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- Free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fi fths of all other Persons.]* The actual Enumeration shall be made. Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department.
- To introduce a new Constitution for the Republic of South Africa and to. Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person;.
Constitution Day is September 17.
(Preamble)
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a moreperfect 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 Statesof America.
Article I (Article 1 - Legislative)
Section 1
All legislative Powers herein granted shallbe vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist ofa Senate and House of Representatives.
Section 2
1: The House of Representatives shall be composedof Members chosen every second Year by the People of the severalStates, and the Electors in each State shall have theQualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branchof the State Legislature.
2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall not haveattained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years aCitizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, bean Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall beapportionedamong the several States which may be included within this Union,according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determinedby adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including thosebound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians nottaxed, three fifths of all other Persons.2 The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the firstMeeting of the Congress of the United States, and within everysubsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Lawdirect. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one forevery thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least oneRepresentative; and until such enumeration shall be made, theState of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chusethree,Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one,Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvaniaeight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolinafive, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from anyState, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Electionto fill such Vacancies.5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker andother Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3
1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed oftwo Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof,3for six Years; and each Senator shallhave one Vote.
2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequenceof the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may beinto three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Classshall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of thesecond Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of thethird Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen byResignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislatureof any State, the Executive thereof may make temporaryAppointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, whichshall then fill such Vacancies.43: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not haveattained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizenof the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be anInhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.4: The Vice President of the United States shall be Presidentof the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equallydivided.5: The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also aPresident pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, orwhen he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try allImpeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be onOath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States istried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall beconvicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Memberspresent.
7: Judgment in Cases of impeachment shall not extend furtherthan to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold andenjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the UnitedStates: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable andsubject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, accordingto Law.Section 41: The Times, Places and Manner of holdingElections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribedin each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may atany time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to thePlaces of chusing Senators.2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year,and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,5 unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section 5
1: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections,Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority ofeach shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smallerNumber may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized tocompel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, andunder such Penalties as each House may provide.2: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with theConcurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.3: Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, andfrom time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as mayin their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of theMembers of either House on any question shall, at the Desire ofone fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.4: Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall,without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than threedays, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Housesshall be sitting.Section 61: The Senators and Representatives shall receivea Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, andpaid out of the Treasury of the United States.6They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of thePeace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at theSession of their respective Houses, and in going to and returningfrom the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House,they shall not be questioned in any other Place.2: No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time forwhich he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under theAuthority of the United States, which shall have been created, orthe Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during suchtime; and no Person holding any Office under the United States,shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance inOffice.Section 71: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originatein the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose orconcur with Amendments as on other Bills.2: Every Bill which shall have passed the House ofRepresentatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, bepresented to the President of the United States; If he approve heshall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objectionsto that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enterthe Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed toreconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of thatHouse shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, togetherwith the Objections, to the other House, by which it shalllikewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of thatHouse, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes ofboth Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Namesof the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be enteredon the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall notbe returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted)after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be aLaw, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congressby their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shallnot be a Law.3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrenceof the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary(except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to thePresident of the United States; and before the Same shall takeEffect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him,shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House ofRepresentatives, according to the Rules and Limitationsprescribed in the Case of a Bill.Section 81: The Congress shall have Power To lay andcollect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts andprovide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the UnitedStates; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniformthroughout the United States;2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among theseveral States, and with the Indian Tribes;4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, anduniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the UnitedStates;5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreignCoin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting theSecurities and current Coin of the United States;7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, bysecuring for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusiveRight to their respective Writings and Discoveries;9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed onthe high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, andmake Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation ofMoney to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;13: To provide and maintain a Navy;14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of theland and naval Forces;15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute theLaws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, theMilitia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employedin the Service of the United States, reserving to the Statesrespectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authorityof training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed byCongress;17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Caseswhatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square)as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress,become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and toexercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consentof the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, forthe Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and otherneedful Buildings;—And18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper forcarrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all otherPowers vested by this Constitution in the Government of theUnited States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.Section 91: The Migration or Importation of such Persons asany of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shallnot be prohibited by the Congress prior to theYear one thousandeight hundred and eight, but a Tax ordutymay be imposed on suchImportation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not besuspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion thepublic Safety may require it.3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unlessin Proportion to the Census orEnumerationherein before directedto be taken.75: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from anyState.6: No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerceor Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: norshall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter,clear, or pay Duties in another.7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but inConsequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regularStatement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of allpublic Money shall be published from time to time.8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the UnitedStates: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them,shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of anypresent, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, fromany King, Prince, or foreign State.Section 101: 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 andsilver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill ofAttainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation ofContracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.2: No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, layany Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may beabsolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and thenet Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State onImports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of theUnited States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revisionand Controul of the Congress.3: No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay anyDuty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace,enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with aforeign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or insuch imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.Article II (Article 2 - Executive)Section 11: The executive Power shall be vested in aPresident of the United States of America. He shall hold hisOffice during the Term of four Years, and, together with the VicePresident, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows2: Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as theLegislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to thewhole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State maybe entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, orPerson holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the UnitedStates, shall be appointed an Elector.3: The Electors shall meet in their respective States, andvote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not bean Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shallmake a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number ofVotes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, andtransmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the UnitedStates, directed to the President of the Senate. The President ofthe Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House ofRepresentatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shallthen be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votesshall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the wholeNumber of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one whohave such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then theHouse of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one ofthem for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then fromthe five highest on the List the said House shall in like Mannerchuse the President. But in chusingthe President, the Votesshall be taken by States, the Representation from each Statehaving one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of aMember or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majorityof all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case,after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatestNumber of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. Butif there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, theSenate shallchusefrom them by Ballot the Vice President.84: The Congress may determine the Time of chusing theElectors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; whichDay shall be the same throughout the United States.5: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen ofthe United States, at the time of the Adoption of thisConstitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President;neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall nothave attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteenYears a Resident within the United States.6: In Case of the Removal of the President from Office,or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the PowersandDutiesof the said Office,9 the Same shalldevolve on the VicePresident, and the Congress may by Law provide forthe Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of thePresident and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall thenact as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, untilthe Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive for hisServices, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nordiminished during the Period for which he shall have beenelected, and he shall not receive within that Period any otherEmolument from the United States, or any of them.8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shalltake the following Oath or Affirmation:—“I do solemnly swear(or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office ofPresident of the United States, and will to the best of myAbility, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of theUnited States.”Section 21: The President shall be Commander in Chief ofthe Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of theseveral States, when called into the actual Service of the UnitedStates; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principalOfficer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subjectrelating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shallhave Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences againstthe United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent ofthe Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senatorspresent concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Adviceand Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, otherpublic Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, andall other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments arenot herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be establishedby Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of suchinferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone,in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacanciesthat may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by grantingCommissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.Section 3
He shall from time to time give to the CongressInformation of the State of the Union, and recommend to theirConsideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary andexpedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene bothHouses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement betweenthem, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjournthem to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receiveAmbassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care thatthe Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all theOfficers of the United States.
Section 4The President, Vice President and all civilOfficers of the United States, shall be removed from Office onImpeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other highCrimes and Misdemeanors.
Article III (Article 3 - Judicial)Section 1The judicial Power of the United States, shallbe vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as theCongress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges,both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Officesduring good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive fortheir Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminishedduring their Continuance in Office.
Section 21: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases,in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws ofthe United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made,under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, otherpublic Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty andmaritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the UnitedStates shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or moreStates;—between a State and Citizens of another State;10 —between Citizens of different States,—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grantsof different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof,and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.2: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministersand Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, thesupreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the otherCases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellateJurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, andunder such Regulations as the Congress shall make.3: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment,shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State wherethe said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committedwithin any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places asthe Congress may by Law have directed.Section 31: Treason against the United States, shallconsist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to theirEnemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall beconvicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses tothe same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment ofTreason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Personattainted.Article IV (Article 4 - States' Relations)Section 1Full Faith and Credit shall be given in eachState to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of everyother State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Mannerin which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, andthe Effect thereof.
Section 21: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled toall Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.2: A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, orother Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in anotherState, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the Statefrom which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the Statehaving Jurisdiction of the Crime.3: No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, underthe Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of anyLaw or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service orLabour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whomsuch Service or Labour may be due.11Section 31: New States may be admitted by the Congress intothis Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected withinthe Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed bythe Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, withoutthe Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as wellas of the Congress.2: The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make allneedful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or otherProperty belonging to the United States; and nothing in thisConstitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims ofthe United States, or of any particular State.Section 4The United States shall guarantee to everyState in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protecteach of them against Invasion; and on Application of theLegislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot beconvened) against domestic Violence.
Article V (Article 5 - Mode of Amendment)The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem itnecessary, shall propose Amendments to thisConstitution, or, onthe Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the severalStates, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which,in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, asPart of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures ofthree fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourthsthereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification maybe proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which maybe made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eightshall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in theNinth Section of the first Article; and that no State, withoutits Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in theSenate.
Article VI (Article 6 - Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office)1: All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, beforethe Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against theUnited States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States whichshall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, orwhich shall be made, under the Authority of the United States,shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in everyState shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution orLaws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and theMembers of the several State Legislatures, and all executive andjudicial Officers, both of the United States and of the severalStates, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support thisConstitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as aQualification to any Office or public Trust under the UnitedStates.Article VII (Article 7 - Ratification)The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall besufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between theStates so ratifying the Same.
The Word 'the', being interlined between the seventh and eight Lines of the first Page, The Word 'Thirty' being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page. The Words 'is tried' being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word 'the' being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.
done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States presentthe Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord onethousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independenceof the United States of America the TwelfthIn witness whereofWe have hereunto subscribed our Names, | |
Attest William Jackson Secretary | Go: Washington -Presidt.and deputy from Virginia Delaware Geo: Read Maryland James McHenry Virginia John Blair— North Carolina Wm Blount South Carolina J. Rutledge Georgia William Few New Hampshire John Langdon Massachusetts Nathaniel Gorham Connecticut Wm.Saml. Johnson New York Alexander Hamilton New Jersey Wil. Livingston Pennsylvania B Franklin |
skip to Letter of Transmittal to Congressup to the Constitution
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 preceeding Constitution be laid before the United States in Congress assembled, and that it is the Opinion of this Convention, that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of its Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification; and that each Convention assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should give Notice thereof to the United States in Congress assembled. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that as soon as the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled should fix a Day on which Electors should be appointed by the States which shall have ratified the same, and a Day on which the Electors should assemble to vote for the President, and the Time and Place for commencing Proceedings under this Constitution.
That after such Publication the Electors should be appointed, and the Senators and Representatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the Day fixed for the Election of the President, and should transmit their Votes certified, signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and Representatives should convene at the Time and Place assigned; that the Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole 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 unanimous Order of the Convention | |
W. Jackson Secretary. | Go: Washington -Presidt. |
SIR:
We have now the honor to submit to the consideration of the United States in Congress assembled, that Constitution which has appeared to us the most advisable.
The friends of our country have long seen and desired that the power of making war, peace, and treaties, that of levying money, and regulating commerce, and the correspondent executive and judicial authorities, should be fully and effectually vested in the General Government of the Union; but the impropriety of delegating such extensive trust to one body of men is evident: hence results the necessity of a different organization.
It is obviously impracticable in the Federal Government of these States to secure all rights of independent sovereignty to each, and yet provide for the interest and safety of all. Individuals entering into society must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest. The magnitude of the sacrifice must depend as well on situation and circumstance, as on the object to be obtained. It is at all times difficult to draw with precision the line between those rights which must be surrendered, and those which may be preserved; and, on the present occasion, this difficulty was increased by a difference among the several States as to their situation, extent, habits, and particular interests.
In all our deliberations on this subject, we kept steadily in our view that which appears to us the greatest interest of every true American, the consolidation of our Union, in which is involved our prosperity, felicity, safety—perhaps our national existence. This important consideration, seriously and deeply impressed on our minds, led each State in the Convention to be less rigid on points of inferior magnitude than might have been otherwise expected; and thus, the Constitution which we now present is the result of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and concession, which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensable.
That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every State is not, perhaps, to be expected; but each will, doubtless, consider, that had her interest alone been consulted, the consequences might have been particularly disagreeable or injurious to others; that it is liable to as few exceptions as could reasonably have been expected, we hope and believe; that it may promote the lasting welfare of that Country so dear to us all, and secure her freedom and happiness, is our most ardent wish.
With great respect,
we have the honor to be,
SIR,
your excellency's most obedient and humble servants:
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President.
By the unanimous order of the convention.
His Excellency
the President of Congress.
(The procedure for changing the United States Constitution is Article V - Mode of Amendment)
(The Preamble to The Bill of Rights)
THE Conventions of a 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 as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the 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.12
(Articles I through X are known as the Bill of Rights) ratified
-Article the first. .. After the first enumeration required by the first Article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which, the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
-Article the second. .. No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.see Amendment XXVII
Article [I] (Amendment 1 - Freedom of expression and religion)13Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment ofreligion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridgingthe freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of thepeople peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government fora redress of grievances.
Article [II] (Amendment 2 - Bearing Arms)A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of afree State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shallnot be infringed.
Article [III] (Amendment 3 - Quartering Soldiers)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 amanner to be prescribed by law.
Article [IV] (Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure)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 uponprobable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, andparticularly describing the place to be searched, and the personsor things to be seized.
Article [V] (Amendment 5 - Rights of Persons)No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwiseinfamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a GrandJury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or inthe Militia, when in actual service in time of War or publicdanger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence tobe twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelledin any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor bedeprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process oflaw; nor shall private property be taken for public use, withoutjust compensation.
Article [VI] (Amendment 6 - Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions)In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the rightto a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the Stateand district wherein the crime shall have been committed, whichdistrict shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to beinformed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to beconfronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsoryprocess for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have theAssistance of Counsel for his defence.
Article [VII] (Amendment 7 - Civil Trials)In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shallexceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall bepreserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwisere-examined in any Court of the United States, than according tothe rules of the common law.
Article [VIII] (Amendment 8 - Further Guarantees in Criminal Cases)Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive finesimposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
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Article [IX] (Amendment 9 - Unenumerated Rights)The enumeration in the Constitution, of certainrights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained bythe people.
Article [X] (Amendment 10 - Reserved Powers)The powers not delegated to the United States by theConstitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved tothe States respectively, or to the people.
Attest, | Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Speaker of the House of Representatives. |
(end of the Bill of Rights)[Article XI] (Amendment 11 - Suits Against States)
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed toextend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecutedagainst one of the United States by Citizens of another State, orby Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State. ratified #11affects 10
[Article XII] (Amendment 12 - Election of President)The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote byballot 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 asPresident, and in distinct ballots the person voted for asVice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all personsvoted for as President, and of all persons voted for asVice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which liststhey shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat ofthe government of the United States, directed to the President ofthe Senate;—The President of the Senate shall, in the presenceof the Senate and House of Representatives, open all thecertificates and the votes shall then be counted;—The personhaving the greatest number of votes for President, shall be thePresident, if such number be a majority of the whole number ofElectors appointed; and if no person have such majority, thenfrom the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding threeon the list of those voted for as President, the House ofRepresentatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, thePresident. But in choosing the President, the votes shall betaken by states, the representation from each state having onevote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member ormembers from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all thestates shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House ofRepresentatives shall not choose a President whenever the rightof choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of Marchnext following, then the Vice-President shall act as President,as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability ofthe President.14 —The person having the greatestnumber of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if suchnumber be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed,and if no person have a majority, then from the two highestnumbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President;a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the wholenumber of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall benecessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligibleto the office of President shall be eligible to that ofVice-President of the United States. ratified #12affects 8
Article XIII (Amendment 13 - Slavery and Involuntary Servitude)Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as apunishment for crime whereof the party shall have been dulyconvicted, shall exist within the United States, or any placesubject to their jurisdiction. affects 11Congress shall have power to enforce this article byappropriate legislation. ratified #13
Article XIV (Amendment 14 - Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection)1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States,and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of theUnited States and of the State wherein they reside. No Stateshall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privilegesor immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall anyState deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, withoutdue process of law; nor deny to any person within itsjurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.2: Representatives shall be apportioned among the severalStates according to their respective numbers, counting the wholenumber of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. Butwhen the right to vote at any election for the choice of electorsfor President and Vice President of the United States,Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officersof a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is deniedto any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-oneyears of age,15 and citizens of the United States, orin any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or othercrime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced inthe proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bearto the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age insuch State. affects 23: No person shall be a Senator or Representative inCongress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold anyoffice, civil or military, under the United States, or under anyState, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member ofCongress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a memberof any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officerof 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 mayby a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.4: The validity of the public debt of the United States,authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment ofpensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection orrebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United Statesnor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurredin aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, orany claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all suchdebts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.5: The Congress shall have power to enforce, byappropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. ratified #14Article XV (Amendment 15 - Rights of Citizens to Vote)The right of citizens of the United States to voteshall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by anyState on account of race, color, or previous condition ofservitude.The Congress shall have power to enforce this articleby appropriate legislation. ratified #15Article XVI (Amendment 16 - Income Tax)The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes onincomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionmentamong the several States, and without regard to any census orenumeration. ratified #16affects 2
[Article XVII] (Amendment 17 - Popular Election of Senators)1: The Senate of the UnitedStates shall be composed of two Senatorsfrom each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years;and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each Stateshall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the mostnumerous branch of the State legislatures. affects 32: When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in theSenate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writsof election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That thelegislature of any State may empower the executive thereof tomake temporary appointments until the people fill the vacanciesby election as the legislature may direct. affects 43: This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect theelection or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid aspart of the Constitution. ratified #17Article [XVIII](Amendment 18 - Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors)161: After one year from the ratification of this articlethe manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquorswithin, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereoffrom the United States and all territory subject to thejurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.2: The Congress and the several States shall have concurrentpower to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.3: This article shall be inoperative unless it shall havebeen ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by thelegislatures of the several States, as provided in theConstitution, within seven years from the date of the submissionhereof to the States by the Congress. ratified #18Article [XIX] (Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage Rights)The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not bedenied or abridged by the United States or by any State onaccount of sex. affects 15
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriatelegislation. ratified #19Article [XX] (Amendment 20 - Terms of President, Vice President, Members of Congress: Presidential Vacancy)1: The terms of the President and Vice President shallend at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senatorsand Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of theyears in which such terms would have ended if this article hadnot been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall thenbegin. affects 5
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. affects 53: If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term ofthe President, the President elect shall have died, the VicePresident elect shall become President. If a President shall nothave been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of histerm, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify,then the Vice President elect shall act as President until aPresident shall have qualified; and the Congress may by lawprovide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a VicePresident elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall thenact as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shallbe selected, and such person shall act accordingly until aPresident or Vice President shall have qualified. affects 9affects 144: The Congress may by law provide for the case of the deathof any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives maychoose a President whenever the right of choice shall havedevolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of thepersons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice Presidentwhenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them. affects 95: Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day ofOctober following the ratification of this article.6: This article shall be inoperative unless it shall havebeen ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by thelegislatures of three-fourths of the several States within sevenyears from the date of its submission. ratified #20Article [XXI] (Amendment 21 - Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment)1: The eighteenth article of amendment to theConstitution of the United States is hereby repealed. affects 16
2: The transportation or importation into any State,Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or usetherein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the lawsthereof, is hereby prohibited.3: This article shall be inoperative unless it shall havebeen ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventionsin the several States, as provided in the Constitution, withinseven years from the date of the submission hereof to the Statesby the Congress. ratified #21Amendment XXII (Amendment 22 - Presidential Tenure)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 tothe office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President whenthis article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, oracting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting asPresident during the remainder of such term.
2: This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures ofthree-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission to the states by the Congress. ratified #22Amendment XXIII (Amendment 23 - Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia)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 Congressto which the District would be entitled if it were a state, but in no event more than the least populous state; they shall be inaddition to those appointed by the states, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and VicePresident, 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.
2: The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #23Amendment XXIV (Amendment 24 - Abolition of the Poll Tax Qualification in Federal Elections)1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electorsfor President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the UnitedStates or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #24Amendment XXV affects 9(Amendment 25 - Presidential Vacancy, Disability, and Inability)1: In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
2: Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall takeoffice upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.3: Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representativeshis written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a writtendeclaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.4: Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other bodyas Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the VicePresident 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 ofRepresentatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless theVice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congressmay by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives 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 theCongress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, withintwenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President isunable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as ActingPresident; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office. ratified #25
Amendment XXVI (Amendment 26 - Reduction of Voting Age Qualification)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 theUnited States or any state on account of age. affects 15
2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #26Amendment XXVII (Amendment 27 - Congressional Pay Limitation)No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election ofRepresentatives shall have intervened. ratified #27
skip to Datesup to AmendmentsNote 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed copysigned by Gen. Washington and the deputies from 12 States. The arabic numerals preceding the paragraphs designateClauses, and were not printed (but are referred to) in the original and have no reference tofootnotes that appear as small superior figures (superscripts).ratificationNote 2: The part of Article 1 Section 2 Clause 3 relating to the mode ofapportionment of representatives among the several States hasbeen affected by Amendment XIV Section 2, and as to taxes onincomes without apportionment by Amendment XVI.Note 3: Article 1 Section 3 Clause 1 has been affected by Amendment XVII Section 1.Note 4: Article 1 Section 3 Clause 2 has been affected by Amendment XVII Section 2.Note 5: Article 1 Section 4 Clause 2 has been affected by Amendment XX.Note 6: Article 1 Section 6 Clause 1 has been affected by Amendment XXVII.Note 7: Article 1 Section 9 Clause 4 has been affected by Amendment XVI.Note 8: Article 2 Section 1 Clause 3 has been superseded by Amendment XII.Note 9: Article 2 Section 1 Clause 6 has been affected by Amendment XX and Amendment XXV.Note 10: Article 3 Section 2 Clause 1 has been affected by Amendment XI.Note 11: Article 4 Section 2 Clause 3 has been affected by Amendment XIII Section 1.Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States are known as the Bill of RightsNote 13: The Bill of Rights only had ten of the twelve articles ratified and these were then renumbered. Of the others only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of amendment had numbers assigned to them at the time of ratification.Note 14: This sentence of Amendment XII has been superseded by Amendment XX Section 3.Note 15: Article XIV Section 2 is modified by Amendment XIX Section 1 and Amendment XXVI Section 1.Note 16: Amendment XVIII repealed by Amendment XXI Section 1.skip to Spellingsup to Notes
- May 25, 1787: The Constitutional Convention opens with a quorum of seven states in Philadelphia to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation. Eventually all states but Rhode Island are represented.
- Sept. 17, 1787: All 12 state delegations approve the Constitution, 39 delegates sign it of the 42 present, and the Convention formally adjourns.
- June 21, 1788: The Constitution becomes effective for the ratifying states when New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify it.
- Mar. 4, 1789: The first Congress under the Constitution convenes in New York City.
- Apr. 30, 1789: George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States.
- June 8, 1789: James Madison introduces proposed Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives.
- Sept. 24, 1789: Congress establishes a Supreme Court, 13 district courts, three ad hoc circuit courts, and the position of Attorney General.
- Sept. 25, 1789: Congress approves 12 amendments and sends them to the states for ratification.
- Feb. 2, 1790: Supreme Court convenes for the first time after an unsuccessful attempt February 1.
- Dec. 15, 1791: Virginia ratifies the Bill of Rights, and 10 of the 12 proposed amendments become part of the U.S. Constitution.
Some words now have different spellings:
- behaviour
- - behavior
- chuse
- - choose
- chusing
- - choosing
- controul
- - control
- defence
- - defense
- encreased
- - increased
- erazure
- - erasure
- labour
- - labor
- offences
- - offenses
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- 3d
- - 3rd (third)
- abridged
- - shortened
- adjourn
- - suspend proceedings to another time
- adjournment
- - suspending proceedings to another time
- appellate
- - appeal (review decision)
- appropriation
- - authorize spending
- apportioned
- - distributed
- apportionment
- - distributing
- attainted
- - disgrace
- Bill of Attainder
- - legislative act pronouncing guilt without trial
- capitation
- - poll tax
- cession
- - grant
- comity
- - courteous recognition of laws and institutions of another (state)
- commenced
- - started
- concur
- - agree
- concurrant
- - at the same time
- concurrence
- - agreement
- concurring
- - in agreement
- construed
- - interpreted
- Corruption of Blood
- - punishment of person and heirs
- counsel
- - lawyer
- declaratory
- - explaining law or right
- democracy
- - this word is not in these documents directly, but “We the people” and “Republican Form of Government” are - most people say our form of government is a “Federal Democratic Republic”
- devolved
- - passed on or delegated to another
- disparage
- - belittle
- duties
- - job
- duties
- - charge (like a tax)
- duty
- - job
- duty
- - charge (like a tax)
- Duty of Tonnage
- - charge by weight
- emolument
- - power and/or pay
- emoluments
- - power and/or pay
- engrossed
- - final draft
- enumeration
- - count or list
- ex post facto
- - (latin) after the fact
- excises
- - internal taxes
- Habeas Corpus
- - a writ in court for release of unlawful restraint - (latin) produce body [of evidence]
- imminent
- - about to occur - do not confuse with eminent or immanent
- impeachment
- - formal accusation of wrongdoing
- impeachments
- - formal accusations of wrongdoing
- imposts
- - taxes or duties, that are imposed
- indictment
- - formal charges
- jurisdiction
- - right to control
- Letters of Marque
- - (grant right of piracy) - document issued by a nation allowing a private citizen to seize citizens or goods of another nation
- magazines
- - ammunition storerooms
- ordain
- - order
- prescribed
- - establish a rule
- privileged
- - rights given a group
- pro tempore
- - temporary - (latin) for a time
- posterity
- - descendants
- quartered
- - housed
- quartering
- - housing
- quorum
- - minimum valid number of people
- redress
- - correct a wrong
- repassed
- - passed again
- reprisal
- - retaliation
- republican
- - representative and officers elected by citizens and responsible to them
- suffrage
- - vote
- - voting
- tranquility
- - peace
- treason
- - betrayal of country
- vessels
- - ships
- vested
- - given the right
- viz.
- - abbreviation for (latin) videlicet - namely (and when read aloud spoken as namely) from: The Columbia Guide to Standard American English
- welfare
- - well-being
- writ
- - order
- writs
- - orders