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THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
(See
Note 1)
We
the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect
Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article.
I.
Section
1.
All
legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress
of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House
of Representatives.
Section.
2.
Clause
1:
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen
every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors
in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors
of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
Clause
2:
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained
to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen
of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant
of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Clause
3: Representatives
and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which
may be included within this Union, according to their respective
Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number
of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of
Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other
Persons. (See Note 2) The actual
Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting
of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent
Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The
Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty
Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative;
and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire
shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island
and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six,
New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six,
Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia
three.
Clause
4:
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the
Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill
such Vacancies.
Clause
5: The
House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers;
and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section.
3.
Clause
1: The
Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from
each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, (See
Note 3) for six Years; and each Senator shall have
one Vote.
Clause
2:
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the
first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into
three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall
be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class
at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at
the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen
every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise,
during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive
thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of
the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
(See Note 4)
Clause
3: No
Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age
of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States,
and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State
for which he shall be chosen.
Clause
4:
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the
Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
Clause
5: The
Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro
tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall
exercise the Office of President of the United States.
Clause
6: The
Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting
for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the
President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall
preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence
of two thirds of the Members present.
Clause
7: Judgment
in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal
from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of
honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted
shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment
and Punishment, according to Law.
Section.
4.
Clause
1: The
Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives,
shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but
the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations,
except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
Clause
2: The
Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting
shall be on the first Monday in December, (See Note
5) unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section.
5.
Clause
1: Each
House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications
of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum
to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day,
and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members,
in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Clause
2: Each
House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members
for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds,
expel a Member.
Clause
3: Each
House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to
time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment
require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either
House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those
Present, be entered on the Journal.
Clause
4: Neither
House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent
of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other
Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section.
6.
Clause
1: The
Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their
Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury
of the United States. (See Note 6)
They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the
Peace, beprivileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session
of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the
same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not
be questioned in any other Place.
Clause
2: No
Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was
elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of
the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments
whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person
holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of
either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section.
7.
Clause
1: All
Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives;
but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other
Bills.
Clause
2: Every
Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the
Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President
of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not
he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it
shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on
their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration
two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall
be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which
it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds
of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the
Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the
Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered
on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not
be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted)
after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law,
in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their
Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a
Law.
Clause
3: Every
Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate
and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question
of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United
States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved
by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds
of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules
and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section.
8.
Clause
1: The
Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts
and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence
and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts
and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
Clause
2: To
borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
Clause
3: To
regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States,
and with the Indian Tribes;
Clause
4: To
establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on
the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
Clause
5: To
coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and
fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
Clause
6: To
provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and
current Coin of the United States;
Clause
7: To
establish Post Offices and post Roads;
Clause
8: To
promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for
limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their
respective Writings and Discoveries;
Clause
9: To
constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
Clause
10: To
define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas,
and Offences against the Law of Nations;
Clause
11: To
declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules
concerning Captures on Land and Water;
Clause
12: To
raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that
Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
Clause
13: To
provide and maintain a Navy;
Clause
14: To
make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval
Forces;
Clause
15: To
provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the
Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
Clause
16:
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia,
and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service
of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the
Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia
according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
Clause
17: To
exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such
District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, byCession of particular
States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government
of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places
purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which
the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals,
dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
Clause
18: To
make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into
Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this
Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department
or Officer thereof.
Section.
9.
Clause
1: The
Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now
existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by
the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight,
but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding
ten dollars for each Person.
Clause
2: The
Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless
when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require
it.
Clause
3: No
Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
Clause
4: No
Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion
to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
(See Note 7)
Clause
5: No
Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
Clause
6: No
Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue
to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels
bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay
Duties in another.
Clause
7: No
Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations
made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts
and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time
to time.
Clause
8: No
Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no
Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall,
without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument,
Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or
foreign State.
Section. 10.
Clause
1: No
State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant
Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit;
make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts;
pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing
the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
Clause
2: No
State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts
or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary
for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties
and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for
the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws
shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
Clause
3: No
State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage,
keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement
or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage
in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will
not admit of delay.
Article.
II.
Section.
1.
Clause
1: The
executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States
of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years,
and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term,
be elected, as follows
Clause 2: Each
State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may
direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators
and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress:
but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of
Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
Clause
3: The
Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot
for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant
of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of
all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each;
which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the
Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President
of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence
of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates,
and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest
Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority
of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more
than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes,
then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot
one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then
from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner
chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall
be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one
Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members
from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States
shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice
of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes
of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should
remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse
from them by Ballot the Vice President. (See Note
8)
Clause
4: The
Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the
Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the
same throughout the United States.
Clause
5: No
Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United
States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person
be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age
of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within
the United States.
Clause
6: In
Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death,
Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of
the said Office, (See Note 9) the
Same shall devolve on the VicePresident, and the Congress may by
Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability,
both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer
shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly,
until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
Clause
7: The
President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation,
which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period
for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within
that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of
them.
Clause 8: Before
he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following
Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will
faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States,
and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States."
Section.
2.
Clause
1: The
President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the
United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called
into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the
Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive
Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective
Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons
for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
Clause
2: He
shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate,
to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur;
and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of
the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and
Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of
the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided
for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may
by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think
proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the
Heads of Departments.
Clause
3: The
President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen
during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall
expire at the End of their next Session.
Section.
3.
He
shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the
State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures
as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary
Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of
Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment,
he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall
receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care
that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the
Officers of the United States.
Section. 4.
The
President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States,
shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction
of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Article.
III.
Section.
1.
The
judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme
Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time
to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and
inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour,
and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation,
which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Section.
2.
Clause
1: The
judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising
under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties
made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases
affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all
Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies
to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between
two or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another State;
(See Note 10)--between Citizens
of different States, --between Citizens of the same State claiming
Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or
the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
Clause 2: In
all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls,
and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall
have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned,
the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to
Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as
the Congress shall make.
Clause
3: The
Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by
Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes
shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State,
the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by
Law have directed.
Section.
3.
Clause
1:Treason
against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against
them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.
No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony
of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open
Court.
Clause
2: The
Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason,
but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture
except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article.
IV.
Section.
1.
Full
Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts,
Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the
Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such
Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section.
2.
Clause
1: The
Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities
of Citizens in the several States.
Clause 2: A
Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime,
who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall
on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he
fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction
of the Crime.
Clause 3: No
Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof,
escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation
therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be
delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour
may be due. (See Note 11)
Section.
3.
Clause
1:
New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but
no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction
of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two
or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures
of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
Clause
2: The
Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules
and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging
to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be
so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or
of any particular State.
Section.
4.
The
United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican
Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion;
and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when
the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article.
V.
The
Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary,
shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application
of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call
a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall
be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution,
when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several
States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or
the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;
Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One
thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the
first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article;
and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its
equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Article.
VI.
Clause
1: All
Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption
of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States
under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
Clause
2: This
Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made
in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made,
under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law
of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby,
any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary
notwithstanding.
Clause
3: The
Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of
the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers,
both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound
by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious
Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or
public Trust under the United States.
Article.
VII.
The
Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient
for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so
ratifying the Same.
done
in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the
Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United
States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto
subscribed our Names,
GO
WASHINGTON--Presidt. and deputy from Virginia
[Signed
also by the deputies of twelve States.]
Delaware
Geo:
Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom
Maryland
James
MCHenry
Dan of ST ThoS. Jenifer
DanL Carroll.
Virginia
John
Blair--
James Madison Jr.
North
Carolina
WM
Blount
RichD. Dobbs Spaight.
Hu Williamson
South
Carolina
J.
Rutledge
Charles 1ACotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler.
Georgia
William
Few
Abr Baldwin
New
Hampshire
John
Langdon
Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts
Nathaniel
Gorham
Rufus King
Connecticut
WM.
SamL. Johnson
Roger Sherman
New
York
Alexander
Hamilton
New
Jersey
Wil:
Livingston
David Brearley.
WM. Paterson.
Jona: Dayton
Pennsylvania
B
Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
RobT Morris
Geo. Clymer
ThoS. FitzSimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson.
Gouv Morris
Attest
William Jackson Secretary
ARTICLES
IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENTS OF, THE
Amendments
to the Constitution
CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED
BY THE LEGISLATURES OF THE SEVERAL STATES, PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH
ARTICLE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION (See Note
12)
Article
[I.] (See Note 13)
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.
Article
[II.]
A
well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not
be infringed.
Article
[III.]
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.
Article
[IV.]
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.
Article
[V.]
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 offence 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.
Article
[VI.]
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.
Article
[VII.]
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 United States, than according to the rules of the common
law.
Article
[VIII.]
Excessive
bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article
[IX.]
The
enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article
[X.]
The
powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively,
or to the people.
[Article
XI.]
The
Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend
to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one
of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens
or Subjects of any Foreign State.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
eleventh amendment to the Constitution of the United States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Third
Congress, on the 4th of March 1794; and was declared in a message
from the President to Congress, dated the 8th of January, 1798,
to have been ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the
States. The dates of ratification were: New York, March 27, 1794;
Rhode Island, March 31, 1794; Connecticut, May 8, 1794; New Hampshire,
June 16, 1794; Massachusetts, June 26, 1794; Vermont, between October
9, 1794 and November 9, 1794; Virginia, November 18, 1794; Georgia,
November 29, 1794; Kentucky, December 7, 1794; Maryland, December
26, 1794; Delaware, January 23, 1795; North Carolina, February 7,
1795.
Ratification
was completed on February 7, 1795.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by South Carolina on December
4, 1797. New Jersey and Pennsylvania did not take action on the
amendment.
[Article
XII.]
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. (See Note 14)--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 United States.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
twelfth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed
to the legislatures of the several States by the Eighth Congress,
on the 9th of December, 1803, in lieu of the original third paragraph
of the first section of the second article; and was declared in
a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 25th of September,
1804, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 13 of the 17
States. The dates of ratification were: North Carolina, December
21, 1803; Maryland, December 24, 1803; Kentucky, December 27, 1803;
Ohio, December 30, 1803; Pennsylvania, January 5, 1804; Vermont,
January 30, 1804; Virginia, February 3, 1804; New York, February
10, 1804; New Jersey, February 22, 1804; Rhode Island, March 12,
1804; South Carolina, May 15, 1804; Georgia, May 19, 1804; New Hampshire,
June 15, 1804.
Ratification
was completed on June 15, 1804.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Tennessee, July 27, 1804.
The
amendment was rejected by Delaware, January 18, 1804; Massachusetts,
February 3, 1804; Connecticut, at its session begun May 10, 1804.
Article
XIII.
Section
1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment
for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall
exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section
2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Thirty-eighth
Congress, on the 31st day of January, 1865, and was declared, in
a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 18th of December,
1865, to have been ratified by the legislatures of twenty-seven
of the thirty-six States. The dates of ratification were: Illinois,
February 1, 1865; Rhode Island, February 2, 1865; Michigan, February
2, 1865; Maryland, February 3, 1865; New York, February 3, 1865;
Pennsylvania, February 3, 1865; West Virginia, February 3, 1865;
Missouri, February 6, 1865; Maine, February 7, 1865; Kansas, February
7, 1865; Massachusetts, February 7, 1865; Virginia, February 9,
1865; Ohio, February 10, 1865; Indiana, February 13, 1865; Nevada,
February 16, 1865; Louisiana, February 17, 1865; Minnesota, February
23, 1865; Wisconsin, February 24, 1865; Vermont, March 9, 1865;
Tennessee, April 7, 1865; Arkansas, April 14, 1865; Connecticut,
May 4, 1865; New Hampshire, July 1, 1865; South Carolina, November
13, 1865; Alabama, December 2, 1865; North Carolina, December 4,
1865; Georgia, December 6, 1865.
Ratification
was completed on December 6, 1865.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Oregon, December 8, 1865;
California, December 19, 1865; Florida, December 28, 1865 (Florida
again ratified on June 9, 1868, upon its adoption of a new constitution);
Iowa, January 15, 1866; New Jersey, January 23, 1866 (after having
rejected the amendment on March 16, 1865); Texas, February 18, 1870;
Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having rejected the amendment
on February 8, 1865); Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected
it on February 24, 1865).
The
amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Mississippi,
December 4, 1865.
Article
XIV.
Section
1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United
States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make
or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities
of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection
of the laws.
Section
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, (See
Note 15) 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.
Section
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.
Section
4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized
by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties
for services in suppressing insurrection 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 emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and
claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section
5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of this article.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Thirty-ninth
Congress, on the 13th of June, 1866. It was declared, in a certificate
of the Secretary of State dated July 28, 1868 to have been ratified
by the legislatures of 28 of the 37 States. The dates of ratification
were: Connecticut, June 25, 1866; New Hampshire, July 6, 1866; Tennessee,
July 19, 1866; New Jersey, September 11, 1866 (subsequently the
legislature rescinded its ratification, and on March 24, 1868, readopted
its resolution of rescission over the Governor's veto, and on Nov.
12, 1980, expressed support for the amendment); Oregon, September
19, 1866 (and rescinded its ratification on October 15, 1868); Vermont,
October 30, 1866; Ohio, January 4, 1867 (and rescinded its ratification
on January 15, 1868); New York, January 10, 1867; Kansas, January
11, 1867; Illinois, January 15, 1867; West Virginia, January 16,
1867; Michigan, January 16, 1867; Minnesota, January 16, 1867; Maine,
January 19, 1867; Nevada, January 22, 1867; Indiana, January 23,
1867; Missouri, January 25, 1867; Rhode Island, February 7, 1867;
Wisconsin, February 7, 1867; Pennsylvania, February 12, 1867; Massachusetts,
March 20, 1867; Nebraska, June 15, 1867; Iowa, March 16, 1868; Arkansas,
April 6, 1868; Florida, June 9, 1868; North Carolina, July 4, 1868
(after having rejected it on December 14, 1866); Louisiana, July
9, 1868 (after having rejected it on February 6, 1867); South Carolina,
July 9, 1868 (after having rejected it on December 20, 1866).
Ratification
was completed on July 9, 1868.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Alabama, July 13, 1868; Georgia,
July 21, 1868 (after having rejected it on November 9, 1866); Virginia,
October 8, 1869 (after having rejected it on January 9, 1867); Mississippi,
January 17, 1870; Texas, February 18, 1870 (after having rejected
it on October 27, 1866); Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having
rejected it on February 8, 1867); Maryland, April 4, 1959 (after
having rejected it on March 23, 1867); California, May 6, 1959;
Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on January 8,
1867).
Article
XV.
Section
1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Section
2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Fortieth
Congress, on the 26th of February, 1869, and was declared, in a
proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated March 30, 1870, to
have been ratified by the legislatures of twenty-nine of the thirty-seven
States. The dates of ratification were: Nevada, March 1, 1869; West
Virginia, March 3, 1869; Illinois, March 5, 1869; Louisiana, March
5, 1869; North Carolina, March 5, 1869; Michigan, March 8, 1869;
Wisconsin, March 9, 1869; Maine, March 11, 1869; Massachusetts,
March 12, 1869; Arkansas, March 15, 1869; South Carolina, March
15, 1869; Pennsylvania, March 25, 1869; New York, April 14, 1869
(and the legislature of the same State passed a resolution January
5, 1870, to withdraw its consent to it, which action it rescinded
on March 30, 1970); Indiana, May 14, 1869; Connecticut, May 19,
1869; Florida, June 14, 1869; New Hampshire, July 1, 1869; Virginia,
October 8, 1869; Vermont, October 20, 1869; Missouri, January 7,
1870; Minnesota, January 13, 1870; Mississippi, January 17, 1870;
Rhode Island, January 18, 1870; Kansas, January 19, 1870; Ohio,
January 27, 1870 (after having rejected it on April 30, 1869); Georgia,
February 2, 1870; Iowa, February 3, 1870.
Ratification
was completed on February 3, 1870, unless the withdrawal of ratification
by New York was effective; in which event ratification was completed
on February 17, 1870, when Nebraska ratified.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Texas, February 18, 1870;
New Jersey, February 15, 1871 (after having rejected it on February
7, 1870); Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having rejected it
on March 18, 1869); Oregon, February 24, 1959; California, April
3, 1962 (after having rejected it on January 28, 1870); Kentucky,
March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on March 12, 1869).
The
amendment was approved by the Governor of Maryland, May 7, 1973;
Maryland having previously rejected it on February 26, 1870.
The
amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Tennessee,
November 16, 1869.
Article
XVI.
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.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
sixteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Sixty-first
Congress on the 12th of July, 1909, and was declared, in a proclamation
of the Secretary of State, dated the 25th of February, 1913, to
have been ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification
were: Alabama, August 10, 1909; Kentucky, February 8, 1910; South
Carolina, February 19, 1910; Illinois, March 1, 1910; Mississippi,
March 7, 1910; Oklahoma, March 10, 1910; Maryland, April 8, 1910;
Georgia, August 3, 1910; Texas, August 16, 1910; Ohio, January 19,
1911; Idaho, January 20, 1911; Oregon, January 23, 1911; Washington,
January 26, 1911; Montana, January 30, 1911; Indiana, January 30,
1911; California, January 31, 1911; Nevada, January 31, 1911; South
Dakota, February 3, 1911; Nebraska, February 9, 1911; North Carolina,
February 11, 1911; Colorado, February 15, 1911; North Dakota, February
17, 1911; Kansas, February 18, 1911; Michigan, February 23, 1911;
Iowa, February 24, 1911; Missouri, March 16, 1911; Maine, March
31, 1911; Tennessee, April 7, 1911; Arkansas, April 22, 1911 (after
having rejected it earlier); Wisconsin, May 26, 1911; New York,
July 12, 1911; Arizona, April 6, 1912; Minnesota, June 11, 1912;
Louisiana, June 28, 1912; West Virginia, January 31, 1913; New Mexico,
February 3, 1913.
Ratification
was completed on February 3, 1913.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, March 4, 1913;
New Hampshire, March 7, 1913 (after having rejected it on March
2, 1911).
The
amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Connecticut,
Rhode Island, and Utah.
[Article
XVII.]
The
Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from
each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each
Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch
of the State legislatures.
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.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
seventeenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Sixty-second
Congress on the 13th of May, 1912, and was declared, in a proclamation
of the Secretary of State, dated the 31st of May, 1913, to have
been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates
of ratification were: Massachusetts, May 22, 1912; Arizona, June
3, 1912; Minnesota, June 10, 1912; New York, January 15, 1913; Kansas,
January 17, 1913; Oregon, January 23, 1913; North Carolina, January
25, 1913; California, January 28, 1913; Michigan, January 28, 1913;
Iowa, January 30, 1913; Montana, January 30, 1913; Idaho, January
31, 1913; West Virginia, February 4, 1913; Colorado, February 5,
1913; Nevada, February 6, 1913; Texas, February 7, 1913; Washington,
February 7, 1913; Wyoming, February 8, 1913; Arkansas, February
11, 1913; Maine, February 11, 1913; Illinois, February 13, 1913;
North Dakota, February 14, 1913; Wisconsin, February 18, 1913; Indiana,
February 19, 1913; New Hampshire, February 19, 1913; Vermont, February
19, 1913; South Dakota, February 19, 1913; Oklahoma, February 24,
1913; Ohio, February 25, 1913; Missouri, March 7, 1913; New Mexico,
March 13, 1913; Nebraska, March 14, 1913; New Jersey, March 17,
1913; Tennessee, April 1, 1913; Pennsylvania, April 2, 1913; Connecticut,
April 8, 1913.
Ratification
was completed on April 8, 1913.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Louisiana, June 11, 1914.
The
amendment was rejected by Utah (and not subsequently ratified) on
February 26, 1913.
Article
[XVIII]. (See Note 16)
Section
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
United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof
for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section.
2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section.
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.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Sixty-fifth
Congress, on the 18th of December, 1917, and was declared, in a
proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 29th of January,
1919, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48
States. The dates of ratification were: Mississippi, January 8,
1918; Virginia, January 11, 1918; Kentucky, January 14, 1918; North
Dakota, January 25, 1918; South Carolina, January 29, 1918; Maryland,
February 13, 1918; Montana, February 19, 1918; Texas, March 4, 1918;
Delaware, March 18, 1918; South Dakota, March 20, 1918; Massachusetts,
April 2, 1918; Arizona, May 24, 1918; Georgia, June 26, 1918; Louisiana,
August 3, 1918; Florida, December 3, 1918; Michigan, January 2,
1919; Ohio, January 7, 1919; Oklahoma, January 7, 1919; Idaho, January
8, 1919; Maine, January 8, 1919; West Virginia, January 9, 1919;
California, January 13, 1919; Tennessee, January 13, 1919; Washington,
January 13, 1919; Arkansas, January 14, 1919; Kansas, January 14,
1919; Alabama, January 15, 1919; Colorado, January 15, 1919; Iowa,
January 15, 1919; New Hampshire, January 15, 1919; Oregon, January
15, 1919; Nebraska, January 16, 1919; North Carolina, January 16,
1919; Utah, January 16, 1919; Missouri, January 16, 1919; Wyoming,
January 16, 1919.
Ratification
was completed on January 16, 1919. See Dillon v. Gloss, 256 U.S.
368, 376 (1921).
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Minnesota on January 17,
1919; Wisconsin, January 17, 1919; New Mexico, January 20, 1919;
Nevada, January 21, 1919; New York, January 29, 1919; Vermont, January
29, 1919; Pennsylvania, February 25, 1919; Connecticut, May 6, 1919;
and New Jersey, March 9, 1922.
The
amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Rhode
Island.
Article
[XIX].
The
right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress
shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
nineteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Sixty-sixth
Congress, on the 4th of June, 1919, and was declared, in a proclamation
of the Secretary of State, dated the 26th of August, 1920, to have
been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates
of ratification were: Illinois, June 10, 1919 (and that State readopted
its resolution of ratification June 17, 1919); Michigan, June 10,
1919; Wisconsin, June 10, 1919; Kansas, June 16, 1919; New York,
June 16, 1919; Ohio, June 16, 1919; Pennsylvania, June 24, 1919;
Massachusetts, June 25, 1919; Texas, June 28, 1919; Iowa, July 2,
1919; Missouri, July 3, 1919; Arkansas, July 28, 1919; Montana,
August 2, 1919; Nebraska, August 2, 1919; Minnesota, September 8,
1919; New Hampshire, September 10, 1919; Utah, October 2, 1919;
California, November 1, 1919; Maine, November 5, 1919; North Dakota,
December 1, 1919; South Dakota, December 4, 1919; Colorado, December
15, 1919; Kentucky, January 6, 1920; Rhode Island, January 6, 1920;
Oregon, January 13, 1920; Indiana, January 16, 1920; Wyoming, January
27, 1920; Nevada, February 7, 1920; New Jersey, February 9, 1920;
Idaho, February 11, 1920; Arizona, February 12, 1920; New Mexico,
February 21, 1920; Oklahoma, February 28, 1920; West Virginia, March
10, 1920; Washington, March 22, 1920; Tennessee, August 18, 1920.
Ratification
was completed on August 18, 1920.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Connecticut on September
14, 1920 (and that State reaffirmed on September 21, 1920); Vermont,
February 8, 1921; Delaware, March 6, 1923 (after having rejected
it on June 2, 1920); Maryland, March 29, 1941 (after having rejected
it on February 24, 1920, ratification certified on February 25,
1958); Virginia, February 21, 1952 (after having rejected it on
February 12, 1920); Alabama, September 8, 1953 (after having rejected
it on September 22, 1919); Florida, May 13, 1969; South Carolina,
July 1, 1969 (after having rejected it on January 28, 1920, ratification
certified on August 22, 1973); Georgia, February 20, 1970 (after
having rejected it on July 24, 1919); Louisiana, June 11, 1970 (after
having rejected it on July 1, 1920); North Carolina, May 6, 1971;
Mississippi, March 22, 1984 (after having rejected it on March 29,
1920).
Article
[XX.]
Section
1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at
noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives
at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms
would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the
terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section.
2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year,
and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless
they shall by law appoint a different day.
Section.
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.
Section.
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.
Section.
5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October
following the ratification of this article.
Section.
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.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
twentieth amendment to the Constitution was proposed to the legislatures
of the several states by the Seventy-Second Congress, on the 2d
day of March, 1932, and was declared, in a proclamation by the Secretary
of State, dated on the 6th day of February, 1933, to have been ratified
by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification
were: Virginia, March 4, 1932; New York, March 11, 1932; Mississippi,
March 16, 1932; Arkansas, March 17, 1932; Kentucky, March 17, 1932;
New Jersey, March 21, 1932; South Carolina, March 25, 1932; Michigan,
March 31, 1932; Maine, April 1, 1932; Rhode Island, April 14, 1932;
Illinois, April 21, 1932; Louisiana, June 22, 1932; West Virginia,
July 30, 1932; Pennsylvania, August 11, 1932; Indiana, August 15,
1932; Texas, September 7, 1932; Alabama, September 13, 1932; California,
January 4, 1933; North Carolina, January 5, 1933; North Dakota,
January 9, 1933; Minnesota, January 12, 1933; Arizona, January 13,
1933; Montana, January 13, 1933; Nebraska, January 13, 1933; Oklahoma,
January 13, 1933; Kansas, January 16, 1933; Oregon, January 16,
1933; Delaware, January 19, 1933; Washington, January 19, 1933;
Wyoming, January 19, 1933; Iowa, January 20, 1933; South Dakota,
January 20, 1933; Tennessee, January 20, 1933; Idaho, January 21,
1933; New Mexico, January 21, 1933; Georgia, January 23, 1933; Missouri,
January 23, 1933; Ohio, January 23, 1933; Utah, January 23, 1933.
Ratification
was completed on January 23, 1933.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts on January
24, 1933; Wisconsin, January 24, 1933; Colorado, January 24, 1933;
Nevada, January 26, 1933; Connecticut, January 27, 1933; New Hampshire,
January 31, 1933; Vermont, February 2, 1933; Maryland, March 24,
1933; Florida, April 26, 1933.
Article
[XXI.]
Section
1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of
the United States is hereby repealed.
Section
2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory,
or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein 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 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.
Proposal
and Ratification
The
twenty-first amendment to the Constitution was proposed to the several
states by the Seventy-Second Congress, on the 20th day of February,
1933, and was declared, in a proclamation by the Secretary of State,
dated on the 5th day of December, 1933, to have been ratified by
36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Michigan, April
10, 1933; Wisconsin, April 25, 1933; Rhode Island, May 8, 1933;
Wyoming, May 25, 1933; New Jersey, June 1, 1933; Delaware, June
24, 1933; Indiana, June 26, 1933; Massachusetts, June 26, 1933;
New York, June 27, 1933; Illinois, July 10, 1933; Iowa, July 10,
1933; Connecticut, July 11, 1933; New Hampshire, July 11, 1933;
California, July 24, 1933; West Virginia, July 25, 1933; Arkansas,
August 1, 1933; Oregon, August 7, 1933; Alabama, August 8, 1933;
Tennessee, August 11, 1933; Missouri, August 29, 1933; Arizona,
September 5, 1933; Nevada, September 5, 1933; Vermont, September
23, 1933; Colorado, September 26, 1933; Washington, October 3, 1933;
Minnesota, October 10, 1933; Idaho, October 17, 1933; Maryland,
October 18, 1933; Virginia, October 25, 1933; New Mexico, November
2, 1933; Florida, November 14, 1933; Texas, November 24, 1933; Kentucky,
November 27, 1933; Ohio, December 5, 1933; Pennsylvania, December
5, 1933; Utah, December 5, 1933.
Ratification
was completed on December 5, 1933.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by Maine, on December 6, 1933,
and by Montana, on August 6, 1934.
The
amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by South
Carolina, on December 4, 1933.
Article
[XXII.]
Section
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.
Section.
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.
Proposal
and Ratification
This
amendment was proposed to the legislatures of the several States
by the Eightieth Congress on Mar. 21, 1947 by House Joint Res. No.
27, and was declared by the Administrator of General Services, on
Mar. 1, 1951, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of
the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Maine, March 31,
1947; Michigan, March 31, 1947; Iowa, April 1, 1947; Kansas, April
1, 1947; New Hampshire, April 1, 1947; Delaware, April 2, 1947;
Illinois, April 3, 1947; Oregon, April 3, 1947; Colorado, April
12, 1947; California, April 15, 1947; New Jersey, April 15, 1947;
Vermont, April 15, 1947; Ohio, April 16, 1947; Wisconsin, April
16, 1947; Pennsylvania, April 29, 1947; Connecticut, May 21, 1947;
Missouri, May 22, 1947; Nebraska, May 23, 1947; Virginia, January
28, 1948; Mississippi, February 12, 1948; New York, March 9, 1948;
South Dakota, January 21, 1949; North Dakota, February 25, 1949;
Louisiana, May 17, 1950; Montana, January 25, 1951; Indiana, January
29, 1951; Idaho, January 30, 1951; New Mexico, February 12, 1951;
Wyoming, February 12, 1951; Arkansas, February 15, 1951; Georgia,
February 17, 1951; Tennessee, February 20, 1951; Texas, February
22, 1951; Nevada, February 26, 1951; Utah, February 26, 1951; Minnesota,
February 27, 1951.
Ratification
was completed on February 27, 1951.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by North Carolina on February
28, 1951; South Carolina, March 13, 1951; Maryland, March 14, 1951;
Florida, April 16, 1951; Alabama, May 4, 1951.
The
amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Oklahoma
in June 1947, and Massachusetts on June 9, 1949.
Certification
of Validity
Publication
of the certifying statement of the Administrator of General Services
that the amendment had become valid was made on Mar. 1, 1951, F.R.
Doc. 51 092940, 16 F.R. 2019.
Article
[XXIII.]
Section
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.
Section.
2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Proposal
and Ratification
This
amendment was proposed by the Eighty-sixth Congress on June 17,
1960 and was declared by the Administrator of General Services on
Apr. 3, 1961, to have been ratified by 38 of the 50 States. The
dates of ratification were: Hawaii, June 23, 1960 (and that State
made a technical correction to its resolution on June 30, 1960);
Massachusetts, August 22, 1960; New Jersey, December 19, 1960; New
York, January 17, 1961; California, January 19, 1961; Oregon, January
27, 1961; Maryland, January 30, 1961; Idaho, January 31, 1961; Maine,
January 31, 1961; Minnesota, January 31, 1961; New Mexico, February
1, 1961; Nevada, February 2, 1961; Montana, February 6, 1961; South
Dakota, February 6, 1961; Colorado, February 8, 1961; Washington,
February 9, 1961; West Virginia, February 9, 1961; Alaska, February
10, 1961; Wyoming, February 13, 1961; Delaware, February 20, 1961;
Utah, February 21, 1961; Wisconsin, February 21, 1961; Pennsylvania,
February 28, 1961; Indiana, March 3, 1961; North Dakota, March 3,
1961; Tennessee, March 6, 1961; Michigan, March 8, 1961; Connecticut,
March 9, 1961; Arizona, March 10, 1961; Illinois, March 14, 1961;
Nebraska, March 15, 1961; Vermont, March 15, 1961; Iowa, March 16,
1961; Missouri, March 20, 1961; Oklahoma, March 21, 1961; Rhode
Island, March 22, 1961; Kansas, March 29, 1961; Ohio, March 29,
1961.
Ratification
was completed on March 29, 1961.
The
amendment was subsequently ratified by New Hampshire on March 30,
1961 (when that State annulled and then repeated its ratification
of March 29, 1961).
The
amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Arkansas
on January 24, 1961.
Certification
of Validity
Publication
of the certifying statement of the Administrator of General Services
that the amendment had become valid was made on Apr. 3, 1961, F.R.
Doc. 61 093017, 26 F.R. 2808.
Article
[XXIV.]
Section
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.
Section.
2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Proposal
and Ratification
This
amendment was proposed by the Eighty-seventh Congress by Senate
Joint Resolution No. 29, which was approved by the Senate on Mar.
27, 1962, and by the House of Representatives on Aug. 27, 1962.
It was declared by the Administrator of General Services on Feb.
4, 1964, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 38 of the
50 States.
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