1. n
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2. We the People of the United States,
in Order to form a within three Years after the first Me
more perfect Union, establish Justice, eting of the Congress
insure domestic of the United States, and within ever
Tranquility, provide for the commo y subsequent Term of
n defence, promote ten Years, in such Manner as they
the general Welfare, and secure the shall by Law direct. The
Blessings of Liberty to Number of Representatives shall not
ourselves and our Posterity, do ord exceed one for every
ain and establish this thirty Thousand, but each State
Constitution for the United State shall have at Least one
s of America. Representative; and until such enu
meration shall be made,
the State of New Hampshire shall
be entitled to chuse
three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-
Island and Providence
I Plantations one, Connecticut five,
Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Dela
New-York six, New
ware one, Maryland
six, Virginia ten, North Carolin
a five, South Carolina five,
SECTION. 1. and Georgia three.
All legislative Powers herein granted When vacancies happen in tise Rep
shall be vested in a resentation from any
Congress of the United States, whic State, the Executive Authority ther
h shall consist of a Sen eof shall issue Writs of
ate and House of Representatives. Election to fill such Vacancies.
SECTION. 2. The House of Representatives shall
ehuse their
Speaker and other Officers; and
The House of Representatives shall shall have the sole
be composed of Mem Power of Impeachment.
bers chosen every second Year by the
People of the several
States, and the Electors in each State SECTION. 3.
shall have the Qualifi
cations requisite for Electors of the
most numerous Branch The Senate of the United States
of the State Legislature. shall be composed of two
Senators from each State, [chosen
by the Legislature there
No Person shall be a Representative 4
of,] for six Years; and each Senator
who shall not have shall have one Vote.
attained to the Age of twenty five
Years, and been seven Immediately after they shall be assem
Years a Citizen of the United State bled in Consequence
s, and who shall not, of the first Election, they shall be
when elected, be an Inhabitant of divided as equally as may
that State in which he be into three Classes. The Seats
shall be chosen. of the Senators of the first
Class shall be vacated at the Expi
ration of the second Year,
[Representatives and direct Taxes of the second Class at the Expiratio
shall be apportioned n of the fourth Year, and
among the several States which may of the third Class at the Expiratio
be included within n of the sixth Year, so that
this Union, according to their respe one third may be chosen every seco
ctive Numbers, which nd Year; [and if Vacan
shall be determined by adding to cies happen by Resignation, or othe
the whole Number of rwise, during the Recess
free Persons, including those bou of the Legislature of any State,
nd ro Service for a Term the Executive thereof may
of Years, and excluding Indians not make temporary Appointments
taxed, three fifths of until the next Meeting of
all other Persons.] The actual Enu
4 the Legislature, which shall then
meration shall be made fill such Vacancies.]
4
CONSTITUTION OF
TIlE UNITED STATES

3. No Person shall be a Senator who shall
not have attained Each House shall keep a Journal of
to the Age of thirty Years, and been its Proceedings, and
nine Years a Citizen of from time to time publish the same
the United States, and who shall not, , excepting such Parts
when elected, be an as may in their Judgment require
Inhabitant of that State for which he Secrecy; and the Yeas
shall be chosen. and Nays of the Members of either
The Vice President of the United State House on any question
s shall be shall, at the Desire of one fifth of thos
President of the Senate, hut shall have e Present, be entered
no Vote, unless on the Journal.
they be equally divided.
Neither House, during the Session
of Congress, shall, with
The Senate shall chute their other Offic out the Consent of the other, adjo
ers, and also a urn for more than three
President pro tempore, in the Absence days, nor to any other Place than that
of the Vice in which the two
President, or when he shall exercise Houses shall be sitting.
the Office of
President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power SECTION. 6.
to try all Impeach
ments. When sitting for that Purpose, The Senators and Representatives shall
they shall be on receive a Compen
Oath or Affirmation. When the Pres sation for their Services, to be ascertain
ident of the United ed by Law, and paid
States is tried, the Chief Justice shall out of the Treasury of the United State
preside: And no s. They shall in all
Person shall be convicted withou the Cases, except Treason, Felony and
t Concurrence of two Breach 0 the Peace, be
f
thirds of the Members present. privileged from Arrest during their
Attendance at the Ses
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment sion of their respective Houses, and
shall not extend in going to and return
further than to removal from Office, ing from the same; and for any Spee
and disqualification to ch or Debate in either
hold and enjoy any Office of honor, House, they shall not be questioned
Trust or Profit under in any other Place.
the United States: hut the Party conv No Senator or Representative shall,
icted shall nevettheless during the Time for
be liable and subject to Indictment, which he was elected, be appointed
Trial, Judgment and to any civil Office
Punishment, according to Law. under the Authority of the United State
s, which shall have
been created, or the Emoluments wher
SECTION. 4. eof shall have been
encreased during such time; and no
Person holding any
The Times, Places and Manner of hold Office under the United States, shall
ing Elections for be a Member of either
Senators and Representatives, shall House during his Continuance in Offic
be prescribed in each e.
State by the Legislature thereof; but
the Congress may at
any time by Law make or alter such
Regulations, except as
to the Places of chusing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least
once in every Year, and
such Meeting shall be [on the first
Monday in December,]*
unless they shall by Law appoint a
different Day.
SECTION. 5.
Each House shall be the Judge of
the Elections, Returns
and Qualifications of its own Mem
bers, and a Majority
of each shall Constitute a Quorum
to do Business; but a
smaller Number may adjourn from
day to day, and may be
authorized to compel the Attendan
ce of absent Members,
in such Manner, and under such Pena
lties as each House
may provide.
Each House may determine the Rule
s of its Proceedings,
punish its Members for disorderly Beha
viour, and, with the
Concurrence of two thirds, expel a
Member.
CONSTITUTION OF
TilE UNITED STATES

4. SECTION. 7.
SECTION. 8.
All Bills for raising Revenue shall origi
nate in the House of
Representatives; but the Senate may prop Thc Congress shall have Power To
lay and collect Taxes,
ose or concur with Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay
Amendments as on other Bills. the Debts and provide
for the common Defence and gene
ral ‘Q’elfarc of the United
Every Bill which shall have passed the States; but all Duties, Imposts anti Exci
House of Represen ses shall be uniform
tatives and the Senate, shall, before it throughout the United States;
become a Law, be
presented to the President of the Unit
ed States; If he ap To borrow Money on the credit of the
prove he shall sign it, but if not he shall United States;
return it, with his
Objections to that House in which it To regulate Commerce with foreign
shall have originated, Nations, and among
who shall enter the Objections at large the several States, and with the Indian
on their Journal, Tribes;
and proceed to reconsider it. If after such
Reconsideration To establish an uniform Rule of Natu
two thirds of that House shall
agree to pass the Bill, it shall ralization, and uni
form Laws on the subject of Bankruptc
be sent, together with the Objections, ies throughout the
to the other House, United States;
by which it shall likewise be reconsidered
, and if approved
by two thirds of that House, it shall beco To coin Money, regulate the Value
me a Law. But in thereof, and of foreign
all such Cases the Votes of both Houses Coin, and fix the Standard of Weig
shall be determined hts and Measures;
by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of
the Persons voting for To provide for the Punishment of coun
and against the Bill shall be entered on terfeiting the Securi
the Journal of each ties and current Coin of the United
House respectively, If any Bill shall not States;
be returned by the
President within ten Days (Sundays exce To establish Post Offices and post Road
pted) after it shall s;
have been presented to him, the Sam To promote the Progress of Science and
e shall be a Law, in useful Arts, by
like Manner as if he had signed it, unle securing for limited Times to Authors
ss the Congress by and Inventors the
their Adjournament prevent its Return, exclusive Right to their respective Writ
in which Case it ings and Discoveries;
shall not be a Law. To constitute Tribunals inferior to
the supreme Court;
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to whic To define and punish Piracies and Felo
h the Concur nies committed on
rence of the Senate and House of Repr the high Seas, and Offenses against the
esentatives maybe Law of Nations;
necessary (except on a question of Adjo
urnment) shall be To declare War, grant Letters of Marq
presented to the President of the Unit ue and Reprisal, and
ed States; and before
the Same shall take Effect, shall be appr make Rules concerning Captures on
oved by him, or be Land and Water;
ing disapproved by him, shall be repa To raise and support Armies, but no
ssed by two thirds of Appropriation of
the Senate and House of Representativ Money to that Use shall be for a long
es, according to the er Term than two
Rules and Limitations prescribed Years;
in the Case of a Bill.
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government
and Regulation of the
land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Mili
tia to execute the Laws
of the Union, suppress Insurrections
and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming,
and disciplining, the
Militia, and for governing such Part
of them as may be
employed in the Service of the Unit
ed States, reserving to
the States respectively, the Appointment
of the Officers,
and the Authority of training the Mili
tia according to the
discipline prescribed by Congress;
CONSTITUTION OF TUE
UNITED STATES

5. To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases what
soever, SECTION. 10.
over such District (not exceeding ten Mile squa
s re) as
may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acce No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance,
ptance or Confedera
of Congress, become the Seat of the Governm tion; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal;
ent of the coin Money;
United States, and to exercise like Authority over emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold
all Places and silver
purchased by the Consent of the Legislatu Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any
re of the State in Bill of At
which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Fort tainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing
s, Maga the Obligatio n
zines, Arsenals, dock-Yards and of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
other needful Buildings;
-And
No State shall, without the Consent of the Con
gress, lay
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Expo
proper for rts, except what
carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, may be absolutely necessary for executing
and all other it’s inspection
Powers vested by this Constitution in the Gov Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and
ernment of Imposts, laid
the United States, or in any Department or by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be
Officer thereof. for the Use of
the Treasury of the United States; and all such
SECTION. 9. Laws shall be
subject to the Revision and Controul of
the Congress.
The Migration or Importation of such Persons No State shall, without the Consent of Congress
as any of the , lay any
States now existing shall think proper to adm Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War
it, shall not be in time of
prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact
one thousand with another
eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War
be imposed , unless
on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars actually invaded, or in such imminent Dang
for each er as will not
Person. admit of delay.
The Privilege of the Writ 0 Habeas Corpus shall
f 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 Capitarion, or other direct, Tax shall be
laid, unless in
Proportion to the Census or Enumeration here
in before
directed to be taken.J*
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles expo
rted from any
State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulatio
n of Com
merce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over
those of
another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from
, one State, be
obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in anot
her.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury
, but in Con
sequence of Appropriations made by Law
; and a regular
Statement and Account of the Receipts and
Expenditures of
all public Money shall be published from time
to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the
United States:
And no Person holding any Office of Profit
or Trust under
them, shall, without the Consent of the Con
gress, accept
of any present, Emolurnent, Office, or Title
, of any kind
whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign
State.
CONSTITUTION Ot Ti-IS
UNITED STATES
4-

6. Ii
SECTION. 1.
The executive Power shall be vested in a
President of the The Congress may determine the l’iine
United States of America. He shall hold of chusing the
his Office during Electors, and the Day on which they shall
the Term 0 four Years, and, together with
f give their Votes;
the Vice Presi which Day shall he the same throughou
dent, chosen fot the same Term, be elect t the United States.
ed, as follows:
No Person except a natural born Citizen,
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner or a Citizen
as the Legislature of the United States, at the time of the
thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, Adoption 0 this
f
equal to the Constitution, shall be eligible to the Offic
whole Number of Senators and Represen e of President;
tatives to which neither shall any person be eligible to
the State may be entitled in the Congress that Office who shall
: but no Senator or not have attained to
Representative, or Person holding an Offic the Age of thirty five Years, and been
e of Trust or Prof fourteen Years a Resident within the Unit
it under the United States, shall be appo ed States.
inted an Elector.
[In Case of the Removal of the President
IThe Electors shall meet in their respective State from Office, or of
s, and vote his Death, Resignation, or Inability to disch
by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at arge the Powers
least shall not and Duties of the said Office, the Same
bean Inhabitant of the same State with shall devolve on the
themselves. And Vice President, and the Congress may
they shall make a List of all the Persons vote by Law provide for
d for, and 0f the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation
the Number of Votes for each; which List or Inability, both
they shall sign of the President and Vice President, decla
and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat ring what Officer
of the Govern shall then act as President, and such Offic
ment of the United States, directed to the er shall act ac
President of the cordingly, until the Disability be removed,
Senate. The President of the Senate shall, or a President
in the Presence shall be electecl.]*
of the Senate and House of Representativ
es, open all the
Certificates, and the Votes shall then be The President shall, at stated Times, recei
counted. The ve for his Services,
Person having the greatest Number of Vote a Compensation, which shall neither be
s shall be the increased nor
President, if such Number be a Majority diminished during the Period for whic
of the whole h he shall have been
Number 0 Electors appointed; and if there
f elected, and he shall not receive within
be more than that Period any
one who have such Majority, and have an other Emolument from the United State
equal Number of s, or any of them.
Votes, then the House of Representatives
shall immediately Before he enter on the Execution of his
chuse by Ballot one of them for Presiden Office, he shall
t; and if no Person take the following Oath or Affirmation:-
have a Majority, then from the five high “I do solemnly
est on the List swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully
the said House shall in like Manner chus execute the Office of
e the President. President of the United States, and will
But in chusing the President, the Votes to the best of my
shall be talcen by Ability, preserve, protect and defend the
States, the Representation from each State Constitution of
having one Vote; the United States.”
A quorum for this Purpose shall consist
of a Member or
Members from two thirds of the States,
and a Majority of
all the States shall be necessary to a Cho
ice. In every Case,
after the Choice 0 the President, the
f Person having the
greatest Number of Votes of the Elec
tors shall be the Vice
President. But if there should remain
two or more who
have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse
from them by Bal
lot the Vice President.]*
CONSTITUTION 01’ TUE
UNITED STATES

7. SECTION. 2.
SECTION. 3.
The President shall be Commander irs
Chief of the Army He shall from time so time give to
and Navy of the United States, and she Congress Informa
of the Militia of the tion of the State of the Union, and reco
several States, when called into the actua mmend to their
l Service of the Consideration such Measures as he
United States; he may require the Opin shall judge neces
ion, in writing, of sary and expedient; he may, on extra
the principal Officer in each of the exec ordinary Occasions,
utive Departments, convene both Houses, or either of them
upon any Subject relating to the Duties , and in Case of
of their respective Disagreement between them, with Resp
Offices, and he shall have Power to ect to the Time of
grant Reprieves and Adjournment, he may adjourn them
Pardons for Offenses against the United to such Time as he
States, except in shall think proper; he shall receive Amb
Cases of Impeachment. assadors and other
public Ministers; he shall take Care
that the Laws be faith
He shall have Power, by and with the fully executed, and shall Commission
Advice and Consent all the Officers of the
of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided United States.
two thirds of the
Senators present concur; and he shall nom
inate, and by and
with the Advice and Consent of the SECTION. 4.
Senate, shall appoint
Ambassadors, other public Ministers
and Consuls, Judges The President, Vice President and all
of the supreme Court, and all other civil Officers of the
Officers of the United United States, shall be removed from
States, whose Appointments are not Office on Impeach
herein otherwise ment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
provided for, and which shall be establishe Bribery, or other
d by Law: but high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
the Congress may by Law vest the App
ointment of such in
ferior Officers, as they think proper,
in the President alone,
in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads
of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill
up all Vacancies
that may happen during the Recess
of the Senate, by
granting Commissions which shall expi
re at the End of
their next Session.
CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES

8. ‘Ii
SECTION. 1.
SECTION. 3.
The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested
Treason against the United States, shall consist only
in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the in levy
ing War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies,
Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. giv
The ing them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted
Judges, both 0 the supreme and inferior Courts, shall
f hold of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses
their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall at stated to the
same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which
shall not be diminished during their Continuance in The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment
Office.
of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corr
up
SECTION. 2. tion of]3lood, or Forfeiture except during the Life
of the
The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law Person attainrcd.
and
Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the
United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be
made,
under their Authority; to all Cases affecting Ambassa
-
dors, other public Ministers and Consuls; to all Cases
-
f
0
admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; to Controversies
-
to
which the United States shall be a Party; to Controversies
-
between two or more Stares; [between a Srate and Citizen
-
s
of another State;]* between Citizens of different States,
- between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under
Grants of different States, [and between a State, or the
Citi
zens thereof;- and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.j*
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers
and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party,
the
supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all
the
other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall
have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact,
with
such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the
Con
gress shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment
;
shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State
where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but
when
not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at
such
Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directe
d.
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITE
D STATES
7

9. /dlC IY
SECTION. 1.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this
Con
public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every stitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures
oth of two
er State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for
pro
the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings posing Amendments, which in either Case, shall be valid
to
shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when
ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the severa
l
SECTION. 2. States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as
the
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges one or the other Mode of Ratification may he proposed
by
and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may
be
A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred
and
other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found eight shall in any Mariner affect the first and fourth
in Clauses
another State, shall on Demand of the executive Auth in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and tlsat iso State,
or without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrag
ity of the Stare from which he fled, be delivered e
up, to be in the Senate.
removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
[No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under
the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Conse
quence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged
from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on
Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may
be
due.]’
SECI’ION. 3.
New States may be admitted by the Congress into this
Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within
the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed
by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States,
without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States
con
cerned as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make
all
needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territo
ry or
other Property belonging to the United States; and
nothing
in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejud
ice
any Claims of the United States, or of any particular
State.
SECTION. 4.
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this
Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall
protect each of them against Invasion; and on Applic
ation
of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legisla
ture
cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
CONSTITUTION OF TilE UNITED
STATES

10. All Debts contracted and Engagements enter
ed into, before The Ratification of the Conventions of
the Adoption of this Constitution, shall nine States, shall
be as valid against be sufficient for the Establishment of this
the United States under this Constitution, Constitution
as under the between the States so ratifying the Sam
Confederation. e.
Done in Convention by the Unanimous
This Constitution, and the Laws of the Unit Consenr of the
ed States States present the Seventeenth Day of
which shall be made in Pursuance there September in the
of; and all Treaties Year of our Lord one thousand seven
made, or which shall be made, under the hundred and Eighty
Authority of the seven and of the Independence of the Unit
United States, shall be the supreme Law ed States of
of the Land; and America the Twelfth In Witness whereof
the Judges in every State shall be bound We have hereunto
thereby, any Thing subscribed our Names,
in the Constitution or Laws of any State
to the Contrary
notwithstanding. Go. Washington--Presidt:
The Senators and Representatives before and deputy from Virginia
mentioned, and
the Members of the several State Legislatu NEW HAMPSHIRE
res, and all execu
tive and judicial Officers, both of the Unit
ed States and of John Langdon
the several States, shall he hound by Oath
or Affirmation, Nicholas Gilman
to support this Constitution; hut no relig
ious Test shall ever
be required as a Qualification to any Offic MASSACHUSETTS
e or public Trust
under the United States.
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King
CONNECTICUT
Wm. Saml. Johnson
Roger Sherman
NEW YORK
Alexander Hamilton
NEW JERSEY
Wil: Livingston
David Brearley
Wm. Paterson
Jona: Dayton
PENNSYLVANIA
B Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
Robt Morris
Ceo. Clymer
Thos. FitzSimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson
Gouv Morris
CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES
-9

11. DELAWARE In Convention Monday
Geo: Read September 17th, 1787.
Gunning Bedford un Present
John Dickinson The States of
Richard Bassett New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Ham-
.
-‘
Jaco: Broom ilton from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
.
MARYLAND Georgia.
James McHenry Resolved,
Dan of St. Thos. Jenifer That the preceeding Constitution be laid before the Unired
Dais! Carroll States in Congress assembled, and that it is the Opinion
VIRGINIA of this Convention, that it should afterwards be submitted
to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the
John Blair- People thereof, under the Recommendation of its Legisla
James Madison Jr.
ture, for their Assent and Ratification; and that each Con-
NORTH CAROLINA vention assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should give
Notice thereof to the United States in Congress assembled.
Wm. Blount
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that
Richd. Dobbs Spaight
as soon as the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified
Hu Williamson
this Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled
SOUTH CAROLINA should fix a Day on which Electors should be appointed by
the States which shall have ratified the same, and a Day on
J. Rutledge
which the Electors should assemble to vote for the Presi
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney dent, and the Time and Place for commencing Proceedings
under this Constitution.
Pierce Butler
GEORGIA That after such Publication the Electors should be ap
pointed, and the Senators and Representatives elected: That
William Few the Electors should meet on the Day fixed for the Election
Abr Baldwin of the President, and should transmit their Votes certified,
signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to
Attest William Jackson Secretary 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
Go. Washington-Presidt:
W. JACKSON Secretary.
*
Language in brackets has been changed by amendment.
CONSTITUTION OF TuE UNITED STATES
Jo

12. THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONS
TITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES AS RATIFIED BY
THE STATES
e9
JFJ6i
1
B Congress shall make no law respecting an estab
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there
lishment of
of; or abridg
ing the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
right
of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
BEGUN AND HELD AT THE Cny OF
NEW-YORK, ON
petition the
WEDNESDAY THE FOURTH OF Government for a redress of grievances.
MARCH,
ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUND
RED AND EIGHTY NINE
THE Conventions of a number of the States, havi
_Ii
ng at A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the
the time of their adopting the Constitution, expr security of
essed a free State, the right of the
a desire, in order to prevent
misconstruction or abus
people to keep and bear Arms,
e shall riot be infringed.
of its powers, that further declaratory and restr
ictive
clauses should be added: And as extending the
ground
of public confidence in the Government, will
best 6_lIZ
ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered
in any
house, without the consent of the Owner,
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of nor in time of
war, but in a manner to be prescribed by
Representatives of the United States of Ame law.
rica,
in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Hou
concurring, that the following Articles be
ses dde 6IT4
proposed to
the Legislatures of the several States, as amendme The right of the people to be secure in their
nts persons, hous
to the Constitution of the United States, all, or es, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
any of searches and
which Articles, when ratified by three fourt seizures, shall nor be violated, and no “arra
hs of the said nrs shall issue,
Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purp but upon probable cause, supported by Oath
oses, as or affirma
part of the said Constitu tion, and particularly describing the place to
tion; viz. be searched,
and the persons or things to be seized.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment
of the
Constitution of the United States of America,
by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatu
proposed
res of the
V
several States, pursuant to the fifth Article No person shall be held to answer for a capit
of the al, or othersvise
original Constitution. infamous crime, unless on a presentment
or indictment of
a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land
or naval
forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service
(Note: Thefirst 10 amendments to the constituti in time of
on were War or public danger; nor shall any perso
ratified December 15, 1791, andform what n he subject for
is known as the same offence to he twice put in jeopardy
the “Bill ofRights.’) of life or limb;
nor shall be compelled in any criminal case
to be a witness
against himself, nor be deprived of life,
liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall priva
te property be
taken for public use, without just compens
ation.
CONSTITUTION OF Ti-it
UNITED STATES
ii

13. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804.
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of
the State and district wherein the crime shall have been (Note: A portion ofArticle Ii, Section 1 ofthe constitution was
committed, which district shall have been previously changed by the 12th Amendment.)
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote
cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom,
against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining wit at least, shall not he an inhabitant of the same state with
nesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted
for his defence. for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted
for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of
e all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted
for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each,
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy
which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed
shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be
to the seat of the government of the United States, directed
preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall he otherwise re
to the President 0 the Senate;-the President 0 the Senate
f f
examined in any Court of the United States, than according
shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Represen
to the rules of the common law.
tatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be
counted;-The person having the greatest number of votes
JZ for President, shall be the President, if such number be a
Excessive bail shall nor be required, nor excessive fines majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. no person have such majority, then from the persons having
the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those
voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall
Ix choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choos
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, ing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained representation from each state having one vote; a quorum
by the pCOie. for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from
two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall
éX be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representa
tives shall not choose a President whenever the right of
The powers nor delegated to the United States by the Con choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of
stitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as
the States respectively, or to the people. President, as in ease of the death or other constitutional
disability of the President._]* The person having the greatest
number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-Presi
AMENDMENTS 11-27 dent, if such number be a majority of the whole number
of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority,
then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate
shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose
Passed by Congress Match 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795. shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators,
and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to
(Note: A portion ofArticle III, Section 2 ofthe Constitution was
modified by the 11” Amendment.) a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the
office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed of the United States.
to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or pros
*Superseded by Section 3 of the 20th Amendment.
ecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another
State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

14. -49 &9 e SECTION 2.
Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December Representatives shall be apportioned among the several
6,
1865. States according to their respective numbers, counting the
(Note: A portion ofArticle IV Section 2 ofthe constitution whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indian
s
was changed by the 13th Amendment.) not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for
the choice of electors for President and Vice President of
SECTION 1. the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Execu
tive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a of the
Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabit
punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been ants of such State, [being twenty-one years 0 age,)
duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any f 4 and
citizens of the United States, or in any way abridg
place subject to their jurisdiction. ed, except
for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis
of
representation therein shall be reduced in the propor
SECTION 2. tion
which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of
age in
appropriate legislation. such State.
SECTION 3.
6XIY
Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Con
gress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold
(Note: Article I, Section 2 ofthe Constitution was modifi any office, civil or military, under the United States, or
ed by
Section 2 ofthe 14th Amendment.) under any State, who, having previously taken an oath,
as a
member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States,
SECTION 1. or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive
or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the
States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds
make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges of each House, remove such disability.
or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall
any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, SECTION 4.
without due process of law; nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The validity of the public debt of the United States, au
thorized by law, including debts incurred for payment
of
pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurre
c
tion or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither
the
United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt
or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion
against the United States, or any claim for the loss or
eman
cipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations
and
claims shall be held illegal and void.
SECTION 5.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appr
opri
ate legislation, the provisions of this article.
“Changed by Section 1 of the 26th Amendment.
CONSTITUTION 01’ TIlE UNITE
D STATES
Jj

15. zi T
C9 t t V.
9 &9
Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified
February 3, 1870. Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratifie
d January 16,
1919. Repealed by the 21”Amcndmenr, December
SECTION 1. 5, 1933.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall SECTION 1.
not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State
on After one year from the ratification of this article
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitu the
de. manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating
liquors
within, the importation thereof into, or the export
SECTION 2. ation
thereof from the United States and all territory subjec
t to
The Congress shall have the power to enforce this the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby
article by
appropriate legislation. prohibited.
xi SECTION 2.
The Congress and the several States shall have concur
Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February rent
3, 1913. power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
(Note: Article I Section 9 ofthe Constitution was modifi
ed by
the 16” Amendment.) SECTION 3.
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been
on
incomes, from whatever source derived, without appo ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the
rtion legisla
ment among the several States, and without regard to tures of the several States, as provided in the Consti
any tution,
census or enumeration. within seven years from the date of the submission
hereof
to the States by the Congress.
X il
Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8,
1913.
X/X
(Note: Article I, Section 3 ofthe Constitution was ;nodfie Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18,
d by 1920.
the 17th Ameudmeni.) The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall
nor
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of be denied or abridged by the United States or by any
two State
Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof on account of sex.
, for
six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
electors appro
in each State shall have the qualifications requisite priate legislation.
for elec
tors of the inosr numerous branch of the State legisla
tures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any
State
in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall
issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided,
That
the legislature of any State may empower the execut
ive
thereof to make temporary appointments until the
people
fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may
direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect
the
election or term of any Senator chosen before it becom
es
valid as part of the Constitution.
CONSTITUTION OF TIlE UNITE
D STATES
ii-

16. /1 TZ TZ
zL .rn en Zlzi el) (,- ./k _/L
--
SECTION 4.
Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death
1933.
(Note: Article I, Section 4 ofthe constitution was modifi of any 0 the persons from whom the House of Repres
f
ed enta
by Section 2 ofthis Amendment. In addition, a portion ofthe tives may choose a President whenever the right of choice
12th Amendment was superseded by Section 3.) shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of rhe
death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may
SECTION 1. choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end have devolved upon them.
at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Sena
tors and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of Januar SECTION 5.
y,
of the years in which such terms would have ended 1 this
f Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of Octo
article had not been ratified; and the terms of their succes ber following the ratification of this article.
sors shall then begin.
SECTION 2. SECTION 6.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year,
and ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the
such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of Januar leg
y, islatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven
unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
years from the date of its submission.
SECTION 3.
If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the
President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Rarified December
Presi- 5,
dent elect shall become President. If a President shall not 1)3.
have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning
of
his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify SECTION 1.
,
then the Vice President elect shall act as President until The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution
a
President shall have qualified; and the Congress may of the United States is hereby repealed.
by law
provide for the case wherein neither a President elect
not a
Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall SECTION 2.
then
act as President, or the manner in which one who is
to act The transportation or importation into any State, Territo
shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly ry,
until or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein
a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof
, is
hereby prohibited.
SECTION 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have
been
ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conven
tions in the several States, as provided in the Consti
tution,
within seven years from the date of the submission
hereof
to the States by the Congress.
CONSTITUTION OF Ti-iC UNITE
D STATES
15