. New Jersey and Pennsylvania did
not take action on the amendment.
[Article XII.]
The Electors shall meet in their respective states,
and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President,
one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of
the same state with themselves; they shall name in their
ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct
ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and
they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted
for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President,
and of the number of votes for each, which lists they
shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat
of the government of the United States, directed to
the President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate
shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives,
open all the certificates and the votes shall then be
counted;--The person having the greatest number of votes
for President, shall be the President, if such number
be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed;
and if no person have such majority, then from the persons
having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the
list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives
shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President.
But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken
by states, the representation from each state having
one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of
a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and
a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a
choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not
choose a President whenever the right of choice shall
devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next
following, then the Vice-President shall act as President,
as in the case of the death or other constitutional
disability of the President. (See Note 14)--The person
having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President,
shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority
of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no
person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers
on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President;
a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds
of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the
whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no
person constitutionally ineligible to the office of
President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President
of the United States.
Proposal and Ratification
The twelfth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several
States by the Eighth Congress, on the 9th of December,
1803, in lieu of the original third paragraph of the
first section of the second article; and was declared
in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the
25th of September, 1804, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of 13 of the 17 States. The dates of ratification
were: North Carolina, December 21, 1803; Maryland, December
24, 1803; Kentucky, December 27, 1803; Ohio, December
30, 1803; Pennsylvania, January 5, 1804; Vermont, January
30, 1804; Virginia, February 3, 1804; New York, February
10, 1804; New Jersey, February 22, 1804; Rhode Island,
March 12, 1804; South Carolina, May 15, 1804; Georgia,
May 19, 1804; New Hampshire, June 15, 1804.
Ratification was completed on June 15, 1804.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Tennessee,
July 27, 1804.
The amendment was rejected by Delaware, January 18,
1804; Massachusetts, February 3, 1804; Connecticut,
at its session begun May 10, 1804.
Article XIII.
Section 1. 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.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
The thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Thirty-eighth Congress, on the
31st day of January, 1865, and was declared, in a proclamation
of the Secretary of State, dated the 18th of December,
1865, to have been ratified by the legislatures of twenty-seven
of the thirty-six States. The dates of ratification
were: Illinois, February 1, 1865; Rhode Island, February
2, 1865; Michigan, February 2, 1865; Maryland, February
3, 1865; New York, February 3, 1865; Pennsylvania, February
3, 1865; West Virginia, February 3, 1865; Missouri,
February 6, 1865; Maine, February 7, 1865; Kansas, February
7, 1865; Massachusetts, February 7, 1865; Virginia,
February 9, 1865; Ohio, February 10, 1865; Indiana,
February 13, 1865; Nevada, February 16, 1865; Louisiana,
February 17, 1865; Minnesota, February 23, 1865; Wisconsin,
February 24, 1865; Vermont, March 9, 1865; Tennessee,
April 7, 1865; Arkansas, April 14, 1865; Connecticut,
May 4, 1865; New Hampshire, July 1, 1865; South Carolina,
November 13, 1865; Alabama, December 2, 1865; North
Carolina, December 4, 1865; Georgia, December 6, 1865.
Ratification was completed on December 6, 1865.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Oregon, December
8, 1865; California, December 19, 1865; Florida, December
28, 1865 (Florida again ratified on June 9, 1868, upon
its adoption of a new constitution); Iowa, January 15,
1866; New Jersey, January 23, 1866 (after having rejected
the amendment on March 16, 1865); Texas, February 18,
1870; Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having rejected
the amendment on February 8, 1865); Kentucky, March
18, 1976 (after having rejected it on February 24, 1865).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified)
by Mississippi, December 4, 1865.
Article XIV.
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United
States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are
citizens of the United States and of the State wherein
they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of
citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive
any person of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction
the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among
the several States according to their respective numbers,
counting the whole number of persons in each State,
excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote
at any election for the choice of electors for President
and Vice President of the United States, Representatives
in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of
a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof,
is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State,
being twenty-one years of age,(See Note 15) and citizens
of the United States, or in any way abridged, except
for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the
basis of representation therein shall be reduced in
the proportion which the number of such male citizens
shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one
years of age in such State.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative
in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President,
or hold any office, civil or military, under the United
States, or under any State, who, having previously taken
an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of
the United States, or as a member of any State legislature,
or as an executive or judicial officer of any State,
to support the Constitution of the United States, shall
have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.
But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House,
remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United
States, authorized by law, including debts incurred
for payment of pensions and bounties for services in
suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be
questioned. But neither the United States nor any State
shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred
in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of
any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims
shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce,
by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Proposal and Ratification
The fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Thirty-ninth Congress, on the
13th of June, 1866. It was declared, in a certificate
of the Secretary of State dated July 28, 1868 to have
been ratified by the legislatures of 28 of the 37 States.
The dates of ratification were: Connecticut, June 25,
1866; New Hampshire, July 6, 1866; Tennessee, July 19,
1866; New Jersey, September 11, 1866 (subsequently the
legislature rescinded its ratification, and on March
24, 1868, readopted its resolution of rescission over
the Governor's veto, and on Nov. 12, 1980, expressed
support for the amendment); Oregon, September 19, 1866
(and rescinded its ratification on October 15, 1868);
Vermont, October 30, 1866; Ohio, January 4, 1867 (and
rescinded its ratification on January 15, 1868); New
York, January 10, 1867; Kansas, January 11, 1867; Illinois,
January 15, 1867; West Virginia, January 16, 1867; Michigan,
January 16, 1867; Minnesota, January 16, 1867; Maine,
January 19, 1867; Nevada, January 22, 1867; Indiana,
January 23, 1867; Missouri, January 25, 1867; Rhode
Island, February 7, 1867; Wisconsin, February 7, 1867;
Pennsylvania, February 12, 1867; Massachusetts, March
20, 1867; Nebraska, June 15, 1867; Iowa, March 16, 1868;
Arkansas, April 6, 1868; Florida, June 9, 1868; North
Carolina, July 4, 1868 (after having rejected it on
December 14, 1866); Louisiana, July 9, 1868 (after having
rejected it on February 6, 1867); South Carolina, July
9, 1868 (after having rejected it on December 20, 1866).
Ratification was completed on July 9, 1868.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Alabama,
July 13, 1868; Georgia, July 21, 1868 (after having
rejected it on November 9, 1866); Virginia, October
8, 1869 (after having rejected it on January 9, 1867);
Mississippi, January 17, 1870; Texas, February 18, 1870
(after having rejected it on October 27, 1866); Delaware,
February 12, 1901 (after having rejected it on February
8, 1867); Maryland, April 4, 1959 (after having rejected
it on March 23, 1867); California, May 6, 1959; Kentucky,
March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on January
8, 1867).
Article XV.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States
to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any State on account of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
The fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several
States by the Fortieth Congress, on the 26th of February,
1869, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary
of State, dated March 30, 1870, to have been ratified
by the legislatures of twenty-nine of the thirty-seven
States. The dates of ratification were: Nevada, March
1, 1869; West Virginia, March 3, 1869; Illinois, March
5, 1869; Louisiana, March 5, 1869; North Carolina, March
5, 1869; Michigan, March 8, 1869; Wisconsin, March 9,
1869; Maine, March 11, 1869; Massachusetts, March 12,
1869; Arkansas, March 15, 1869; South Carolina, March
15, 1869; Pennsylvania, March 25, 1869; New York, April
14, 1869 (and the legislature of the same State passed
a resolution January 5, 1870, to withdraw its consent
to it, which action it rescinded on March 30, 1970);
Indiana, May 14, 1869; Connecticut, May 19, 1869; Florida,
June 14, 1869; New Hampshire, July 1, 1869; Virginia,
October 8, 1869; Vermont, October 20, 1869; Missouri,
January 7, 1870; Minnesota, January 13, 1870; Mississippi,
January 17, 1870; Rhode Island, January 18, 1870; Kansas,
January 19, 1870; Ohio, January 27, 1870 (after having
rejected it on April 30, 1869); Georgia, February 2,
1870; Iowa, February 3, 1870.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1870, unless
the withdrawal of ratification by New York was effective;
in which event ratification was completed on February
17, 1870, when Nebraska ratified.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Texas, February
18, 1870; New Jersey, February 15, 1871 (after having
rejected it on February 7, 1870); Delaware, February
12, 1901 (after having rejected it on March 18, 1869);
Oregon, February 24, 1959; California, April 3, 1962
(after having rejected it on January 28, 1870); Kentucky,
March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on March 12,
1869).
The amendment was approved by the Governor of Maryland,
May 7, 1973; Maryland having previously rejected it
on February 26, 1870.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified)
by Tennessee, November 16, 1869.
Article XVI.
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes
on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment
among the several States, and without regard to any
census or enumeration.
Proposal and Ratification
The sixteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several
States by the Sixty-first Congress on the 12th of July,
1909, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary
of State, dated the 25th of February, 1913, to have
been ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification
were: Alabama, August 10, 1909; Kentucky, February 8,
1910; South Carolina, February 19, 1910; Illinois, March
1, 1910; Mississippi, March 7, 1910; Oklahoma, March
10, 1910; Maryland, April 8, 1910; Georgia, August 3,
1910; Texas, August 16, 1910; Ohio, January 19, 1911;
Idaho, January 20, 1911; Oregon, January 23, 1911; Washington,
January 26, 1911; Montana, January 30, 1911; Indiana,
January 30, 1911; California, January 31, 1911; Nevada,
January 31, 1911; South Dakota, February 3, 1911; Nebraska,
February 9, 1911; North Carolina, February 11, 1911;
Colorado, February 15, 1911; North Dakota, February
17, 1911; Kansas, February 18, 1911; Michigan, February
23, 1911; Iowa, February 24, 1911; Missouri, March 16,
1911; Maine, March 31, 1911; Tennessee, April 7, 1911;
Arkansas, April 22, 1911 (after having rejected it earlier);
Wisconsin, May 26, 1911; New York, July 12, 1911; Arizona,
April 6, 1912; Minnesota, June 11, 1912; Louisiana,
June 28, 1912; West Virginia, January 31, 1913; New
Mexico, February 3, 1913.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts,
March 4, 1913; New Hampshire, March 7, 1913 (after having
rejected it on March 2, 1911).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified)
by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Utah.
[Article XVII.]
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of
two Senators from each State, elected by the people
thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have
one vote. The electors in each State shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous
branch of the State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any
State in the Senate, the executive authority of such
State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies:
Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower
the executive thereof to make temporary appointments
until the people fill the vacancies by election as the
legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect
the election or term of any Senator chosen before it
becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
Proposal and Ratification
The seventeenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Sixty-second Congress on the 13th
of May, 1912, and was declared, in a proclamation of
the Secretary of State, dated the 31st of May, 1913,
to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the
48 States. The dates of ratification were: Massachusetts,
May 22, 1912; Arizona, June 3, 1912; Minnesota, June
10, 1912; New York, January 15, 1913; Kansas, January
17, 1913; Oregon, January 23, 1913; North Carolina,
January 25, 1913; California, January 28, 1913; Michigan,
January 28, 1913; Iowa, January 30, 1913; Montana, January
30, 1913; Idaho, January 31, 1913; West Virginia, February
4, 1913; Colorado, February 5, 1913; Nevada, February
6, 1913; Texas, February 7, 1913; Washington, February
7, 1913; Wyoming, February 8, 1913; Arkansas, February
11, 1913; Maine, February 11, 1913; Illinois, February
13, 1913; North Dakota, February 14, 1913; Wisconsin,
February 18, 1913; Indiana, February 19, 1913; New Hampshire,
February 19, 1913; Vermont, February 19, 1913; South
Dakota, February 19, 1913; Oklahoma, February 24, 1913;
Ohio, February 25, 1913; Missouri, March 7, 1913; New
Mexico, March 13, 1913; Nebraska, March 14, 1913; New
Jersey, March 17, 1913; Tennessee, April 1, 1913; Pennsylvania,
April 2, 1913; Connecticut, April 8, 1913.
Ratification was completed on April 8, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Louisiana,
June 11, 1914.
The amendment was rejected by Utah (and not subsequently
ratified) on February 26, 1913.
Article [XVIII].(See Note 16)
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of
this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation
of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof
into, or the exportation thereof from the United States
and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof
for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section. 2. The Congress and the several States shall
have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Section. 3. This article shall be inoperative unless
it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution
by the legislatures of the several States, as provided
in the Constitution, within seven years from the date
of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Proposal and Ratification
The eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Sixty-fifth Congress, on the 18th
of December, 1917, and was declared, in a proclamation
of the Secretary of State, dated the 29th of January,
1919, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36
of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Mississippi,
January 8, 1918; Virginia, January 11, 1918; Kentucky,
January 14, 1918; North Dakota, January 25, 1918; South
Carolina, January 29, 1918; Maryland, February 13, 1918;
Montana, February 19, 1918; Texas, March 4, 1918; Delaware,
March 18, 1918; South Dakota, March 20, 1918; Massachusetts,
April 2, 1918; Arizona, May 24, 1918; Georgia, June
26, 1918; Louisiana, August 3, 1918; Florida, December
3, 1918; Michigan, January 2, 1919; Ohio, January 7,
1919; Oklahoma, January 7, 1919; Idaho, January 8, 1919;
Maine, January 8, 1919; West Virginia, January 9, 1919;
California, January 13, 1919; Tennessee, January 13,
1919; Washington, January 13, 1919; Arkansas, January
14, 1919; Kansas, January 14, 1919; Alabama, January
15, 1919; Colorado, January 15, 1919; Iowa, January
15, 1919; New Hampshire, January 15, 1919; Oregon, January
15, 1919; Nebraska, January 16, 1919; North Carolina,
January 16, 1919; Utah, January 16, 1919; Missouri,
January 16, 1919; Wyoming, January 16, 1919.
Ratification was completed on January 16, 1919. See
Dillon v. Gloss, 256 U.S. 368, 376 (1921).
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Minnesota
on January 17, 1919; Wisconsin, January 17, 1919; New
Mexico, January 20, 1919; Nevada, January 21, 1919;
New York, January 29, 1919; Vermont, January 29, 1919;
Pennsylvania, February 25, 1919; Connecticut, May 6,
1919; and New Jersey, March 9, 1922.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified)
by Rhode Island.
Article [XIX].
The right of citizens of the United States to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States
or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
The nineteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Sixty-sixth Congress, on the 4th
of June, 1919, and was declared, in a proclamation of
the Secretary of State, dated the 26th of August, 1920,
to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the
48 States. The dates of ratification were: Illinois,
June 10, 1919 (and that State readopted its resolution
of ratification June 17, 1919); Michigan, June 10, 1919;
Wisconsin, June 10, 1919; Kansas, June 16, 1919; New
York, June 16, 1919; Ohio, June 16, 1919; Pennsylvania,
June 24, 1919; Massachusetts, June 25, 1919; Texas,
June 28, 1919; Iowa, July 2, 1919; Missouri, July 3,
1919; Arkansas, July 28, 1919; Montana, August 2, 1919;
Nebraska, August 2, 1919; Minnesota, September 8, 1919;
New Hampshire, September 10, 1919; Utah, October 2,
1919; California, November 1, 1919; Maine, November
5, 1919; North Dakota, December 1, 1919; South Dakota,
December 4, 1919; Colorado, December 15, 1919; Kentucky,
January 6, 1920; Rhode Island, January 6, 1920; Oregon,
January 13, 1920; Indiana, January 16, 1920; Wyoming,
January 27, 1920; Nevada, February 7, 1920; New Jersey,
February 9, 1920; Idaho, February 11, 1920; Arizona,
February 12, 1920; New Mexico, February 21, 1920; Oklahoma,
February 28, 1920; West Virginia, March 10, 1920; Washington,
March 22, 1920; Tennessee, August 18, 1920.
Ratification was completed on August 18, 1920.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Connecticut
on September 14, 1920 (and that State reaffirmed on
September 21, 1920); Vermont, February 8, 1921; Delaware,
March 6, 1923 (after having rejected it on June 2, 1920);
Maryland, March 29, 1941 (after having rejected it on
February 24, 1920, ratification certified on February
25, 1958); Virginia, February 21, 1952 (after having
rejected it on February 12, 1920); Alabama, September
8, 1953 (after having rejected it on September 22, 1919);
Florida, May 13, 1969; South Carolina, July 1, 1969
(after having rejected it on January 28, 1920, ratification
certified on August 22, 1973); Georgia, February 20,
1970 (after having rejected it on July 24, 1919); Louisiana,
June 11, 1970 (after having rejected it on July 1, 1920);
North Carolina, May 6, 1971; Mississippi, March 22,
1984 (after having rejected it on March 29, 1920).
Article [XX.]
Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President
shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the
terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the
3d day of January, of the years in which such terms
would have ended if this article had not been ratified;
and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section. 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once
in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon
on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint
a different day.
Section. 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning
of the term of the President, the President elect shall
have died, the Vice President elect shall become President.
If a President shall not have been chosen before the
time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the
President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the
Vice President elect shall act as President until a
President shall have qualified; and the Congress may
by law provide for the case wherein neither a President
elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified,
declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner
in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such
person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice
President shall have qualified.
Section. 4. The Congress may by law provide for the
case of the death of any of the persons from whom the
House of Representatives may choose a President whenever
the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and
for the case of the death of any of the persons from
whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever
the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
Section. 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the
15th day of October following the ratification of this
article.
Section. 6. This article shall be inoperative unless
it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution
by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several
States within seven years from the date of its submission.
Proposal and Ratification
The twentieth amendment to the Constitution was proposed
to the legislatures of the several states by the Seventy-Second
Congress, on the 2d day of March, 1932, and was declared,
in a proclamation by the Secretary of State, dated on
the 6th day of February, 1933, to have been ratified
by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates
of ratification were: Virginia, March 4, 1932; New York,
March 11, 1932; Mississippi, March 16, 1932; Arkansas,
March 17, 1932; Kentucky, March 17, 1932; New Jersey,
March 21, 1932; South Carolina, March 25, 1932; Michigan,
March 31, 1932; Maine, April 1, 1932; Rhode Island,
April 14, 1932; Illinois, April 21, 1932; Louisiana,
June 22, 1932; West Virginia, July 30, 1932; Pennsylvania,
August 11, 1932; Indiana, August 15, 1932; Texas, September
7, 1932; Alabama, September 13, 1932; California, January
4, 1933; North Carolina, January 5, 1933; North Dakota,
January 9, 1933; Minnesota, January 12, 1933; Arizona,
January 13, 1933; Montana, January 13, 1933; Nebraska,
January 13, 1933; Oklahoma, January 13, 1933; Kansas,
January 16, 1933; Oregon, January 16, 1933; Delaware,
January 19, 1933; Washington, January 19, 1933; Wyoming,
January 19, 1933; Iowa, January 20, 1933; South Dakota,
January 20, 1933; Tennessee, January 20, 1933; Idaho,
January 21, 1933; New Mexico, January 21, 1933; Georgia,
January 23, 1933; Missouri, January 23, 1933; Ohio,
January 23, 1933; Utah, January 23, 1933.
Ratification was completed on January 23, 1933.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts
on January 24, 1933; Wisconsin, January 24, 1933; Colorado,
January 24, 1933; Nevada, January 26, 1933; Connecticut,
January 27, 1933; New Hampshire, January 31, 1933; Vermont,
February 2, 1933; Maryland, March 24, 1933; Florida,
April 26, 1933.
Article [XXI.]
Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the
Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2. The transportation or importation into any
State, Territory, or possession of the United States
for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors,
in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless
it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution
by conventions in the several States, as provided in
the Constitution, within seven years from the date of
the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Proposal and Ratification
The twenty-first amendment to the Constitution was proposed
to the several states by the Seventy-Second Congress,
on the 20th day of February, 1933, and was declared,
in a proclamation by the Secretary of State, dated on
the 5th day of December, 1933, to have been ratified
by 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were:
Michigan, April 10, 1933; Wisconsin, April 25, 1933;
Rhode Island, May 8, 1933; Wyoming, May 25, 1933; New
Jersey, June 1, 1933; Delaware, June 24, 1933; Indiana,
June 26, 1933; Massachusetts, June 26, 1933; New York,
June 27, 1933; Illinois, July 10, 1933; Iowa, July
Amendment XXII
Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office
of the President more than twice, and no person who
has held the office of President, or acted as President,
for more than two years of a term to which some other
person was elected President shall be elected to the
office of the President more than once. But this article
shall not apply to any person holding the office of
President when this article was proposed by the Congress,
and shall not prevent any person who may be holding
the office of President, or acting as President, during
the term within which this article becomes operative
from holding the office of President or acting as President
during the remainder of such term.
Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless
it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution
by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several
states within seven years from the date of its submission
to the states by the Congress.
Amendment XXIII
Section 1. The District constituting the seat of government
of the United States shall appoint in such manner as
the Congress may direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice President
equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives
in Congress to which the District would be entitled
if it were a state, but in no event more than the least
populous state; they shall be in addition to those appointed
by the states, but they shall be considered, for the
purposes of the election of President and Vice President,
to be electors appointed by a state; and they shall
meet in the District and perform such duties as provided
by the twelfth article of amendment.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXIV
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States
to vote in any primary or other election for President
or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice
President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress,
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States
or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax
or other tax.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXV
Section 1. In case of the removal of the President
from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice
President shall become President.
Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office
of the Vice President, the President shall nominate
a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation
by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the
President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives his written declaration
that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties
of his office, and until he transmits to them a written
declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties
shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting
President.
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority
of either the principal officers of the executive departments
or of such other body as Congress may by law provide,
transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their
written declaration that the President is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice
President shall immediately assume the powers and duties
of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President
pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives his written declaration that no inability
exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his
office unless the Vice President and a majority of either
the principal officers of the executive department or
of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit
within four days to the President pro tempore of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
their written declaration that the President is unable
to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon
Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight
hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress,
within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written
declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within
twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble,
determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the
President is unable to discharge the powers and duties
of his office, the Vice President shall continue to
discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the
President shall resume the powers and duties of his
office.
Amendment XXVI
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States,
who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not
be denied or abridged by the United States or any state
on account of age.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXVII
No law varying the compensation for the services of
the Senators and Representatives shall take effect until
an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
NOTES
Note 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed
copy signed by Gen. Washington and the deputies from
12 States. The small superior figures preceding the
paragraphs designate Clauses, and were not in the original
and have no reference to footnotes.
The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the
States on September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified
by the several States, on the following dates: Delaware,
December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New
Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788;
Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February
6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May
23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788.
Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788.
The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia,
June 25, 1788; New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina,
November 21, 1789; Rhode Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont,
January 10, 1791.
In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report
recommending an alteration in the Articles of Confederation,
but no action was taken on it, and it was left to the
State Legislatures to proceed in the matter. In January
1786, the Legislature of Virginia passed a resolution
providing for the appointment of five commissioners,
who, or any three of them, should meet such commissioners
as might be appointed in the other States of the Union,
at a time and place to be agreed upon, to take into
consideration the trade of the United States; to consider
how far a uniform system in their commercial regulations
may be necessary to their common interest and their
permanent harmony; and to report to the several States
such an act, relative to this great object, as, when
ratified by them, will enable the United States in Congress
effectually to provide for the same. The Virginia commissioners,
after some correspondence, fixed the first Monday in
September as the time, and the city of Annapolis as
the place for the meeting, but only four other States
were represented, viz: Delaware, New York, New Jersey,
and Pennsylvania; the commissioners appointed by Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Rhode Island failed
to attend. Under the circumstances of so partial a representation,
the commissioners present agreed upon a report, (drawn
by Mr. Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their unanimous
conviction that it might essentially tend to advance
the interests of the Union if the States by which they
were respectively delegated would concur, and use their
endeavors to procure the concurrence of the other States,
in the appointment of commissioners to meet at Philadelphia
on the Second Monday of May following, to take into
consideration the situation of the United States; to
devise such further provisions as should appear to them
necessary to render the Constitution of the Federal
Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union;
and to report such an act for that purpose to the United
States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to by them
and afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of every
State, would effectually provide for the same.
Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a
resolution in favor of a convention, and the Legislatures
of those States which had not already done so (with
the exception of Rhode Island) promptly appointed delegates.
On the 25th of May, seven States having convened, George
Washington, of Virginia, was unanimously elected President,
and the consideration of the proposed constitution was
commenced. On the 17th of September, 1787, the Constitution
as engrossed and agreed upon was signed by all the members
present, except Mr. Gerry of Massachusetts, and Messrs.
Mason and Randolph, of Virginia. The president of the
convention transmitted it to Congress, with a resolution
stating how the proposed Federal Government should be
put in operation, and an explanatory letter. Congress,
on the 28th of September, 1787, directed the Constitution
so framed, with the resolutions and letter concerning
the same, to "be transmitted to the several Legislatures
in order to be submitted to a convention of delegates
chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity
to the resolves of the convention."
On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed
for commencing the operations of Government under the
new Constitution, it had been ratified by the conventions
chosen in each State to consider it, as follows: Delaware,
December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New
Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788;
Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February
6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May
23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; Virginia, June
25, 1788; and New York, July 26, 1788.
The President informed Congress, on the 28th of January,
1790, that North Carolina had ratified the Constitution
November 21, 1789; and he informed Congress on the 1st
of June, 1790, that Rhode Island had ratified the Constitution
May 29, 1790. Vermont, in convention, ratified the Constitution
January 10, 1791, and was, by an act of Congress approved
February 18, 1791, "received and admitted into
this Union as a new and entire member of the United
States."
Note 2: The part of this Clause relating to the mode
of apportionment of representatives among the several
States has been affected by Section 2 of amendment XIV,
and as to taxes on incomes without apportionment by
amendment XVI.
Note 3: This Clause has been affected by Clause 1 of
amendment XVII.
Note 4: This Clause has been affected by Clause 2 of
amendment XVIII.
Note 5: This Clause has been affected by amendment
XX.
Note 6: This Clause has been affected by amendment
XXVII.
Note 7: This Clause has been affected by amendment
XVI.
Note 8: This Clause has been superseded by amendment
XII.
Note 9: This Clause has been affected by amendment
XXV.
Note 10: This Clause has been affected by amendment
XI.
Note 11: This Clause has been affected by amendment
XIII.
Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution
of the United States (and two others, one of which failed
of ratification and the other which later became the
27th amendment) were proposed to the legislatures of
the several States by the First Congress on September
25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by
the following States, and the notifications of ratification
by the Governors thereof were successively communicated
by the President to Congress: New Jersey, November 20,
1789; Maryland, December 19, 1789; North Carolina, December
22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New Hampshire,
January 25, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York,
February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode
Island, June 7, 1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; and
Virginia, December 15, 1791.
Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791.
The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures
of Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18,
1939; and Connecticut, April 19, 1939.
Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles
of amendment had numbers assigned to them at the time
of ratification.
Note 14: This sentence has been superseded by section
3 of amendment XX.
Note 15: See amendment XIX and section 1 of amendment
XXVI.
Note 16: Repealed by section 1 of amendment XXI.
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