o: <p class="MsoNormal">THE CONSTITUTION oftheUnitedStates NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONCENTER C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S We the Peopleof the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote thegeneral Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and ourPosterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States ofAmerica. Article.I. SECTION. 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall bevested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate andHouse of Representatives. SECTION. 2. The House of Representatives shall becomposed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the severalStates, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifi - cationsrequisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. NoPerson shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age oftwenty fi ve Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, andwho shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shallbe chosen. [Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among theseveral States which may be included within this Union, according to theirrespective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number offree Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, andexcluding Indians not taxed, three fi fths of all other Persons.]* The actual Enumerationshall be made within three Years after the fi rst Meeting of the Congress ofthe United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in suchManner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall notexceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least oneRepresentative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of NewHampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Islandand Providence Plantations one, Connecticut fi ve, New-York six, New Jerseyfour, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, NorthCarolina fi ve, South Carolina fi ve, and Georgia three. When vacancies happenin the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shallissue Writs of Election to fi ll such Vacancies. The House of Representativesshall chuse their Speaker and other Offi cers; and shall have the sole Power ofImpeachment. SECTION. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed oftwo Senators from each State, [chosen by the Legislature thereof,]* for sixYears; and each Senator shall have one Vote. Immediately after they shall beassembled in Consequence of the fi rst Election, they shall be divided asequally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the fi rstClass shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the secondClass at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at theExpiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every secondYear; [and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recessof the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporaryAppointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fi llsuch Vacancies.]* 1 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E SNo Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirtyYears, 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. TheVice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shallhave no Vote, unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall chuse theirother Offi cers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the VicePresident, or when he shall exercise the Offi ce of President of the UnitedStates. The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. Whensitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affi rmation. When thePresident of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: Andno Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of theMembers present. Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further thanto removal from Offi ce, and disqualifi cation to hold and enjoy any Offi ce ofhonor, Trust or Profi t under the United States: but the Party convicted shallnevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment andPunishment, according to Law. SECTION. 4. The Times, Places and Manner ofholding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in eachState by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law makeor alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators. TheCongress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be[on the fi rst Monday in December,]* unless they shall by Law appoint adifferent Day. SECTION. 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections,Returns and Qualifi cations of its own Members, and a Majority of each shallconstitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from dayto day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, insuch Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide. Each House maydetermine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderlyBehaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member. Each Houseshall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish thesame, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and theYeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at theDesire of one fi fth of those Present, be entered on the Journal. NeitherHouse, 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 thetwo Houses shall be sitting. SECTION. 6. The Senators and Representatives shallreceive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paidout of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, exceptTreason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during theirAttendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to andreturning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, theyshall not be questioned in any other Place. No Senator or Representative shall,during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Offi ceunder the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or theEmoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Personholding any Offi ce under the United States, shall be a Member of either Houseduring his Continuance in Offi ce. 2 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I TE D S T A T E S SECTION. 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate inthe House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur withAmendments as on other Bills. Every Bill which shall have passed the House ofRepresentatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented tothe President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if nothe shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall haveoriginated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, andproceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of thatHouse shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with theObjections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, andif approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all suchCases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and theNames of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on theJournal of each House respectively, If any Bill shall not be returned by thePresident within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presentedto him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unlessthe Congress by their Adjournament prevent its Return, in which Case it shallnot be a Law. Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of theSenate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question ofAdjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; andbefore the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or beingdisapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House ofRepresentatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case ofa Bill. SECTION. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes,Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the commonDefence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts andExcises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow Money on thecredit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, andamong the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniformRule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptciesthroughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and offoreign Coin, and fi x the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for thePunishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the UnitedStates; To establish Post Offi ces and post Roads; To promote the Progress ofScience and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventorsthe exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; To constituteTribunals inferior to the supreme Court; To defi ne and punish Piracies andFelonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerningCaptures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriationof Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide andmaintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the landand naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Lawsof the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide fororganizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Partof them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving tothe States respectively, the Appointment of the Offi cers, and the Authority oftraining the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; 3 C ON S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S To exercise exclusiveLegislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding tenMiles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance ofCongress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and toexercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of theLegislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards and other needful Buildings; -And To make allLaws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution theforegoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in theGovernment of the United States, or in any Department or Offi cer thereof.SECTION. 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the Statesnow existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by theCongress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax orduty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for eachPerson. 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.No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. [No Capitation, orother direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census orEnumeration herein before directed to be taken.]* No Tax or Duty shall be laidon Articles exported from any State. No Preference shall be given by anyRegulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those ofanother: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter,clear, or pay Duties in another. No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, butin Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement andAccount of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be publishedfrom time to time. No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States:And no Person holding any Offi ce of Profi t or Trust under them, shall,without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Offi ce,or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.SECTION. 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation;grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; makeany Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Billof Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts,or grant any Title of Nobility. No State shall, without the Consent of theCongress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may beabsolutely necessary for executing it’s inspection Laws: and the net Produce ofall Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be forthe Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall besubject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress. No State shall, withoutthe Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of Warin time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, orwith a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in suchimminent Danger as will not admit of delay. <span lang="FR">4 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S Article.</span><span lang="FR">II. SECTION. </span>1. The executive Powershall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall holdhis Offi ce during the Term of four Years, and, together with the VicePresident, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows: Each State shallappoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number ofElectors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to whichthe State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, orPerson holding an Offi ce of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall beappointed an Elector. [The Electors shall meet in their respective States, andvote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitantof the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all thePersons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shallsign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of theUnited States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of theSenate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, openall the Certifi cates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person havingthe greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be aMajority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more thanone who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the Houseof Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President;and if no Person have a Majority, then from the fi ve highest on the List thesaid House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing thePresident, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from eachState having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member orMembers from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shallbe necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, thePerson having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the VicePresident. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, theSenate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.]* The Congress maydetermine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shallgive their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States. NoPerson except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at thetime of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Offi ce ofPresident; neither shall any person be eligible to that Offi ce who shall nothave attained to the Age of thirty fi ve Years, and been fourteen Years a Residentwithin the United States. [In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers andDuties of the said Offi ce, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, andthe Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation orInability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Offi cershall then act as President, and such Offi cer shall act accordingly, until theDisability be removed, or a President shall be elected.]* The President shall,at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neitherbe increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have beenelected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument fromthe United States, or any of them. Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affi rmation:- “I do solemnly swear (oraffi rm) that I will faithfully execute the Offi ce of President of the UnitedStates, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend theConstitution of the United States.” 5 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I TE D S T A T E S SECTION. 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of theArmy 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 theOpinion, in writing, of the principal Offi cer in each of the executiveDepartments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offensesagainst the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment. He shall have Power,by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, providedtwo thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by andwith the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, otherpublic Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise providedfor, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vestthe Appointment of such inferior Offi cers, as they think proper, in thePresident alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments. ThePresident shall have Power to fi ll up all Vacancies that may happen during theRecess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End oftheir next Session. SECTION. 3. He shall from time to time give to the CongressInformation of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Considerationsuch Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, onextraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case ofDisagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he mayadjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receiveAmbassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws befaithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Offi cers of the UnitedStates. SECTION. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Offi cers ofthe United States, shall be removed from Offi ce on Impeachment for, andConviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. 6 C O NS T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S 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 andestablish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall holdtheir Offi ces during good Behaviour, and shall at stated Times, receive fortheir Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during theirContinuance in Offi ce. SECTION. 2. The judicial Power shall extend to allCases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of theUnited States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under theirAuthority; - to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers andConsuls; - to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; - toControversies to which the United States shall be a Party; - to Controversiesbetween two or more States; - [between a State and Citizens of anotherState;-]* between Citizens of different States, - between Citizens of the sameState claiming Lands under Grants of different States, [and between a State, orthe Citizens thereof;- and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.]* In all Casesaffecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which aState shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. Inall the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellateJurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under suchRegulations as the Congress shall make. The Trial of all Crimes, except inCases of Impeachment; shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in theState where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committedwithin any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congressmay by Law have directed. SECTION. 3. Treason against the United States, shallconsist 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 onthe Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in openCourt. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, butno Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture exceptduring the Life of the Person attainted. 7 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E UN I T E D S T A T E S Article.IV. SECTION. 1. Full Faith and Credit shall begiven in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings ofevery other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner inwhich such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effectthereof. SECTION. 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to allPrivileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. A Person chargedin any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall fl ee fromJustice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executiveAuthority of the State from which he fl ed, be delivered up, to be removed tothe State having Jurisdiction of the Crime. [No Person held to Service orLabour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, inConsequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Serviceor Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Serviceor Labour may be due.]* SECTION. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congressinto this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within theJurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of twoor more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures ofthe States concerned as well as of the Congress. The Congress shall have Powerto dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting theTerritory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in thisConstitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the UnitedStates, or of any particular State. SECTION. 4. The United States shallguarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, andshall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of theLegislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened)against domestic Violence. Article.V. The Congress, whenever two thirds ofboth Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to thisConstitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of theseveral States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which ineither Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of thisConstitution, when ratifi ed by the Legislatures of three-fourths of theseveral States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or theother Mode of Ratifi cation may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendmentwhich may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shallin any Manner affect the fi rst and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of thefi rst Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived ofits equal Suffrage in the Senate. 8 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T ED S T A T E S Article.VI. All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into,before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the UnitedStates under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. This Constitution,and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; andall Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the UnitedStates, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every Stateshall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State tothe Contrary notwithstanding. The Senators and Representatives beforementioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executiveand judicial Offi cers, both of the United States and of the several States,shall be bound by Oath or Affi rmation, to support this Constitution; but noreligious Test shall ever be required as a Qualifi cation to any Offi ce orpublic Trust under the United States. Article.VII. The Ratifi cation of theConventions of nine States, shall be suffi cient for the Establishment of thisConstitution between the States so ratifying the Same. Done in Convention bythe Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September inthe Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of theIndependence of the United States of America the Twelfth In Witness whereof Wehave hereunto subscribed our Names, Go. Washington--Presidt: and deputy fromVirginia NEW HAMPSHIRE John Langdon Nicholas Gilman MASSACHUSETTS NathanielGorham Rufus King CONNECTICUT Wm. Saml. Johnson Roger Sherman NEW YORKAlexander Hamilton NEW JERSEY Wil: Livingston David Brearley Wm. Paterson Jona:Dayton PENNSYLVANIA B Franklin Thomas Miffl in Robt Morris Geo. Clymer Thos.FitzSimons Jared Ingersoll James Wilson Gouv Morris 9 C O N S T I T U T I O N OF T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S DELAWARE Geo: Read Gunning Bedford jun JohnDickinson Richard Bassett Jaco: Broom MARYLAND James McHenry Dan of St. Thos.Jenifer Danl Carroll VIRGINIA John BlairJames Madison Jr. NORTH CAROLINA Wm.Blount Richd. Dobbs Spaight Hu Williamson SOUTH CAROLINA J. Rutledge CharlesCotesworth Pinckney Charles Pinckney Pierce Butler GEORGIA William Few AbrBaldwin Attest William Jackson Secretary In Convention Monday September 17th,1787. Present The States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr.Hamilton from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Resolved, That the preceedingConstitution be laid before the United States in Congress assembled, and thatit is the Opinion of this Convention, that it should afterwards be submitted toa Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the People thereof, underthe Recommendation of its Legislature, for their Assent and Ratifi cation; andthat each Convention assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should give Noticethereof to the United States in Congress assembled. Resolved, That it is theOpinion of this Convention, that as soon as the Conventions of nine Statesshall have ratifi ed this Constitution, the United States in Congress assembledshould fi x a Day on which Electors should be appointed by the States whichshall have ratifi ed the same, and a Day on which the Electors should assembleto vote for the President, and the Time and Place for commencing Proceedingsunder this Constitution. That after such Publication the Electors should beappointed, and the Senators and Representatives elected: That the Electorsshould meet on the Day fi xed for the Election of the President, and shouldtransmit their Votes certifi ed, signed, sealed and directed, as theConstitution requires, to the Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled,that the Senators and Representatives should convene at the Time and Placeassigned; that the Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, for thesole Purpose of receiving, opening and counting the Votes for President; and,that after he shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the President,should, without Delay, proceed to execute this Constitution. By the unanimousOrder of the Convention Go. Washington-Presidt: W. JACKSON Secretary. *Language in brackets has been changed by amendment. 10 C O N S T I T U T I O NO F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S Preambletothe BillofRights Congress ofthe United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday thefourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine THE Conventions ofa number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution,expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers,that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And asextending the ground of public confi dence in the Government, will best ensurethe benefi cent ends of its institution. RESOLVED by the Senate and House ofRepresentatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, twothirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed tothe Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution ofthe United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratifi ed by threefourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, aspart of the said Constitution; viz. ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment ofthe Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, andratifi ed by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fi fthArticle of the original Constitution. (Note: The fi rst 10 amendments to theConstitution were ratifi ed December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the“Bill of Rights.”) AmendmentI. Congress shall make no law respecting anestablishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; orabridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the peoplepeaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress ofgrievances. AmendmentII. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the securityof a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not beinfringed. AmendmentIII. No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered inany house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in amanner to be prescribed by law. AmendmentIV. The right of the people to besecure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonablesearches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, butupon probable cause, supported by Oath or affi rmation, and particularlydescribing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.AmendmentV. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwiseinfamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, exceptin cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actualservice in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject forthe same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall becompelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprivedof life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall privateproperty be taken for public use, without just compensation. THE AMENDMENTS TOTHE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AS RATIFIED BY THE STATES 11 C O N S T IT U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S AmendmentVI. In all criminalprosecutions, 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 havebeen committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law,and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confrontedwith the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtainingwitnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.AmendmentVII. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shallexceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and nofact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the UnitedStates, than according to the rules of the common law. AmendmentVIII.Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fi nes imposed, nor crueland unusual punishments infl icted. AmendmentIX. The enumeration in theConstitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparageothers retained by the people. AmendmentX. The powers not delegated to theUnited States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, arereserved to the States respectively, or to the people. AMENDMENTS 11-27AmendmentXI. Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratifi ed February 7, 1795.(Note: A portion of Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution was modifi ed bythe 11th Amendment.) Amendment.) th The Judicial power of the United Statesshall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced orprosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or byCitizens or Subjects of any Foreign State. AmendmentXII. Passed by CongressDecember 9, 1803. Ratifi ed June 15, 1804. (Note: A portion of Article II,Section 1 of the Constitution was changed by the 12th Amendment.) The Electorsshall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President andVice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the samestate with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for asPresident, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, andthey shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and ofall 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 thegovernment of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;-thePresident of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House ofRepresentatives, open all the certifi cates and the votes shall then becounted;-The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall bethe President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electorsappointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons havingthe highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for asPresident, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot,the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken bystates, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for thispurpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, anda majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the Houseof Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choiceshall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, thenthe Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or otherconstitutional disability of the President.-]* The person having the greatestnumber of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such numberbe a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person havea majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shallchoose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirdsof the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall benecessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the offi ceof President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.*Superseded by Section 3 of the 20th Amendment. 12 C O N S T I T U T I O N O FT H E U N I T E D S T A T E S AmendmentXIII. Passed by Congress January 31,1865. Ratifi ed December 6, 1865. (Note: A portion of Article IV, Section 2 ofthe Constitution was changed by the 13th Amendment.) SECTION 1. Neither slaverynor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the partyshall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or anyplace subject to their jurisdiction. SECTION 2. Congress shall have power toenforce this article by appropriate legislation. AmendmentXIV. Passed byCongress June 13, 1866. Ratifi ed July 9, 1868. (Note: Article I, Section 2 ofthe Constitution was modifi ed by Section 2 of the 14th Amendment.) SECTION 1.All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to thejurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the Statewherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridgethe privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall anyState deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process oflaw; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of thelaws. SECTION 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several Statesaccording to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons ineach State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at anyelection for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of theUnited States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any ofthe male inhabitants of such State, [being twenty-one years of age,]* andcitizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participationin rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall bereduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear tothe 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, orelector of President and Vice President, or hold any offi ce, civil ormilitary, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previouslytaken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an offi cer 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 haveengaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfortto 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 theUnited States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment ofpensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion,shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shallassume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection orrebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipationof any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegaland void. SECTION 5. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, byappropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. *Changed by Section 1of the 26th Amendment. 13 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A TE S AmendmentXV. Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratifi ed February 3,1870. SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall notbe 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 havethe power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. AmendmentXVI.Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratifi ed February 3, 1913. (Note: Article I,Section 9 of the Constitution was modifi ed by the 16th Amendment.) Amendment.)The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, fromwhatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, andwithout regard to any census or enumeration. AmendmentXVII. Passed byCongress May 13, 1912. Ratifi ed April 8, 1913. (Note: Article I, Section 3 ofthe Constitution was modifi ed by the 17th Amendment.) The Senate of the UnitedStates shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the peoplethereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors ineach State shall have the qualifi cations requisite for electors of the mostnumerous branch of the State legislatures. When vacancies happen in therepresentation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of suchState shall issue writs of election to fi ll such vacancies: Provided, That thelegislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointmentsuntil the people fi ll the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term ofany Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.AmendmentXVIII. Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratifi ed January 16,1919. Repealed by the 21st Amendment, December 5, 1933. SECTION 1. After oneyear from the ratifi cation of this article the manufacture, sale, ortransportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, orthe exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to thejurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. SECTION 2. TheCongress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce thisarticle by appropriate legislation. SECTION 3. This article shall beinoperative unless it shall have been ratifi ed as an amendment to theConstitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in theConstitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to theStates by the Congress. AmendmentXIX. Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shallnot be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account ofsex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriatelegislation. 14 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E SAmendmentXX. Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratifi ed January 23, 1933.(Note: Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution was modifi ed by Section 2 ofthis Amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th Amendment was superseded bySection 3.) SECTION 1. The terms of the President and the Vice President shallend at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators andRepresentatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which suchterms would have ended if this article had not been ratifi ed; and the terms oftheir successors shall then begin. SECTION 2. The Congress shall assemble atleast once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day ofJanuary, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. SECTION 3. If, atthe time fi xed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President electshall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If aPresident shall not have been chosen before the time fi xed for the beginningof his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then theVice President elect shall act as President until a President shall havequalifi ed; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither aPresident elect nor a Vice President shall have qualifi ed, declaring who shallthen act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall beselected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or VicePresident shall have qualifi ed. SECTION 4. The Congress may by law provide forthe case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representativesmay choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved uponthem, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senatemay choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolvedupon them. SECTION 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day ofOctober following the ratifi cation of this article. SECTION 6. This articleshall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratifi ed as an amendment to theConstitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States withinseven years from the date of its submission. AmendmentXXI. Passed by CongressFebruary 20, 1933. Ratifi ed December 5, 1933. SECTION 1. The eighteentharticle of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is herebyrepealed. SECTION 2. The transportation or importation into any State,Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein ofintoxicating 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, asprovided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of thesubmission hereof to the States by the Congress. 15 C O N S T I T U T I O N O FT H E U N I T E D S T A T E S AmendmentXXII. Passed by Congress March 21,1947. Ratifi ed February 27, 1951. SECTION 1. No person shall be elected to theoffi ce 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 towhich some other person was elected President shall be elected to the offi ceof President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any personholding the offi ce of President when this Article was proposed by Congress,and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the offi ce of President,or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomesoperative from holding the offi ce of President or acting as President duringthe remainder of such term. SECTION 2. This article shall be inoperative unlessit shall have been ratifi ed as an amendment to the Constitution by thelegislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from thedate of its submission to the States by the Congress. AmendmentXXIII. Passedby Congress June 16, 1960. Ratifi ed March 29, 1961. SECTION 1. The Districtconstituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in suchmanner as Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and VicePresident equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congressto which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no eventmore than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to thoseappointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of theelection 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 thetwelfth article of amendment. SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power toenforce this article by appropriate legislation. AmendmentXXIV. Passed byCongress August 27, 1962. Ratifi ed January 23, 1964. SECTION 1. The right ofcitizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election forPresident or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, orfor Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged bythe United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or othertax. SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article byappropriate legislation. 16 C O N S T I T U T I O N O F T H E U N I T E D S T AT E S AmendmentXXV. Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratifi ed February 10,1967. (Note: Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution was modifi ed by the25th Amendment.) 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 offi ce of the Vice President,the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take offi ce upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress. SECTION 3. Whenever thePresident transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speakerof the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable todischarge the powers and duties of his offi ce, and until he transmits to thema written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall bedischarged by the Vice President as Acting President. SECTION 4. Whenever theVice President and a majority of either the principal offi cers of theexecutive 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 theHouse of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unableto discharge the powers and duties of his offi ce, the Vice President shallimmediately assume the powers and duties of the offi ce as Acting President. 17Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of theSenate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declarationthat no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his offi ceunless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal offi cers ofthe 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 theSpeaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that thePresident is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his offi ce.Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hoursfor that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one daysafter receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not insession, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble,determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable todischarge the powers and duties of his offi ce, the Vice President shallcontinue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the Presidentshall resume the powers and duties of his offi ce. AmendmentXXVI. Passed byCongress March 23, 1971. Ratifi ed July 1, 1971. (Note: Amendment 14, Section 2of the Constitution was modifi ed by Section 1 of the 26th Amendment.) SECTION1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age orolder, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by anyState on account of age. SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforcethis article by appropriate legislation. AmendmentXXVII. Originally proposedSept. 25, 1789. Ratifi ed May 7, 1992. No law, varying the compensation for theservices of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until anelection of representatives shall have intervened. The NCC is an independent,non-partisan, nonprofi t organization that was established in 1988 under theConstitution Heritage Act. The Center’s mission is to increase awareness andunderstanding of the Constitution, the Constitution’s history and its relevanceto people’s daily lives. National Constitution Center 525 Arch StreetIndependence Mall Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 409-6600www.constitutioncenter.org<o:p></o:p></p>