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THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION |
We the People of the
United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic
Tranquility, provide for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain
and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Section 1 - The Legislature
All legislative
Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the
Section 2 - The House
The House of
Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the
People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications
requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
No Person shall be a
Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and
been seven Years a Citizen of the
(Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned
among the several States which may be included within this
When vacancies happen
in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall
issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of
Representatives shall chuse
their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3 - The Senate
The Senate of the
Immediately after
they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be
divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of
the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the
second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at
the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second
Year; (and if
Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the
Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments
until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such
Vacancies.) (The preceding
words in parentheses were superseded by the 17th Amendment, section 2.)
No person shall be a
Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine
Years a Citizen of the
The Vice President of
the
The Senate shall chuse
their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore,
in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President
of the
The Senate shall have
the sole Power to try all Impeachments.
When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the
President of the
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment
shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to
hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the
Section 4 - Elections, Meetings
The Times, Places and
Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be
prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at
any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place of Chusing
Senators.
The Congress shall
assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall (be on the first Monday in
December,) (The preceding
words in parentheses were superseded by the 20th Amendment, section 2.)
unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section 5 - Membership, Rules, Journals, Adjournment
Each House shall be
the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and
a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum
to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn
from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent
Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may
determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly
Behavior, and, with the Concurrence
of two-thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep
a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting
such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy;
and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at
the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during
the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn
for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two
Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6 - Compensation
(The Senators and Representatives shall receive a
Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the
Treasury of the
No Senator or
Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to
any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been
created, or the Emoluments
whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any
Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his
Continuance in Office.
Section 7 - Revenue Bills, Legislative Process, Presidential Veto
All bills for raising
Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may
propose or concur
with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which
shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it
become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve
he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that
House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at
large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such
Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall
be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall
likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall
become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be
determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and
against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If
any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays
excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same
shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by
their Adjournment
prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order,
Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence
of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a
question of Adjournment)
shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same
shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall
be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of
Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case
of a Bill.
Section 8 - Powers of Congress
The Congress shall
have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts
and Excises,
to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence
and general Welfare
of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts
and Excises
shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on
the credit of the
To regulate Commerce
with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an
uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies
throughout the
To coin Money,
regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of
Weights and Measures;
To provide for the
Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the
To establish Post
Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the
Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors
and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute
Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish
Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law
of Nations;
To declare War, grant
Letters of Marque and Reprisal,
and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support
Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term
than two Years;
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 Militia to execute the Laws of the
To provide for
organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part
of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to
the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of
training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive
Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, 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 to
exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the
Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,
Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws
which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing
Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of
the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9 - Limits on Congress
The Migration or
Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think
proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one
thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such
Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The privilege of the
Writ of Habeas Corpus
shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the
public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder
or ex post facto
Law shall be passed.
(No capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid,
unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration
herein before directed to be taken.) (Section in parentheses clarified by the 16th Amendment.)
No Tax or Duty shall
be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall
be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State
over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be
obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be
drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and
a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public
Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility
shall be granted by the
Section 10 - Powers prohibited of States
No State shall enter
into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal;
coin Money; emit Bills of Credit;
make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any
Bill of Attainder,
ex post facto
Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall,
without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts
or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for
executing it's
inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts,
laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury
of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul
of the Congress.
No State shall,
without the Consent of Congress, lay any duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships
of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another
State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or
in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
Section 1 - The President Note1 Note2
The executive Power
shall be vested in a President of the
Each State shall
appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of
Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which
the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or
Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the
(The Electors shall meet in their respective
States, and vote by Ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not lie an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And
they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes
for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the
Seat of the Government of the
The Congress may
determine the Time of chusing
the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall
be the same throughout the
No person except a
natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the
Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President;
neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained
to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the
United States.
(In Case of the Removal of the President from
Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and
Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and
the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or
Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer
shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the
Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.) (This clause in parentheses has been modified by the 20th and 25th Amendments.)
The President shall,
at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither
be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been
elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument
from the
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the
following Oath or Affirmation:
"I do solemnly
swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the
United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States."
Section 2 - Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power,
Appointments
The President shall
be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the
Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the
United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer
in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties
of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and
Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power,
by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided
two thirds of the Senators present concur;
and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate,
shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the
supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments
are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law:
but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as
they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the
Heads of Departments.
The President shall
have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the
Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next
Session.
Section 3 - State of the
He shall from time to
time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend
to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;
he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and
in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment,
he may adjourn
them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other
public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and
shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Section 4 - Disqualification
The President, Vice
President and all civil Officers of the
Section 1 - Judicial powers
The judicial Power of
the
Section 2 - Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury Trials
(The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in
Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States,
and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; to all Cases
affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; to all Cases of
admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;
to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; to Controversies
between two or more States; between a State and Citizens of another State; between
Citizens of different States; between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands
under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof,
and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.) (This section in parentheses is modified by the 11th Amendment.)
In all Cases
affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a
State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have
original Jurisdiction.
In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme
Court shall have appellate
Jurisdiction,
both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as
the Congress shall make.
The Trial of all
Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment,
shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said
Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the
Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
Section 3 - Treason Note
Treason
against the
The Congress shall
have power to declare the Punishment of Treason,
but no Attainder of Treason
shall work Corruption of
Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others
Full Faith and Credit
shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial
Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws
prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be
proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section 2 - State citizens, Extradition
The Citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the
several States.
A Person charged in
any State with Treason,
Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another
State, shall on demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he
fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction
of the Crime.
(No Person held to Service or Labour
in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in
Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service
or Labour,
But shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour
may be due.) (This clause in parentheses is
superseded by the 13th Amendment.)
Section 3 - New States
New States may be
admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or
erected within the Jurisdiction
of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more
States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the
States concerned as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall
have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting
the Territory or other Property belonging to the
Section 4 - Republican government
The
The Congress,
whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose
Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of
two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments,
which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of
this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the
several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the
other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no
Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and
eight shall in any Manner affect the first
and fourth
Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without
its Consent, shall be deprived
of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
All Debts contracted
and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
be as valid against the
This Constitution,
and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and
all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United
States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State
shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to
the Contrary notwithstanding.
The Senators and
Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State
Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United
States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to
support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a
Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
The Ratification of
the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient
for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the
Same.
Done
in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth
Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty
seven and of the
Go Washington -
President and deputy from
Pensylvania
- B Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robt Morris, Geo.
Clymer, Thos FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll,
James Wilson, Gouv Morris
Virginia
- John Blair, James Madison Jr.
Georgia - William
Few, Abr Baldwin
Attest: William
Jackson, Secretary
The following are the Amendments to the Constitution. The first ten
Amendments collectively are commonly known as the Bill of Rights. History
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified
Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress
of grievances.
Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified
A well regulated
Militia, being necessary to the security of a
Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers. Ratified
No Soldier shall, in
time of peace be quartered
in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a
manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified
The right of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants
shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and
particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to
be seized.
Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for
Takings. Ratified
No person shall be
held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a
presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land
or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or
public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the
same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived
of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation
of Witnesses. Ratified
In all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial,
by an impartial
jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed,
which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be
informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the
witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in
his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases. Ratified
In Suits at common
law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of
trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be
otherwise re-examined in any Court of the
Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Ratified
Excessive bail shall
not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted.
Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution. Ratified
The enumeration
in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified
The powers not
delegated to the
Amendment 11 - Judicial Limits. Ratified
The Judicial power of
the
Amendment 12 - Choosing the President,
Vice-President. Ratified
The Electors shall
meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and
Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same
state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as
President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and
they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of
all persons voted for as Vice-President and of the number of votes for each,
which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the
government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;
The President of the
Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open
all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;
The person having the
greatest Number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number
be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have
such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding
three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives
shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the
President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each
state having one vote; a quorum
for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary
to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President
whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of
March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the
case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.
The person having the
greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if
such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no
person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the
Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum
for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators,
and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no
person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible
to that of Vice-President of the
Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished. Ratified
1. Neither slavery
nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the
2. Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights. Ratified
1. All persons born
or naturalized in the
2. Representatives
shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the
whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when
the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and
Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive
and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is
denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of
age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for
participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such
State.
3. No person shall be
a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and
Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States,
or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of
Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State
legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support
the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or
rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But
Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
4. The validity of
the public debt of the
5. The Congress shall
have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this
article.
Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote. Ratified
1. The right of
citizens of the
2. The Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 16 - Status of Income Tax Clarified. Ratified
The Congress shall
have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived,
without apportionment
among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote. Ratified
The Senate of the
When vacancies happen
in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of
such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive
thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by
election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall
not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen
before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
Amendment 18 - Liquor Abolished. Ratified
1. After one year
from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation
of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the
exportation thereof from the
2. The Congress and
the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
3. This article shall
be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the
Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the
States by the Congress.
Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage. Ratified
The right of citizens
of the
Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms. Ratified
1. The terms of the
President and Vice President shall end at
2. The Congress shall
assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at
3. If, at the time
fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall
have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President
shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term,
or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President
elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the
Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor
a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as
President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such
person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have
qualified.
4. The Congress may
by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the
House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice
shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the
persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of
choice shall have devolved upon them.
5. Sections 1 and 2
shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this
article.
6. This article shall
be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within
seven years from the date of its submission.
Amendment 21 - Amendment 18 Repealed. Ratified
1. The eighteenth
article of amendment to the Constitution of the
2. The transportation
or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the
3. The article shall
be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the
Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the
States by the Congress.
Amendment 22 - Presidential Term Limits. Ratified
1. No person shall be
elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has
held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of
a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the
office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any
person holding the office of President, when this Article was proposed by the
Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of
President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article
becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President
during the remainder of such term.
2. This article shall
be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within
seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.
Amendment 23 - Presidential Vote for
1. The District
constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such
manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice
President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress
to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event
more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those
appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the
election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State;
and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the
twelfth article of amendment.
2. The Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 24 - Poll Tax
Barred. Ratified
1. The right of
citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for
President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or
for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by
the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax
or other tax.
2. The Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 25 - Presidential Disability and
Succession. Ratified
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 take office 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 Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a
written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged
by the Vice President as Acting President.
4. Whenever the Vice
President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive
departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to
the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall
immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the
President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability
exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice
President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department
or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days
to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide
the issue, assembling within forty eight hours for that purpose if not in
session. If the Congress, within twenty one days after receipt of the latter
written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty one days
after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two thirds vote of both
Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his
office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting
President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his
office.
Amendment 26 - Voting Age Set to 18 Years. Ratified
1. The right of
citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account
of age.
2. The Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 27 - Limiting Congressional Pay Increases. Ratified
No law, varying the
compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take
effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
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We the People of the
United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic
Tranquility, provide for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain
and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Section 1 - The Legislature
All legislative
Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the
Section 2 - The House
The House of
Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the
People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the
Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State
Legislature.
No Person shall be a
Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and
been seven Years a Citizen of the
(Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned
among the several States which may be included within this
When vacancies happen
in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall
issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of
Representatives shall chuse
their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3 - The Senate
The Senate of the
Immediately after
they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be
divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of
the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the
second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at
the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second
Year; (and if
Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the
Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments
until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such
Vacancies.) (The preceding
words in parentheses were superseded by the 17th Amendment, section 2.)
No person shall be a
Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine
Years a Citizen of the
The Vice President of
the
The Senate shall chuse
their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore,
in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of
President of the
The Senate shall have
the sole Power to try all Impeachments.
When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the
President of the
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment
shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to
hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the
Section 4 - Elections, Meetings
The Times, Places and
Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be
prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at
any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place of Chusing
Senators.
The Congress shall
assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall (be on the first Monday in
December,) (The preceding
words in parentheses were superseded by the 20th Amendment, section 2.)
unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section 5 - Membership, Rules, Journals,
Adjournment
Each House shall be
the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and
a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum
to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn
from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent
Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may
determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly
Behavior, and, with the Concurrence
of two-thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep
a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting
such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy;
and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at
the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during
the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn
for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two
Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6 - Compensation
(The Senators and Representatives shall receive a
Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the
Treasury of the
No Senator or
Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to
any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been
created, or the Emoluments
whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any
Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his
Continuance in Office.
Section 7 - Revenue Bills, Legislative
Process, Presidential Veto
All bills for raising
Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may
propose or concur
with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which
shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it
become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve
he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that
House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at
large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such
Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall
be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall
likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall
become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be
determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and
against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If
any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays
excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same
shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by
their Adjournment
prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order,
Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence
of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a
question of Adjournment)
shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same
shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall
be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of
Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case
of a Bill.
Section 8 - Powers of Congress
The Congress shall
have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts
and Excises,
to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence
and general Welfare
of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts
and Excises
shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on
the credit of the
To regulate Commerce with
foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of
Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the
To coin Money,
regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of
Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of
counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the
To establish Post
Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the
Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors
and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute
Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish
Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law
of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal,
and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support
Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term
than two Years;
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 Militia to execute the Laws of the
To provide for
organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part
of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to
the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of
training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive
Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, 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 to
exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature
of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines,
Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws which shall be
necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all
other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United
States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9 - Limits on Congress
The Migration or Importation of
such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall
not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred
and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding
ten dollars for each Person.
The privilege of the
Writ of Habeas Corpus
shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the
public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder
or ex post facto
Law shall be passed.
(No capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion
to the Census or Enumeration
herein before directed to be taken.) (Section in parentheses clarified by the 16th Amendment.)
No Tax or Duty shall
be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall
be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State
over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be
obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be
drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and
a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public
Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility
shall be granted by the
Section 10 - Powers prohibited of
States
No State shall enter
into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal;
coin Money; emit Bills of Credit;
make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any
Bill of Attainder,
ex post facto
Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall,
without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts
or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for
executing it's
inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts,
laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury
of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul
of the Congress.
No State shall, without the
Consent of Congress, lay any duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in
time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with
a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent
Danger as will not admit of delay.
Section 1 - The President Note1 Note2
The executive Power
shall be vested in a President of the
Each State shall
appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of
Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which
the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or
Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the
(The Electors shall meet in their respective
States, and vote by Ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not lie an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And
they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes
for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the
Seat of the Government of the
The Congress may
determine the Time of chusing
the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall
be the same throughout the
No person except a
natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the
Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President;
neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained
to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the
United States.
(In Case of the Removal of the President from
Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and
Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and
the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or
Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer
shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the
Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.) (This clause in parentheses has been modified by the 20th and 25th Amendments.)
The President shall,
at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither
be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been
elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument
from the
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the
following Oath or Affirmation:
"I do solemnly
swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the
United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States."
Section 2 - Civilian Power over
Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments
The President shall
be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the
Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the
United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer
in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties
of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and
Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with
the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of
the Senators present concur;
and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate,
shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the
supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments
are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law:
but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as
they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the
Heads of Departments.
The President shall
have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the
Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next
Session.
Section 3 - State of the
He shall from time to
time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend
to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;
he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and
in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment,
he may adjourn
them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and
other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully
executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Section 4 - Disqualification
The President, Vice
President and all civil Officers of the
Section 1 - Judicial powers
The judicial Power of
the
Section 2 - Trial by Jury, Original
Jurisdiction, Jury Trials
(The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in
Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States,
and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; to all Cases
affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; to all Cases of
admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;
to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; to Controversies
between two or more States; between a State and Citizens of another State;
between Citizens of different States; between Citizens of the same State
claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the
Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.) (This section in parentheses is modified by the 11th Amendment.)
In all Cases
affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a
State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have
original Jurisdiction.
In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme
Court shall have appellate
Jurisdiction,
both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as
the Congress shall make.
The Trial of all
Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment,
shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said
Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the
Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have
directed.
Treason
against the
The Congress shall
have power to declare the Punishment of Treason,
but no Attainder of Treason
shall work Corruption of
Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Section 1 - Each State to Honor all
others
Full Faith and Credit
shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial
Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws
prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be
proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section 2 - State citizens, Extradition
The Citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the
several States.
A Person charged in
any State with Treason,
Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another
State, shall on demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he
fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction
of the Crime.
(No Person held to Service or Labour
in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in
Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service
or Labour,
But shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour
may be due.) (This clause in parentheses is
superseded by the 13th Amendment.)
Section 3 - New States
New States may be
admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or
erected within the Jurisdiction
of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more
States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the
States concerned as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall
have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting
the Territory or other Property belonging to the
Section 4 - Republican government
The
The Congress,
whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose
Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of
two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing
Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes,
as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three
fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as
the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;
Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand
eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first
and fourth
Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without
its Consent, shall be deprived
of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
All Debts contracted
and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
be as valid against the
This Constitution, and the Laws of
the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties
made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall
be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound
thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary
notwithstanding.
The Senators and Representatives
before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all
executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several
States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution;
but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office
or public Trust under the United States.
The Ratification of
the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient
for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the
Same.
Done in Convention by the
Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the
Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the
Go Washington -
President and deputy from
Pensylvania
- B Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robt Morris, Geo.
Clymer, Thos FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll,
James Wilson, Gouv Morris
Virginia
- John Blair, James Madison Jr.
Georgia - William
Few, Abr Baldwin
Attest: William
Jackson, Secretary
The following are the Amendments to the Constitution. The first ten
Amendments collectively are commonly known as the Bill of Rights. History
Amendment
1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified
Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress
of grievances.
Amendment
2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified
A well regulated
Militia, being necessary to the security of a
Amendment
3 - Quartering of Soldiers. Ratified
No Soldier shall, in
time of peace be quartered
in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a
manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment
4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified
The right of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants
shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and
particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to
be seized.
Amendment
5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Ratified
No person shall be
held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a
presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land
or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or
public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the
same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived
of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment
6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of
Witnesses. Ratified
In all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial,
by an impartial
jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed,
which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be
informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the
witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in
his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Amendment
7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases. Ratified
In Suits at common
law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of
trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be
otherwise re-examined in any Court of the
Amendment
8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Ratified
Excessive bail shall
not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted.
Amendment
9 - Construction of Constitution. Ratified
The enumeration
in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment 10 - Powers of
the States and People. Ratified
The powers not
delegated to the
Amendment
11 - Judicial Limits. Ratified
The Judicial power of
the
Amendment
12 - Choosing the President, Vice-President. Ratified
The Electors shall
meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and
Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same
state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as
President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and
they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of
all persons voted for as Vice-President and of the number of votes for each,
which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the
government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;
The President of the
Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open
all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;
The person having the
greatest Number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number
be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have
such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding
three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives
shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the
President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each
state having one vote; a quorum
for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary
to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President
whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of
March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the
case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.
The person having the
greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if
such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no
person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the
Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum
for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators,
and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person
constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to
that of Vice-President of the
Amendment 13 - Slavery
Abolished. Ratified
1. Neither slavery
nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the
2. Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment
14 - Citizenship Rights. Ratified
1. All persons born
or naturalized in the
2. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the
whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the
right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and
Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive
and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is
denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of
age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for
participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such
State.
3. No person shall be
a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and
Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States,
or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of
Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State
legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support
the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or
rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But
Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
4. The validity of
the public debt of the
5. The Congress shall
have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this
article.
Amendment 15 - Race No
Bar to Vote. Ratified
1. The right of
citizens of the
2. The Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 16 - Status of
Income Tax Clarified. Ratified
The Congress shall
have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived,
without apportionment
among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
Amendment 17 - Senators
Elected by Popular Vote. Ratified
The Senate of the
When vacancies happen in the
representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such
State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive
thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by
election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall
not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen
before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
Amendment 18 - Liquor
Abolished. Ratified
1. After one year
from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation
of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the
exportation thereof from the
2. The Congress and
the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
3. This article shall
be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the
Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the
States by the Congress.
Amendment
19 - Women's Suffrage. Ratified
The right of citizens
of the
Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment
20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms. Ratified
1. The terms of the
President and Vice President shall end at
2. The Congress shall assemble
at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at
3. If, at the time
fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall
have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President
shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term,
or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President
elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the
Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor
a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as
President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such
person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have
qualified.
4. The Congress may
by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the
House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice
shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the
persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of
choice shall have devolved upon them.
5. Sections 1 and 2
shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this
article.
6. This article shall
be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within
seven years from the date of its submission.
Amendment
21 - Amendment 18 Repealed. Ratified
1. The eighteenth
article of amendment to the Constitution of the
2. The transportation
or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the
3. The article shall
be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the
Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the
States by the Congress.
Amendment 22 -
Presidential Term Limits. Ratified
1. No person shall be
elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has
held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of
a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the
office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any
person holding the office of President, when this Article was proposed by the
Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of
President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article
becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President
during the remainder of such term.
2. This article shall
be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within
seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.
Amendment
23 - Presidential Vote for
1. The District
constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such
manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice
President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress
to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event
more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those
appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the
election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State;
and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the
twelfth article of amendment.
2. The Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 24 - Poll Tax
Barred. Ratified
1. The right of
citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for
President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or
for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by
the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax
or other tax.
2. The Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment
25 - Presidential Disability and Succession. Ratified
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 take office 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 Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a
written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged
by the Vice President as Acting President.
4. Whenever the Vice
President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive
departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to
the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall
immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the
President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability
exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice
President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive
department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit
within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is
unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress
shall decide the issue, assembling within forty eight hours for that purpose if
not in session. If the Congress, within twenty one days after receipt of the
latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty
one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two thirds vote
of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties
of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as
Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties
of his office.
Amendment 26 - Voting
Age Set to 18 Years. Ratified
1. The right of
citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account
of age.
2. The Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment 27 - Limiting
Congressional Pay Increases. Ratified
No law, varying the
compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take
effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
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