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| THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| |
| (See Note 1) |
| |
| 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 [1]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 |
| |
| 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. |
| |
| References |
| |
| 1. http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html |