declaration and constitution

8/2/2019 Declaration and Constitution

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The Declaration of

Independence&the

Constitutionof the United States

M-654 (rev. 07/08)


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T Dcltin

Indpndnc&the

Cnstitutin t Unitd Stts


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The sacred rights of mankind are not to be

rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty

records. They are written, as with a sun beam

in the whole volume of human nature, by the

hand of the divinity itself; and can never be

erased or obscured by mortal power.

Alexander Hamilton, 1775

The basis of our political systems is the

right of the people to make and to alter

their Constitutions of Government. But theConstitution which at any time exists, till

changed by an explicit and authentic act of the

whole People is sacredly obligatory upon all.

George Washington, 1796

The Declaration of Independence...[is the]

declaratory charter of our rights, and of the

rights of man.

Thomas Jefferson, 1819

MeSSage froM The DIreCTor

T Dclaration of Indpndnc and t

Constitution of t Unitd Stats ar t two most

important, and nduring documnts in our Nations

istory. It as bn said tat t Dclaration of

Indpndnc was t promis; t Constitution

was the fulllment.

Mor tan 200 yars ago, our FoundingFatrs st out to stablis a govrnmnt basd

on individual rigts and t rul of law. T

Declaration of Independence, which ofcially

brok all political tis btwn t Amrican

colonis and Grat Britain, st fort t idas and

principls bind a just and fair govrnmnt, and

t Constitution outlind ow tis govrnmnt

would function. Our founding documnts av

witstood t tst of tim, rising to t callngac tim ty wr calld upon.

Mak no mistak, w av bn prsntd wit

a timlss framwork for slf-govrnmnt, but in

ordr to prsrv tis wondrful gift, w must old

ts principls clos to our arts. I ncourag you

to rad and undrstand ts documnts. I promis

you will b noting sort of inspird.

Dirctor

U.S. Citiznsip and Immigration Srvics


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The DeCLaraTIoN of INDePeNDeNCeAction of Scond Continntal Congrss, July 4, 1776T Unanimous Dclaration of t tirtn unitd Stats of Amrica

WheN in t Cours of uman evnts, it

bcoms ncssary for on Popl to dissolv t

Political Bands wic av connctd tm wit

anotr, and to assum among t Powrs of t

eart, t sparat and qual Station to wic t

Laws of Natur and of Naturs God ntitl tm,

a dcnt Rspct to t Opinions of Mankind

rquirs tat ty sould dclar t causs wic

impl tm to t Sparation.

We old ts Truts to b slf-vidnt,

tat all Mn ar cratd qual, tat ty ar

ndowd by tir Crator wit crtain unalinabl

Rigts, tat among ts ar Lif, Librty, and

t pursuit of happinssTat to scur tsRigts, Govrnmnts ar institutd among Mn,

driving tir just Powrs from t Consnt of t

Govrnd, tat wnvr any Form of Govrnmnt

bcoms dstructiv of ts ends, it is t Rigt of

t Popl to altr or to abolis it, and to institut

nw Govrnmnt, laying its Foundation on suc

Principls, and organizing its Powrs in suc

Form, as to tm sall sm most likly to ffct

tir Safty and happinss. Prudnc, indd, will

dictat tat Govrnmnts long stablisd souldnot b cangd for ligt and transint Causs;

and accordingly all exprinc at swn, tat

Mankind ar mor disposd to suffr, wil evils ar

suffrabl, tan to rigt tmslvs by abolising

t Forms to wic ty ar accustomd. But wn


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a long Train of Abuss and Usurpations, pursuing

invariably t sam Objct, vincs a dsign to rduc

tm undr absolut Dspotism, it is tir Rigt, it

is tir Duty, to trow off suc Govrnmnt, and to

provid nw Guards for tir futur Scurity. Suc

as bn t patint Suffranc of ts Colonis;

and suc is now t Ncssity wic constrains

tm to altr tir formr Systms of Govrnmnt.

T history of t prsnt King of Grat-Britainis a history of rpatd Injuris and Usurpations,

all aving in dirct Objct t establismnt of an

absolut Tyranny ovr ts Stats. To prov tis, lt

Facts b submittd to a candid World.

he as rfusd is Assnt to Laws, t most

wolsom and ncssary for t public Good.

he as forbiddn is Govrnors to pass Laws

of immdiat and prssing Importanc, unlss

suspndd in tir Opration till is Assnt sould

b obtaind; and wn so suspndd, as uttrly

nglctd to attnd to tm.

he as rfusd to pass otr Laws for t

Accommodation of larg Districts of Popl,

unlss tos Popl would rlinquis t Rigt

of Rprsntation in t Lgislatur, a Rigt

instimabl to tm, and formidabl to Tyrants

only.

he as calld togtr Lgislativ Bodis at

Placs unusual, uncomfortabl, and distant fromt Dpository of tir public Rcords, for t sol

Purpos of fatiguing tm into Complianc wit

is Masurs.

he as dissolvd Rprsntativ houss

rpatdly, for opposing wit manly Firmnss is

Invasions on t Rigts of t Popl.

he as rfusd for a long Tim, aftr suc

Dissolutions, to caus otrs to b lctd;

wrby t Lgislativ Powrs, incapabl of

Anniilation, av rturnd to t Popl at larg

for tir xrcis; t Stat rmaining in t man

tim xposd to all t Dangrs of Invasion from

witout, and Convulsions witin.

he as ndavourd to prvnt t Population

of ts Stats; for tat Purpos obstructing tLaws for Naturalization of Forignrs; rfusing to

pass otrs to ncourag tir Migrations itr,

and raising t Conditions of nw Appropriations

of Lands.

heas obstructd t Administration of Justic,

by rfusing is Assnt to Laws for stablising

Judiciary Powrs.

he as mad Judgs dpndnt on is Will

alone, for the Tenure of their Ofces, and the

Amount and Paymnt of tir Salaris.

he has erected a Multitude of new Ofces,

and sent hither Swarms of Ofcers to harrass our

Popl, and at out tir Substanc.

he as kpt among us, in Tims of Pac,

Standing Armis, witout t consnt of our

Lgislaturs.

he as affctd to rndr t Military

indpndnt of and suprior to t Civil Powr.

he

as combind wit otrs to subjct usto a Jurisdiction forign to our Constitution, and

unacknowldgd by our Laws; giving is Assnt to

tir Acts of prtndd Lgislation:

For quartring larg Bodis of Armd Troops

among us:


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For protcting tm, by a mock Trial, from

Punismnt for any Murdrs wic ty sould

commit on t Inabitants of ts Stats:

For cutting off our Trad wit all Parts of t

World:

For imposing Taxs on us witout our

Consnt:

For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benets

of Trial by Jury:For transporting us byond Sas to b trid for

prtndd Offncs:

For abolising t fr Systm of englis

Laws in a nigbouring Provinc, stablising

trin an arbitrary Govrnmnt, and nlarging its

Boundaris, so as to rndr it at onc an exampl

and t Instrument for introducing the same

absolut Rul into ts Colonis:

For taking away our Cartrs, abolising our

most valuabl Laws, and altring fundamntally

t Forms of our Govrnmnts:

For suspnding our own Lgislaturs, and

dclaring tmslvs invstd wit Powr to

lgislat for us in all Cass watsovr.

he as abdicatd Govrnmnt r, by

dclaring us out of is Protction and waging War

against us.

he as plundrd our Sas, ravagd our Coasts,

burnt our Towns, and dstroyd t Livs of ourPopl.

he is, at tis Tim, transporting larg Armis

of forign Mrcnaris to complat t Works of

Dat, Dsolation, and Tyranny, alrady bgun

with circumstances of Cruelty and Perdy, scarcely

parallld in t most barbarous Ags, and totally

unworty t had of a civilizd Nation.

he as constraind our fllow Citizns takn

Captiv on t ig Sas to bar Arms against

tir Country, to bcom t excutionrs of tir

Frinds and Brtrn, or to fall tmslvs by tir

hands.

he as xcitd domstic Insurrctions

amongst us, and as ndavourd to bring on tInabitants of our Frontirs, t mrcilss Indian

Savags, wos known Rul of Warfar, is an

undistinguisd Dstruction of all Ags, Sxs and

Conditions.

In vry stag of ts Opprssions w av

Ptitiond for Rdrss in t most umbl Trms:

Our rpatd Ptitions av bn answrd only by

rpatd Injury. A Princ, wos Caractr is tus

marked by every act which may dene a Tyrant, is

unt to be the Ruler of a free People.

Nor av w bn wanting in Attntions to

our Britis Brtrn. W av warnd tm from

Tim to Tim of Attmpts by tir Lgislatur to

xtnd an unwarrantabl Jurisdiction ovr us. W

av rmindd tm of t Circumstancs of our

emigration and Sttlmnt r. W av appald

to tir nativ Justic and Magnanimity, and w

av conjurd tm by t Tis of our common

Kindrd to disavow ts Usurpations, wic,would invitably intrrupt our Connctions and

Corrspondnc. Ty too av bn daf to t

Voic of Justic and of Consanguinity. W must,

trfor, acquisc in t Ncssity, wic

dnouncs our Sparation, and old tm, as w


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old t rst of Mankind, enmis in War, in Pac,

Frinds.

We, therefore, t Rprsntativs of t united

States of America, in Gnral Congrss, Assmbld,

appaling to t Suprm Judg of t World for

t Rctitud of our Intntions, do, in t Nam,

and by Autority of t good Popl of ts

Colonis, solmnly Publis and Dclar, Tat ts

Unitd Colonis ar, and of Rigt ougt to b Freeand Independent States; tat ty ar absolvd from

all Allgianc to t Britis Crown, and tat all

political Connction btwn tm and t Stat of

Grat-Britain, is and ougt to b totally dissolvd;

and tat as Free and Independent States, ty av

full Powr to lvy War, conclud Pac, contract

Alliancs, stablis Commrc, and to do all otr

Acts and Tings wic Independent States may of

rigt do. And for t support of tis Dclaration,

with a rm Reliance on the Protection of divine

Providnc, w mutually pldg to ac otr our

Livs, our Fortuns, and our sacrd honor.

Signd by ORDeR and in BehALF of t CONGReSS,

JOhN hANCOCK, Prsidnt

Attst.

ChARLeS ThOMSON, Scrtary

Georgia:

Button Gwinntt

Lyman hall

Gorg Walton

North Carolina:

William hoopr

Josp hws

Jon PnnSouth Carolina:

edward Rutldg

Tomas hyward, Jr.

Tomas Lync, Jr.

Artur Middlton

Massachusetts:

Samul Adams

Jon Adams

Robrt Trat Pain

elbridg Grry

Jon hancock

Maryland:

Samul Cas

William Paca

Tomas Ston

Carls Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:

Gorg Wyt

Ricard hnry L

Tomas Jffrson

Bnjamin harrison

Tomas Nlson, Jr.

Francis Ligtfoot LCartr Braxton

Pennsylvania:

Robrt Morris

Bnjamin Rus

Bnjamin Franklin

Jon Morton

Gorg Clymr

Jams Smit

Gorg Taylor

Jams Wilson

Gorg Ross

Delaware:Casar Rodny

Gorg Rad

Tomas McKan

New York:

William Floyd

Pilip Livingston

Francis Lwis

Lwis Morris

New Jersey:

Ricard Stockton

Jon Witrspoon

Francis hopkinsonJon hart

Abraam Clark

New Hampshire:

Josia Bartltt

Mattw Tornton

William Wippl

Rhode Island:

Stpn hopkins

William ellry

Connecticut:

Rogr SrmanSamul huntington

William Williams

Olivr Wolcott

Sins t Dcltin Indpndnc


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The CoNSTITUTIoN

of The UNITeD STaTeS of aMerICa

We the People of t Unitd Stats, in Ordr to form

a mor prfct Union, stablis Justic, insur

domstic Tranquility, provid for t common

dfnc, promot t gnral Wlfar, and scur

t Blssings of Librty to ourslvs and our

Postrity, do ordain and stablis tis Constitution

for t Unitd Stats of Amrica.

aticl. I.

Sctin. 1. All lgislativ Powrs rin

grantd sall b vstd in a Congrss of t Unitd

Stats, wic sall consist of a Snat and hous of

Rprsntativs.

Sctin. 2. T hous of Rprsntativs sall

b composd of Mmbrs cosn vry scondYar by t Popl of t svral Stats, and t

Electors in each State shall have the Qualications

rquisit for elctors of t most numrous Branc

of t Stat Lgislatur.

No Prson sall b a Rprsntativ wo sall

not have attained to the Age of twenty ve Years,

and bn svn Yars a Citizn of t Unitd Stats,

and wo sall not, wn lctd, b an Inabitant

of tat Stat in wic sall b cosn.

[Rprsntativs and dirct Taxs sall bapportiond among t svral Stats wic may

b includd witin tis Union, according to tir

rspctiv Numbrs, wic sall b dtrmind

by adding to t wol Numbr of fr Prsons,

including tos bound to Srvic for a Trm of


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0

Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fths

of all otr Prsons.]1 T actual enumration

shall be made within three Years after the rst

Mting of t Congrss of t Unitd Stats, and

witin vry subsqunt Trm of tn Yars, in suc

Mannr as ty sall by Law dirct. T numbr

of Rprsntativs sall not xcd on for vry

tirty Tousand, but ac Stat sall av at Last

on Rprsntativ; and until suc numrationsall b mad, t Stat of Nw hampsir sall

b ntitld to cus tr, Massacustts igt,

Rod-Island and Providnc Plantations on,

Connecticut ve, New-York six, New Jersey four,

Pnnsylvania igt, Dlawar on, Maryland six,

Virginia ten, North Carolina ve, South Carolina

ve, and Georgia three.

Wn vacancis appn in t Rprsntation

from any Stat, t excutiv Autority trof

shall issue Writs of Election to ll such Vacancies.

T hous of Rprsntativs sall cus tir

Speaker and other Ofcers; and shall have the sole

Powr of Impacmnt.

Sctin. 3. T Snat of t Unitd Stats

sall b composd of two Snators from ac Stat,

[cosn by t Lgislatur trof,]2 for six Yars;

and ac Snator sall av on Vot.

Immdiatly aftr ty sall b assmbld in

Consequence of the rst Election, they shall bedividd as qually as may b into tr Classs.

The Seats of the Senators of the rst Class shall

b vacatd at t expiration of t scond Yar, of

1Cangd by sction 2 of t Fourtnt Amndmnt.2Cangd by t Svntnt Amndmnt.

t scond Class at t expiration of t fourt

Yar, and of t tird Class at t expiration of

t sixt Yar, so tat on tird may b cosn

vry scond Yar; [and if Vacancis appn by

Rsignation, or otrwis, during t Rcss of

t Lgislatur of any Stat, t excutiv trof

may mak tmporary Appointmnts until t nxt

Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then ll

suc Vacancis.]

No Prson sall b a Snator wo sall not

av attaind to t Ag of tirty Yars, and bn

nin Yars a Citizn of t Unitd Stats, and wo

sall not, wn lctd, b an Inabitant of tat

Stat for wic sall b cosn.

T Vic Prsidnt of t Unitd Stats sall

b Prsidnt of t Snat, but sall av no Vot,

unlss ty b qually dividd.

The Senate shall chuse their other Ofcers,

and also a Prsidnt pro tmpor, in t Absnc

of t Vic Prsidnt, or wn sall xrcis t

Ofce of President of the United States.

T Snat sall av t sol Powr to try all

Impacmnts. Wn sitting for tat Purpos, ty

shall be on Oath or Afrmation. When the President

of t Unitd Stats is trid, t Cif Justic sall

prsid: And no Prson sall b convictd witout

t Concurrnc of two tirds of t Mmbrs

prsnt.Judgmnt in Cass of Impacmnt sall

not extend further than to removal from Ofce,

and disqualication to hold and enjoy any Ofce

of honor, Trust or Prot under the United States:

Cangd by t Svntnt Amndmnt.


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but t Party convictd sall nvrtlss b liabl

and subjct to Indictmnt, Trial, Judgmnt and

Punismnt, according to Law.

Sctin. 4. T Tims, Placs and Mannr of

olding elctions for Snators and Rprsntativs,

sall b prscribd in ac Stat by t Lgislatur

trof; but t Congrss may at any tim by Law

mak or altr suc Rgulations, xcpt as to t

Placs of cusing Snators.

T Congrss sall assmbl at last onc in

every Year, and such Meeting shall be [on the rst

Monday in Dcmbr,]4 unlss ty sall by Law

appoint a diffrnt Day.

Sctin. 5. eac hous sall b t Judg of

the Elections, Returns and Qualications of its own

Mmbrs, and a Majority of ac sall constitut a

Quorum to do Businss; but a smallr Numbr may

adjourn from day to day, and may b autorizd tocompl t Attndanc of absnt Mmbrs, in suc

Mannr, and undr suc Pnaltis as ac hous

may provid.

eac hous may dtrmin t Ruls of its

Procdings, punis its Mmbrs for disordrly

Baviour, and, wit t Concurrnc of two

tirds, xpl a Mmbr.

eac hous sall kp a Journal of its

Procdings, and from tim to tim publis

t sam, xcpting suc Parts as may in tirJudgmnt rquir Scrcy; and t Yas and Nays

of t Mmbrs of itr hous on any qustion

shall, at the Desire of one fth of those Present, be

ntrd on t Journal.

4Cangd by sction 2 of t Twntit Amndmnt.

Nitr hous, during t Sssion of Congrss,

sall, witout t Consnt of t otr, adjourn for

mor tan tr days, nor to any otr Plac tan

tat in wic t two houss sall b sitting.

Sctin. 6. T Snators and Rprsntativs

sall rciv a Compnsation for tir Srvics, to

b ascrtaind by Law, and paid out of t Trasury

of t Unitd Stats. Ty sall in all Cass, xcpt

Trason, Flony and Brac of t Pac, b

privilgd from Arrst during tir Attndanc

at t Sssion of tir rspctiv houss, and in

going to and rturning from t sam; and for any

Spc or Dbat in itr hous, ty sall not b

qustiond in any otr Plac.

No Snator or Rprsntativ sall, during t

Tim for wic was lctd, b appointd to any

civil Ofce under the Authority of the United States,

wic sall av bn cratd, or t emolumntswrof sall av bn ncrasd during suc

time; and no Person holding any Ofce under the

Unitd Stats, sall b a Mmbr of itr hous

during his Continuance in Ofce.

Sctin. 7. All Bills for raising Rvnu sall

originat in t hous of Rprsntativs; but t

Snat may propos or concur wit Amndmnts

as on otr Bills.

evry Bill wic sall av passd t hous

of Rprsntativs and t Snat, sall, bfor itbcom a Law, b prsntd to t Prsidnt of

t Unitd Stats; If approv sall sign it,

but if not sall rturn it, wit is Objctions

to tat hous in wic it sall av originatd,

wo sall ntr t Objctions at larg on tir


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Journal, and procd to rconsidr it. If aftr suc

Rconsidration two tirds of tat hous sall

agr to pass t Bill, it sall b snt, togtr wit

t Objctions, to t otr hous, by wic it

sall likwis b rconsidrd, and if approvd by

two tirds of tat hous, it sall bcom a Law. But

in all suc Cass t Vots of bot houss sall b

dtrmind by yas and Nays, and t Nams of

t Prsons voting for and against t Bill sall bntrd on t Journal of ac hous rspctivly.

If any Bill sall not b rturnd by t Prsidnt

witin tn Days (Sundays xcptd) aftr it sall

av bn prsntd to im, t Sam sall b a

Law, in lik Mannr as if ad signd it, unlss

t Congrss by tir Adjournmnt prvnt its

Rturn, in wic Cas it sall not b a Law.

evry Ordr, Rsolution, or Vot to wic

t Concurrnc of t Snat and hous of

Rprsntativs may b ncssary (xcpt on a

qustion of Adjournmnt) sall b prsntd to

t Prsidnt of t Unitd Stats; and bfor t

Sam sall tak effct, sall b approvd by im, or

bing disapprovd by im, sall b rpassd by two

tirds of t Snat and hous of Rprsntativs,

according to t Ruls and Limitations prscribd

in t Cas of a Bill.

Sctin. 8. T Congrss sall av Powr To

lay and collct Taxs, Dutis, Imposts and exciss,to pay t Dbts and provid for t common

Dfnc and gnral Wlfar of t Unitd Stats;

but all Dutis, Imposts and exciss sall b uniform

trougout t Unitd Stats;

To borrow Mony on t crdit of t Unitd

Stats;

To rgulat Commrc wit forign Nations,

and among t svral Stats, and wit t Indian

Tribs;

To stablis an uniform Rul of Naturalization,

and uniform Laws on t subjct of Bankruptcis

trougout t Unitd Stats;

To coin Mony, rgulat t Valu trof, andof foreign Coin, and x the Standard of Weights

and Masurs;

To provid for t Punismnt of countrfiting

t Scuritis and currnt Coin of t Unitd

Stats;

To establish Post Ofces and post Roads;

To promot t Progrss of Scinc and usful

Arts, by scuring for limitd Tims to Autors and

Invntors t xclusiv Rigt to tir rspctiv

Writings and Discovris;

To constitut Tribunals infrior to t suprm

Court;

To dene and punish Piracies and Felonies

committd on t ig Sas, and Offncs against

t Law of Nations;

To dclar War, grant Lttrs of Marqu and

Rprisal, and mak Ruls concrning Capturs on

Land and Watr;

To rais and support Armis, but noAppropriation of Mony to tat Us sall b for a

longr Trm tan two Yars;

To provid and maintain a Navy;

To mak Ruls for t Govrnmnt and

Rgulation of t land and naval Forcs;


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To provid for calling fort t Militia to xcut

t Laws of t Union, supprss Insurrctions and

rpl Invasions;

To provid for organizing, arming, and

disciplining, t Militia, and for govrning suc

Part of tm as may b mployd in t Srvic of

t Unitd Stats, rsrving to t Stats rspctivly,

the Appointment of the Ofcers, and the Authority

of training t Militia according to t disciplinprscribd by Congrss;

To xrcis xclusiv Lgislation in all Cass

watsovr, ovr suc District (not xcding

tn Mils squar) as may, by Cssion of particular

Stats, and t Accptanc of Congrss, bcom t

Sat of t Govrnmnt of t Unitd Stats, and

to xrcis lik Autority ovr all Placs purcasd

by t Consnt of t Lgislatur of t Stat in

wic t Sam sall b, for t erction of Forts,

Magazins, Arsnals, dock-Yards, and otr ndful

Buildings;And

To mak all Laws wic sall b ncssary

and propr for carrying into excution t

forgoing Powrs, and all otr Powrs vstd by

tis Constitution in t Govrnmnt of t Unitd

States, or in any Department or Ofcer thereof.

Sctin. 9. T Migration or Importation

of suc Prsons as any of t Stats now xisting

sall tink propr to admit, sall not b proibitdby t Congrss prior to t Yar on tousand

igt undrd and igt, but a Tax or duty may b

imposd on suc Importation, not xcding tn

dollars for ac Prson.

T Privilg of t Writ of habas Corpus

sall not b suspndd, unlss wn in Cass of

Rbllion or Invasion t public Safty may rquir

it.

No Bill of Attaindr or x post facto Law sall

b passd.

No Capitation, or otr dirct, Tax sall b laid,

unlss in Proportion to t Cnsus or numration

rin bfor dirctd to b takn.

No Tax or Duty sall b laid on Articls

xportd from any Stat.

No Prfrnc sall b givn by any Rgulation

of Commrc or Rvnu to t Ports of on Stat

ovr tos of anotr: nor sall Vssls bound to,

or from, on Stat, b obligd to ntr, clar, or pay

Dutis in anotr.

No Mony sall b drawn from t Trasury,

but in Consqunc of Appropriations mad by

Law; and a rgular Statmnt and Account of t

Rcipts and expnditurs of all public Mony

sall b publisd from tim to tim.

No Titl of Nobility sall b grantd by t

United States: And no Person holding any Ofce

of Prot or Trust under them, shall, without the

Consnt of t Congrss, accpt of any prsnt,

Emolument, Ofce, or Title, of any kind whatever,

from any King, Princ, or forign Stat.

Sctin. 10. No Stat sall ntr into any Traty,Allianc, or Confdration; grant Lttrs of Marqu

and Rprisal; coin Mony; mit Bills of Crdit;

mak any Ting but gold and silvr Coin a Tndr

in Paymnt of Dbts; pass any Bill of Attaindr, x

S t Sixtnt Amndmnt.


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post facto Law, or Law impairing t Obligation of

Contracts, or grant any Titl of Nobility.

No Stat sall, witout t Consnt of t

Congrss, lay any Imposts or Dutis on Imports or

exports, xcpt wat may b absolutly ncssary

for xcuting its inspction Laws: and t nt

Produc of all Dutis and Imposts, laid by any Stat

on Imports or exports, sall b for t Us of t

Trasury of t Unitd Stats; and all suc Lawssall b subjct to t Rvision and Controul of

t Congrss.

No Stat sall, witout t Consnt of

Congrss, lay any Duty of Tonnag, kp Troops,

or Sips of War in tim of Pac, ntr into any

Agrmnt or Compact wit anotr Stat, or wit

a forign Powr, or ngag in War, unlss actually

invadd, or in suc imminnt Dangr as will not

admit of dlay.

aticl. II.

Sctin. 1.T xcutiv Powr sall b vstd

in a Prsidnt of t Unitd Stats of Amrica. h

shall hold his Ofce during the Term of four Years,

and, togtr wit t Vic Prsidnt, cosn for

t sam Trm, b lctd, as follows:

eac Stat sall appoint, in suc Mannr as

t Lgislatur trof may dirct, a Numbr of

elctors, qual to t wol Numbr of Snators andRprsntativs to wic t Stat may b ntitld

in t Congrss: but no Snator or Rprsntativ,

or Person holding an Ofce of Trust or Prot under

t Unitd Stats, sall b appointd an elctor.

[T elctors sall mt in tir rspctiv

Stats, and vot by Ballot for two Prsons, of wom

on at last sall not b an Inabitant of t sam

Stat wit tmslvs. And ty sall mak a List

of all t Prsons votd for, and of t Numbr

of Vots for ac; wic List ty sall sign and

crtify, and transmit sald to t Sat of t

Govrnmnt of t Unitd Stats, dirctd to t

Prsidnt of t Snat. T Prsidnt of t Snat

sall, in t Prsnc of t Snat and hous of

Representatives, open all the Certicates, and theVots sall tn b countd. T Prson aving t

gratst Numbr of Vots sall b t Prsidnt, if

suc Numbr b a Majority of t wol Numbr

of elctors appointd; and if tr b mor tan

on wo av suc Majority, and av an qual

Numbr of Vots, tn t hous of Rprsntativs

sall immdiatly cus by Ballot on of tm for

Prsidnt; and if no Prson av a Majority, tn

from the ve highest on the List the said House shall

in lik Mannr cus t Prsidnt. But in cusing

t Prsidnt, t Vots sall b takn by Stats,

t Rprsntation from ac Stat aving on

Vot; A quorum for tis Purpos sall consist of a

Mmbr or Mmbrs from two tirds of t Stats,

and a Majority of all t Stats sall b ncssary

to a Coic. In vry Cas, aftr t Coic of t

Prsidnt, t Prson aving t gratst Numbr

of Vots of t elctors sall b t Vic Prsidnt.

But if tr sould rmain two or mor wo avqual Vots, t Snat sall cus from tm by

Ballot t Vic Prsidnt.]6

T Congrss may dtrmin t Tim of

cusing t elctors, and t Day on wic ty

6Cangd by t Twlft Amndmnt.


14/33

0

sall giv tir Vots; wic Day sall b t sam

trougout t Unitd Stats.

No Prson xcpt a natural born Citizn, or

a Citizn of t Unitd Stats, at t tim of t

Adoption of tis Constitution, sall b ligibl to

the Ofce of President; neither shall any Person be

eligible to that Ofce who shall not have attained

to the Age of thirty ve Years, and been fourteen

Yars a Rsidnt witin t Unitd Stats.[In Cas of t Rmoval of t Prsidnt from

Ofce, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to

discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Ofce,

t Sam sall dvolv on t Vic Prsidnt, and

t Congrss may by Law provid for t Cas

of Rmoval, Dat, Rsignation or Inability, bot

of t Prsidnt and Vic Prsidnt, dclaring

what Ofcer shall then act as President, and such

Ofcer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be

rmovd, or a Prsidnt sall b lctd.]7

T Prsidnt sall, at statd Tims, rciv for

is Srvics, a Compnsation, wic sall nitr

b incrasd nor diminisd during t Priod for

wic sall av bn lctd, and sall not

rciv witin tat Priod any otr emolumnt

from t Unitd Stats, or any of tm.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Ofce,

he shall take the following Oath or Afrmation:I

do solemnly swear (or afrm) that I will faithfullyexecute the Ofce of President of the United States,

and will to t bst of my Ability, prsrv, protct

and defend the Constitution of the United States.

7Cangd by t Twnty-Fift Amndmnt.

Sctin. 2. T Prsidnt sall b Commandr

in Cif of t Army and Navy of t Unitd Stats,

and of t Militia of t svral Stats, wn calld

into t actual Srvic of t Unitd Stats; may

rquir t Opinion, in writing, of t principal

Ofcer in each of the executive Departments, upon

any Subjct rlating to t Dutis of tir rspctiv

Ofces, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves

and Pardons for Offncs against t Unitd Stats,xcpt in Cass of Impacmnt.

h sall av Powr, by and wit t Advic

and Consnt of t Snat, to mak Tratis,

providd two tirds of t Snators prsnt

concur; and sall nominat, and by and wit

t Advic and Consnt of t Snat, sall appoint

Ambassadors, otr public Ministrs and Consuls,

Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Ofcers

of t Unitd Stats, wos Appointmnts ar not

rin otrwis providd for, and wic sall b

stablisd by Law: but t Congrss may by Law

vest the Appointment of such inferior Ofcers, as

ty tink propr, in t Prsidnt alon, in t

Courts of Law, or in t hads of Dpartmnts.

The President shall have Power to ll up all

Vacancis tat may appn during t Rcss of

t Snat, by granting Commissions wic sall

xpir at t end of tir nxt Sssion.

Sctin. 3. h sall from tim to tim givto t Congrss Information of t Stat of t

Union, and rcommnd to tir Considration

suc Masurs as sall judg ncssary and

xpdint; may, on xtraordinary Occasions,

convn bot houss, or itr of tm, and in


15/33

Cas of Disagrmnt btwn tm, wit Rspct

to t Tim of Adjournmnt, may adjourn tm

to suc Tim as sall tink propr; sall

rciv Ambassadors and otr public Ministrs;

sall tak Car tat t Laws b faitfully xcutd,

and shall Commission all the Ofcers of the United

Stats.

Sctin. 4.T Prsidnt, Vic Prsidnt and all

civil Ofcers of the United States, shall be removed

from Ofce on Impeachment for, and Conviction

of, Trason, Bribry, or otr ig Crims and

Misdmanors.

aticl III.

Sctin. 1. T judicial Powr of t Unitd

Stats, sall b vstd in on suprm Court, and

in suc infrior Courts as t Congrss may from

tim to tim ordain and stablis. T Judgs, botof t suprm and infrior Courts, sall old tir

Ofces during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated

Tims, rciv for tir Srvics, a Compnsation,

wic sall not b diminisd during tir

Continuance in Ofce.

Sctin. 2. T judicial Powr sall xtnd

to all Cass, in Law and equity, arising undr tis

Constitution, t Laws of t Unitd Stats, and

Tratis mad, or wic sall b mad, undr tir

Autority;to all Cass affcting Ambassadors,otr public Ministrs and Consuls;to all Cass

of admiralty and maritim Jurisdiction;to

Controvrsis to wic t Unitd Stats sall b

a Party;to Controvrsis btwn two or mor

Stats;[btwn a Stat and Citizns of anotr

Stat;] btwn Citizns of diffrnt Stats;

btwn Citizns of t sam Stat claiming Lands

undr Grants of diffrnt Stats, [and btwn a

Stat, or t Citizns trof, and forign Stats,

Citizns or Subjcts.]

In all Cass affcting Ambassadors, otr

public Ministrs and Consuls, and tos in wic

a Stat sall b Party, t suprm Court sall av

original Jurisdiction. In all t otr Cass bformntiond, t suprm Court sall av appllat

Jurisdiction, bot as to Law and Fact, wit suc

excptions, and undr suc Rgulations as t

Congrss sall mak.

T Trial of all Crims, xcpt in Cass of

Impacmnt, sall b by Jury; and suc Trial sall

b ld in t Stat wr t said Crims sall

av bn committd; but wn not committd

witin any Stat, t Trial sall b at suc Plac or

Placs as t Congrss may by Law av dirctd.

Sctin. 3. Trason against t Unitd Stats,

sall consist only in lvying War against tm, or

in adring to tir enmis, giving tm Aid and

Comfort. No Prson sall b convictd of Trason

unlss on t Tstimony of two Witnsss to t

sam ovrt Act, or on Confssion in opn Court.

T Congrss sall av Powr to dclar t

Punismnt of Trason, but no Attaindr of Trason

sall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfiturxcpt during t Lif of t Prson attaintd.

Cangd by t elvnt Amndmnt.Cangd by t elvnt Amndmnt.


16/33

aticl. IV.

Sctin. 1. Full Fait and Crdit sall b givn

in ac Stat to t public Acts, Rcords, and judicial

Procdings of vry otr Stat; And t Congrss

may by gnral Laws prscrib t Mannr in

wic suc Acts, Rcords and Procdings sall b

provd, and t effct trof.

Sctin. 2. T Citizns of ac Stat sall bntitld to all Privilgs and Immunitis of Citizns

in t svral Stats.

A Prson cargd in any Stat wit Trason,

Felony, or other Crime, who shall ee from Justice,

and b found in anotr Stat, sall on Dmand of

t xcutiv Autority of t Stat from wic

ed, be delivered up, to be removed to the State

aving Jurisdiction of t Crim.

[No Prson ld to Srvic or Labour in on

Stat, undr t Laws trof, scaping into anotr,sall, in Consqunc of any Law or Rgulation

trin, b discargd from suc Srvic or Labour,

but sall b dlivrd up on Claim of t Party to

wom suc Srvic or Labour may b du.]10

Sctin. 3. Nw Stats may b admittd by

t Congrss into tis Union; but no nw Stat

sall b formd or rctd witin t Jurisdiction

of any otr Stat; nor any Stat b formd by t

Junction of two or mor Stats, or Parts of Stats,witout t Consnt of t Lgislaturs of t

Stats concrnd as wll as of t Congrss.

T Congrss sall av Powr to dispos of and

mak all ndful Ruls and Rgulations rspcting

10Cangd by t Tirtnt Amndmnt.

t Trritory or otr Proprty blonging to t

Unitd Stats; and noting in tis Constitution

sall b so construd as to Prjudic any Claims of

t Unitd Stats, or of any particular Stat.

Sctin. 4. T Unitd Stats sall guarant

to vry Stat in tis Union a Rpublican Form of

Govrnmnt, and sall protct ac of tm against

Invasion; and on Application of t Lgislatur, or

of t excutiv (wn t Lgislatur cannot b

convnd) against domstic Violnc.

aticl. V.

T Congrss, wnvr two tirds of bot

houss sall dm it ncssary, sall propos

Amndmnts to tis Constitution, or, on t

Application of t Lgislaturs of two tirds of t

svral Stats, sall call a Convntion for proposing

Amndmnts, wic, in itr Cas, sall b valid toall Intnts and Purposs, as Part of tis Constitution,

when ratied by the Legislatures of three fourths

of t svral Stats, or by Convntions in tr

fourts trof, as t on or t otr Mod of

Ratication may be proposed by the Congress;

Providd tat no Amndmnt wic may b mad

prior to t Yar On tousand igt undrd and

eight shall in any Manner affect the rst and fourth

Clauses in the Ninth Section of the rst Article; and

tat no Stat, witout its Consnt, sall b dprivdof its qual Suffrag in t Snat.

aticl. VI.

All Dbts contractd and engagmnts ntrd

into, bfor t Adoption of tis Constitution, sall


17/33

b as valid against t Unitd Stats undr tis

Constitution, as undr t Confdration.

Tis Constitution, and t Laws of t Unitd

Stats wic sall b mad in Pursuanc trof;

and all Tratis mad, or wic sall b mad,

undr t Autority of t Unitd Stats, sall b

t suprm Law of t Land; and t Judgs in

vry Stat sall b bound trby, any Ting in t

Constitution or Laws of any Stat to t Contrarynotwitstanding.

T Snators and Rprsntativs bfor

mntiond, and t Mmbrs of t svral Stat

Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Ofcers,

bot of t Unitd Stats and of t svral Stats,

shall be bound by Oath or Afrmation, to support

tis Constitution; but no rligious Tst sall vr b

required as a Qualication to any Ofce or public

Trust undr t Unitd Stats.

aticl. VII.

The Ratication of t Convntions of nin

States, shall be sufcient for the Establishment of

tis Constitution btwn t Stats so ratifying

t Sam.

don in Convntion by t Unanimous

Consnt of t Stats prsnt t Svntnt

Day of Sptmbr in t Yar of our Lord on

tousand svn undrd and eigty svn and oft Indpndnc of t Unitd Stats of Amrica

t Twlft In Witnss wrof W av runto

subscribd our Nams,

G. WasingtonPrsidt.

and dputy from Virginia

New Hampshire

Jon Langdon

Nicolas Gilman

Massachusetts

Natanil Goram

Rufus King

ConnecticutWm. Saml. Jonson

Rogr Srman

New York

Alxandr hamilton

New Jersey

Wil: Livingston

David Brarly

Wm. Patrson

Jona: Dayton

Pennsylvania

B FranklinThomas Mifin

Robt Morris

Go. Clymr

Tos. FitzSimons

Jard Ingrsoll

Jams Wilson

Gouv Morris

Delaware

Go: Rad

Gunning Bdford jun

Jon Dickinson

Ricard Basstt

Jaco: Broom

MarylandJams Mchnry

Dan of St Tos. Jnifr

Danl Carroll

Virginia

Jon Blair

Jams Madison Jr.

North Carolina

Wm. Blount

Ricd. Dobbs Spaigt

hu Williamson

South CarolinaJ. Rutldg

Carls Cotswort Pinckny

Carls Pinckny

Pirc Butlr

Georgia

William Fw

Abr Baldwin

Attst William Jackson Scrtary

Sins t

Cnstitutin t Unitd Stts amic


18/33

In Cnvntin Mndy

Sptm 17t 1787.

Psnt

T Stts

Nw hampsir, Massacustts, Conncticut, Mr.

hamilton from Nw York, Nw Jrsy, Pnnsylvania,

Dlawar, Maryland, Virginia, Nort Carolina,

Sout Carolina and Gorgia.

Rsolvd,

Tat t prcding Constitution b laid

bfor t Unitd Stats in Congrss assmbld,

and tat it is t Opinion of tis Convntion, tat

it sould aftrwards b submittd to a Convntion

of Dlgats, cosn in ac Stat by t Popl

trof, undr t Rcommndation of itsLegislature, for their Assent and Ratication; and

tat ac Convntion assnting to, and ratifying

t Sam, sould giv Notic trof to t Unitd

Stats in Congrss assmbld. Rsolvd, Tat it is

t Opinion of tis Convntion, tat as soon as

the Conventions of nine States shall have ratied

tis Constitution, t Unitd Stats in Congrss

assembled should x a Day on which Electors

sould b appointd by t Stats wic sall av

ratied the same, and a Day on which the Electorssould assmbl to vot for t Prsidnt, and

t Tim and Plac for commncing Procdings

undr tis Constitution.

Tat aftr suc Publication t elctors sould

b appointd, and t Snators and Rprsntativs

lctd: Tat t elctors sould mt on t

Day xed for the Election of the President, and

should transmit their Votes certied, signed,

sald and dirctd, as t Constitution rquirs,

to t Scrtary of t Unitd Stats in Congrss

assmbld, tat t Snators and Rprsntativs

sould convn at t Tim and Plac assignd;tat t Snators sould appoint a Prsidnt of t

Snat, for t sol Purpos of rciving, opning

and counting t Vots for Prsidnt; and, tat aftr

sall b cosn, t Congrss, togtr wit

t Prsidnt, sould, witout Dlay, procd to

xcut tis Constitution.

By t unanimous Ordr of t Convntion

G. WAShINGTONPrsidt

.W. JACKSON Scrtary.


19/33

0

Congress oF THe UniTed sTaTes11

bgun and ld at t City of Nw-York,

on Wdnsday t fourt of Marc,

on tousand svn undrd and igty nin

The Convntions of a numbr of t

Stats, aving at t tim of tir adopting t

Constitution, xprssd a dsir, in ordr to prvnt

misconstruction or abus of its powrs, tat furtr

dclaratory and rstrictiv clauss sould b addd:And as extending the ground of public condence

in the Government, will best ensure the benecent

nds of its institution:

ReSOLVeD by t Snat and hous of

Rprsntativs of t Unitd Stats of Amrica,

in Congrss assmbld, two tirds of bot

houss concurring, tat t following Articls b

proposd to t Lgislaturs of t svral Stats,

as Amndmnts to t Constitution of t Unitd

States, all or any of which Articles, when ratiedby tr fourts of t said Lgislaturs, to b

valid to all intnts and purposs, as part of t said

Constitution; viz.t.

ARTICLeS in addition to, and Amndmnt of

t Constitution of t Unitd Stats of Amrica,

proposed by Congress, and ratied by the

11On Sptmbr 2, 17, Congrss transmittd to t

stat lgislaturs twlv proposd amndmnts, two of

wic, aving to do wit Congrssional rprsntation and

Congrssional pay, wr not adoptd. T rmaining tn

amndmnts bcam t Bill of Rigts. T amndmnt

concerning Congressional pay was ratied on May 7,

12, bcoming t Twnty-Svnt Amndmnt to t

Constitution.

Lgislaturs of t svral Stats, pursuant to t

fth Article of the original Constitution....

FReDeRICK AUGUSTUS MUhLeNBeRGSpakr of t hous of Rprsntativs.

JOhN ADAMS, Vic-Prsidnt of t Unitd Stats,

and Prsidnt of t Snat.

ATTeST,

JOhN BeCKLeY, Clrk of t hous of

Rprsntativs.

SAM. A. OTIS, Scrtary of t Snat.


20/33

aMeNDMeNTS12

To The CoNSTITUTIoN of The

UNITeD STaTeS of aMerICa

amndmnt I.

Congrss sall mak no law rspcting an

stablismnt of rligion, or proibiting t

fr xrcis trof; or abridging t frdomof spc, or of t prss; or t rigt of t

popl pacably to assmbl, and to ptition t

Govrnmnt for a rdrss of grivancs.

amndmnt II.

A wll rgulatd Militia, bing ncssary to

t scurity of a fr Stat, t rigt of t popl

to kp and bar Arms, sall not b infringd.

amndmnt III.No Soldir sall, in tim of pac b quartrd

in any ous, witout t consnt of t Ownr,

nor in tim of war, but in a mannr to b prscribd

by law.

amndmnt IV.

T rigt of t popl to b scur in tir

prsons, ouss, paprs, and ffcts, against

unrasonabl sarcs and sizurs, sall not bviolatd, and no Warrants sall issu, but upon

probable cause, supported by Oath or afrmation,

and particularly dscribing t plac to b sarcd,

and t prsons or tings to b sizd.

12The rst ten Amendments (the Bill of Rights) were ratied

ffctiv Dcmbr 1, 171.


21/33

amndmnt V.

No prson sall b ld to answr for a

capital, or otrwis infamous crim, unlss on a

prsntmnt or indictmnt of a Grand Jury, xcpt

in cass arising in t land or naval forcs, or in

t Militia, wn in actual srvic in tim of War

or public dangr; nor sall any prson b subjct

for t sam offnc to b twic put in jopardy oflif or limb; nor sall b complld in any criminal

cas to b a witnss against imslf, nor b dprivd

of lif, librty, or proprty, witout du procss of

law; nor sall privat proprty b takn for public

us, witout just compnsation.

amndmnt VI.

In all criminal proscutions, t accusd sall

njoy t rigt to a spdy and public trial, by an

impartial jury of t Stat and district wrin tcrim sall av bn committd; wic district

sall av bn prviously ascrtaind by law, and

to b informd of t natur and caus of t

accusation; to b confrontd wit t witnsss

against im; to av compulsory procss for

obtaining witnsss in is favor, and to av t

assistanc of counsl for is dfnc.

amndmnt VII.

In Suits at common law, wr t valu incontrovrsy sall xcd twnty dollars, t rigt

of trial by jury sall b prsrvd, and no fact trid

by a jury, sall b otrwis r-xamind in any

Court of t Unitd Stats, tan according to t

ruls of t common law.

amndmnt VIII.

excssiv bail sall not b rquird, nor

excessive nes imposed, nor cruel and unusual

punishments inicted.

amndmnt IX.

T numration in t Constitution of crtain

rigts sall not b construd to dny or disparagotrs rtaind by t popl.

amndmnt X.

T powrs not dlgatd to t Unitd Stats

by t Constitution, nor proibitd by it to t

Stats, ar rsrvd to t Stats rspctivly, or to

t popl.

amndmnt XI.13

T Judicial powr of t Unitd Stats sallnot b construd to xtnd to any suit in law or

quity, commncd or proscutd against on of

t Unitd Stats by Citizns of anotr Stat, or by

Citizns or Subjcts of any Forign Stat.

amndmnt XII.14

T elctors sall mt in tir rspctiv

stats, and vot by ballot for Prsidnt and Vic-

Prsidnt, on of wom, at last, sall not b an

inabitant of t sam stat wit tmslvs; tysall nam in tir ballots t prson votd for as

Prsidnt, and in distinct ballots t prson votd

for as Vic-Prsidnt, and ty sall mak distinct

1The Eleventh Amendment was ratied February 7, 1795.14The Twelfth Amendment was ratied June 15, 1804.


22/33

lists of all prsons votd for as Prsidnt, and of

all prsons votd for as Vic-Prsidnt, and of t

numbr of vots for ac, wic lists ty sall

sign and crtify, and transmit sald to t sat of

t govrnmnt of t Unitd Stats, dirctd to

t Prsidnt of t Snat;T Prsidnt of t

Snat sall, in t prsnc of t Snat and hous

of Representatives, open all the certicates and the

vots sall tn b countd;T prson avingt gratst numbr of vots for Prsidnt, sall

b t Prsidnt, if suc numbr b a majority of

t wol numbr of elctors appointd; and if no

prson av suc majority, tn from t prsons

aving t igst numbrs not xcding tr on

t list of tos votd for as Prsidnt, t hous

of Rprsntativs sall coos immdiatly, by

ballot, t Prsidnt. But in coosing t Prsidnt,

t vots sall b takn by stats, t rprsntation

from ac stat aving on vot; a quorum for tis

purpos sall consist of a mmbr or mmbrs

from two-tirds of t stats, and a majority of

all t stats sall b ncssary to a coic. [And

if t hous of Rprsntativs sall not coos

a Prsidnt wnvr t rigt of coic sall

dvolv upon tm, bfor t fourt day of Marc

nxt following, tn t Vic-Prsidnt sall act

as Prsidnt, as in t cas of t dat or otr

constitutional disability of t Prsidnt]1

Tprson aving t gratst numbr of vots as

Vic-Prsidnt, sall b t Vic-Prsidnt, if suc

numbr b a majority of t wol numbr of

elctors appointd, and if no prson av a majority,

1Suprsdd by sction of t Twntit Amndmnt.

tn from t two igst numbrs on t list, t

Snat sall coos t Vic-Prsidnt; a quorum

for t purpos sall consist of two-tirds of t

wol numbr of Snators, and a majority of t

wol numbr sall b ncssary to a coic. But

no person constitutionally ineligible to the ofce of

Prsidnt sall b ligibl to tat of Vic-Prsidnt

of t Unitd Stats.

amndmnt XIII.16

Sctin 1. Nitr slavry nor involuntary

srvitud, xcpt as a punismnt for crim

wrof t party sall av bn duly convictd,

sall xist witin t Unitd Stats, or any plac

subjct to tir jurisdiction.

Sctin 2. Congrss sall av powr to

nforc tis articl by appropriat lgislation.

amndmnt XIV.17

Sctin 1. All prsons born or naturalizd in

t Unitd Stats and subjct to t jurisdiction

trof, ar citizns of t Unitd Stats and of t

Stat wrin ty rsid. No Stat sall mak or

nforc any law wic sall abridg t privilgs

or immunitis of citizns of t Unitd Stats; nor

sall any Stat dpriv any prson of lif, librty,

or proprty, witout du procss of law; nor dny

to any prson witin its jurisdiction t qualprotction of t laws.

Sctin 2.Rprsntativs sall b apportiond

among t svral Stats according to tir

16The Thirteenth Amendment was ratied December 6, 1865.17The Fourteenth Amendment was ratied July 9, 1868.


23/33

rspctiv numbrs, counting t wol numbr

of prsons in ac Stat, xcluding Indians not

taxd. But wn t rigt to vot at any lction

for t coic of lctors for Prsidnt and Vic

Prsidnt of t Unitd Stats, Rprsntativs in

Congress, the Executive and Judicial ofcers of a

Stat, or t mmbrs of t Lgislatur trof, is

dnid to any of t mal inabitants of suc Stat,

bing twnty-on yars of ag, and citizns oft Unitd Stats, or in any way abridgd, xcpt

for participation in rbllion, or otr crim, t

basis of rprsntation trin sall b rducd in

t proportion wic t numbr of suc mal

citizns sall bar to t wol numbr of mal

citizns twnty-on yars of ag in suc Stat.

Sctin 3. No prson sall b a Snator or

Rprsntativ in Congrss, or lctor of Prsidnt

and Vice President, or hold any ofce, civil ormilitary, undr t Unitd Stats, or undr any

Stat, wo, aving prviously takn an oat, as a

member of Congress, or as an ofcer of the United

Stats, or as a mmbr of any Stat lgislatur, or

as an executive or judicial ofcer of any State, to

support t Constitution of t Unitd Stats, sall

av ngagd in insurrction or rbllion against

t sam, or givn aid or comfort to t nmis

trof. But Congrss may by a vot of two-tirds

of ac hous, rmov suc disability.Sctin 4.T validity of t public dbt of t

Unitd Stats, autorizd by law, including dbts

incurrd for paymnt of pnsions and bountis for

srvics in supprssing insurrction or rbllion,

sall not b qustiond. But nitr t Unitd

Stats nor any Stat sall assum or pay any dbt

or obligation incurrd in aid of insurrction or

rbllion against t Unitd Stats, or any claim for

t loss or mancipation of any slav; but all suc

dbts, obligations and claims sall b ld illgal

and void.

Sctin 5. T Congrss sall av powr to

nforc, by appropriat lgislation, t provisions

of tis articl.

amndmnt XV.18

Sctin 1. T rigt of citizns of t Unitd

Stats to vot sall not b dnid or abridgd by

t Unitd Stats or by any Stat on account of

rac, color, or prvious condition of srvitud.



amndmnt XVI.19

T Congrss sall av powr to lay and collct

taxs on incoms, from watvr sourc drivd,

witout apportionmnt among t svral Stats,

and witout rgard to any cnsus or numration.

amndmnt XVII.20

T Snat of t Unitd Stats sall b

composd of two Snators from ac Stat, lctdby t popl trof, for six yars; and ac Snator

sall av on vot. T lctors in ac Stat sall

1The Fifteenth Amendment was ratied February 3, 1870.1The Sixteenth Amendment was ratied February 3, 1913.20The Seventeenth Amendment was ratied April 8, 1913.


24/33

0

have the qualications requisite for electors of the

most numrous branc of t Stat lgislaturs.

Wn vacancis appn in t rprsntation

of any Stat in t Snat, t xcutiv autority

of such State shall issue writs of election to ll

suc vacancis: Provided, Tat t lgislatur of any

Stat may mpowr t xcutiv trof to mak

temporary appointments until the people ll the

vacancis by lction as t lgislatur may dirct.Tis amndmnt sall not b so construd as

to affct t lction or trm of any Snator cosn

bfor it bcoms valid as part of t Constitution.

amndmnt XVIII.21

[Sctin 1. Aftr on yar from t

ratication of this article the manufacture, sale, or

transportation of intoxicating liquors witin, t

importation trof into, or t xportation trof

from t Unitd Stats and all trritory subjct to

t jurisdiction trof for bvrag purposs is

rby proibitd.

Sctin 2. T Congrss and t svral Stats

sall av concurrnt powr to nforc tis articl

by appropriat lgislation.

Sctin 3. Tis articl sall b inoprativ

unless it shall have been ratied as an amendment

to t Constitution by t lgislaturs of t svral

Stats, as providd in t Constitution, witin svnyars from t dat of t submission rof to t

Stats by t Congrss.]

21The Eighteenth Amendment was ratied January 16, 1919.

It was rpald by t Twnty-First Amndmnt, Dcmbr

, 1.

amndmnt XIX.22

T rigt of citizns of t Unitd Stats to

vot sall not b dnid or abridgd by t Unitd

Stats or by any Stat on account of sx.

Congrss sall av powr to nforc tis

articl by appropriat lgislation.

amndmnt XX.23

Sctin 1. T trms of t Prsidnt and

t Vic Prsidnt sall nd at noon on t 20t

day of January, and t trms of Snators and

Rprsntativs at noon on t d day of January,

of t yars in wic suc trms would av ndd

if this article had not been ratied; and the terms of

tir succssors sall tn bgin.

Sctin 2. T Congrss sall assmbl at last

onc in vry yar, and suc mting sall bgin at

noon on t d day of January, unlss ty sall bylaw appoint a diffrnt day.

Sctin 3. If, at the time xed for the beginning

of t trm of t Prsidnt, t Prsidnt lct sall

av did, t Vic Prsidnt lct sall bcom

Prsidnt. If a Prsidnt sall not av bn cosn

before the time xed for the beginning of his term,

or if t Prsidnt lct sall av faild to qualify,

tn t Vic Prsidnt lct sall act as Prsidnt

until a President shall have qualied; and theCongrss may by law provid for t cas wrin

nitr a Prsidnt lct nor a Vic Prsidnt lct

shall have qualied, declaring who shall then act

22The Nineteenth Amendment was ratied August 18, 1920.2The Twentieth Amendment was ratied January 23, 1933.


25/33

as Prsidnt, or t mannr in wic on wo is

to act sall b slctd, and suc prson sall act

accordingly until a Prsidnt or Vic Prsidnt sall

have qualied.

Sctin 4. T Congrss may by law provid

for t cas of t dat of any of t prsons from

wom t hous of Rprsntativs may coos a

Prsidnt wnvr t rigt of coic sall av

dvolvd upon tm, and for t cas of t dat

of any of t prsons from wom t Snat may

coos a Vic Prsidnt wnvr t rigt of

coic sall av dvolvd upon tm.

Sctin 5. Sctions 1 and 2 sall tak ffct on

the 15th day of October following the ratication

of tis articl.



to t Constitution by t lgislaturs of tr-fourts of t svral Stats witin svn yars

from t dat of its submission.

amndmnt XXI.24

Sctin 1.T igtnt articl of amndmnt

to t Constitution of t Unitd Stats is rby

rpald.

Sctin 2. T transportation or importation

into any Stat, Trritory, or Possssion of t UnitdStats for dlivry or us trin of intoxicating

liquors, in violation of t laws trof, is rby

proibitd.

24The Twenty-First Amendment was ratied December 5, 1933.



to t Constitution by convntions in t svral

Stats, as providd in t Constitution, witin

svn yars from t dat of t submission rof

to t Stats by t Congrss.

amndmnt XXII.25

Sctin 1. No prson sall b lctd tothe ofce of the President more than twice, and

no person who has held the ofce of President,

or actd as Prsidnt, for mor tan two yars of

a trm to wic som otr prson was lctd

President shall be elected to the ofce of President

mor tan onc. But tis Articl sall not apply to

any person holding the ofce of President when

tis Articl was proposd by t Congrss, and

sall not prvnt any prson wo may b olding

the ofce of President, or acting as President,

during t trm witin wic tis Articl bcoms

operative from holding the ofce of President or

acting as Prsidnt during t rmaindr of suc

trm.



to t Constitution by t lgislaturs of tr-

fourts of t svral Stats witin svn yars

from t dat of its submission to t Stats by tCongrss.

2The Twenty-Second Amendment was ratied February 27,

11.


26/33

amndmnt XXIII.26

Sctin 1. T District constituting t sat of

Govrnmnt of t Unitd Stats sall appoint in

suc mannr as Congrss may dirct:

A numbr of lctors of Prsidnt and Vic

Prsidnt qual to t wol numbr of Snators

and Rprsntativs in Congrss to wic t

District would b ntitld if it wr a Stat, but inno vnt mor tan t last populous Stat; ty

sall b in addition to tos appointd by t Stats,

but ty sall b considrd, for t purposs of

t lction of Prsidnt and Vic Prsidnt, to b

lctors appointd by a Stat; and ty sall mt

in t District and prform suc dutis as providd

by t twlft articl of amndmnt.



amndmnt XXIV.27


Stats to vot in any primary or otr lction for

Prsidnt or Vic Prsidnt, for lctors for Prsidnt

or Vic Prsidnt, or for Snator or Rprsntativ

in Congrss, sall not b dnid or abridgd by t

Unitd Stats or any Stat by rason of failur to

pay any poll tax or otr tax.

Sctin 2. T Congrss sall av powr tonforc tis articl by appropriat lgislation.

26The Twenty-Third Amendment was ratied March 29, 1961.27The Twenty-Fourth Amendment was ratied January 23,

164.

amndmnt XXV.28

Sctin 1. In cas of t rmoval of t

President from ofce or of his death or resignation,

t Vic Prsidnt sall bcom Prsidnt.

Sctin 2. Wnvr tr is a vacancy in

the ofce of the Vice President, the President shall

nominate a Vice President who shall take ofce

upon conrmation by a majority vote of bothhouss of Congrss.

Sctin 3. Wnvr t Prsidnt transmits

to t Prsidnt pro tmpor of t Snat and t

Spakr of t hous of Rprsntativs is writtn

dclaration tat is unabl to discarg t powrs

and duties of his ofce, and until he transmits to

tm a writtn dclaration to t contrary, suc

powrs and dutis sall b discargd by t Vic

Prsidnt as Acting Prsidnt.

Sctin 4. Wnvr t Vic Prsidnt and

a majority of either the principal ofcers of the

xcutiv dpartmnts or of suc otr body

as Congrss may by law provid, transmit to

t Prsidnt pro tmpor of t Snat and t

Spakr of t hous of Rprsntativs tir

writtn dclaration tat t Prsidnt is unabl to

discharge the powers and duties of his ofce, the

Vic Prsidnt sall immdiatly assum t powrs

and duties of the ofce as Acting President.Traftr, wn t Prsidnt transmits

to t Prsidnt pro tmpor of t Snat and

t Spakr of t hous of Rprsntativs is

2The Twenty-Fifth Amendment was ratied February 10,

167.


27/33

writtn dclaration tat no inability xists,

shall resume the powers and duties of his ofce

unlss t Vic Prsidnt and a majority of itr

the principal ofcers of the executive department

or of suc otr body as Congrss may by law

provid, transmit witin four days to t Prsidnt

pro tmpor of t Snat and t Spakr of t

hous of Rprsntativs tir writtn dclaration

tat t Prsidnt is unabl to discarg t powrsand duties of his ofce. Thereupon Congress shall

dcid t issu, assmbling witin forty-igt

ours for tat purpos if not in sssion. If t

Congrss, witin twnty-on days aftr rcipt of

t lattr writtn dclaration, or, if Congrss is not

in sssion, witin twnty-on days aftr Congrss

is rquird to assmbl, dtrmins by two-tirds

vot of bot houss tat t Prsidnt is unabl to

discharge the powers and duties of his ofce, the

Vic Prsidnt sall continu to discarg t sam

as Acting Prsidnt; otrwis, t Prsidnt sall

resume the powers and duties of his ofce.

amndmnt XXVI.29


Stats, wo ar igtn yars of ag or oldr, to

vot sall not b dnid or abridgd by t Unitd

Stats or by any Stat on account of ag.

Sctin 2. T Congrss sall av powr tonforc tis articl by appropriat lgislation.

2The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was ratied July 1, 1971.

amndmnt XXVII.30

No law, varying t compnsation for t

srvics of t Snators and Rprsntativs, sall

tak ffct, until an lction of Rprsntativs sall

av intrvnd.

0Congrss submittd t txt of t Twnty-Svnt

Amndmnt to t Stats as part of t proposd Bill of

Rigts on Sptmbr 2, 17. T Amndmnt was not

ratied together with the rst ten Amendments, which

bcam ffctiv on Dcmbr 1, 171. T Twnty-

Seventh Amendment was ratied on May 7, 1992, by vote of

Micigan.


28/33

DaTeS To reMeMber

My 25, 1787:T Constitutional Convntion opns

wit a quorum of svn stats in Piladlpia to discuss

rvising t Articls of Confdration. evntually, all

stats but Rod Island ar rprsntd.

Sptm 17, 1787:All 12 stat dlgations approv

t Constitution, dlgats sign it of t 42 prsnt,

and t Convntion formally adjourns.

Jun 21, 1788:T Constitution bcoms ffctiv for

t ratifying stats wn Nw hampsir is t nint

stat to ratify it.

Mc 4, 1789:The rst Congress under the

Constitution convns in Nw York City.

apil 30, 1789:Gorg Wasington is inauguratd as

the rst President of the United States.

Jun 8, 1789:Jams Madison introducs t proposdBill of Rigts in t hous of Rprsntativs.

Sptm 24, 1789:Congrss stabliss a Suprm

Court, 1 district courts, tr ad oc circuit courts,

and t position of Attorny Gnral.

Sptm 25, 1789:Congrss approvs 12

amndmnts and snds tm to t stats for

ratication.

fuy 2, 1790:T Suprm Court convns for t

rst time.

Dcm 15, 1791:Virginia raties the Bill of Rights,

and 10 of t 12 proposd amndmnts bcom part

of t U.S. Constitution.

INDeX To The CoNSTITUTIoN of The

UNITeD STaTeS aND aMeNDMeNTS

Article, section Page

Admiralty & Maritim cass III,2 22

Advic and consnt II,2 21

Age, as qualication for public

ofce

prsidnt II,1 20

rprsntativs I,2 snators I, 11

voting A26 46

Ambassadors

Cas controvrsis III,2 2

Prsidnts powr II,2- 21-22

Amndmnt procdur V 2

Appllat jurisdiction III,2 2

Appointmnt powr II,2 21

Appointmnts, tmporary A17 40

Apportionmnt of rprsntativs I,2;A14,2 -10; 7-

Appropriations(s) I,, 14, 17

Arms, rigt to bar A2

Army II,2 21Assmbly, rigt of A1

Autors I, 1

Bail, xcssiv A

Bankruptcy, Congrss powr I, 1

Bill of Rigts (Amnds. 1-10) A1-A10 -

Bills I,7 1-14

Bills of attaindr I,-10 17

Borrowing, Congrss powr I, 1

Cabinet ofcers reports II,2 21

Cnsus I,2 -10

Cif Justic, rol in

impacmnt trials I, 11

Commandr in Cif II,2 21Commrc, Congrss powr I, 1

Commission of ofcers II,3 22

Compact I,10 1

Congrss

annual mtings I,4;A20,2 12; 41

dclaring war I, 1

lgislativ procdings I, 12-1


29/33

0


CongrssContinud

mmbrs compnsation and

privilgs I,6;A27 1; 47

organization I,1

powrs I,;A12 14-16; -7

spcial sssions II, 21-22

Congrssional Rcord (Journal) I, 12-1

Constitution, purpos Prambl

Contracts, intrfrnc by stats I,10 17-1

Controvrsis, court cass III,2 22-2

Convntions V;VII;A21 2; 26; 4

Copyrigts & patnts,

Congrss powr I, 1

Counsl, rigt to A6 4

Countrfiting, Congrss

powr to punis I, 1

Courts (s Judiciary)

Criminal procdings, rigts of

accusd A;A6 4

Currncy, Congrss powr I, 1

Dfns, Congrss powr I, 14

District of Columbia I,;A2 16; 44

Doubl jopardy A 4

Du procss of law A;A14,1 4; 7

elctoral Collg II,1;A12;A2 1-1;

-7; 44

equal protction of laws A14,1 7

equity III,2;A11 22;

ex post facto laws I,-10 17-1

extradition of fugitivs by stats IV,2 24

Fins, xcssiv A

Forign affairs, Prsidnts powr II,2 21

Forign commrc, Congrss

powr I, 1

Full faith and credit clause IV,1 24

Gnral wlfar, Congrss powr I, 14Grand jury indictmnts A 4

Grivancs, rdrss of A1

habas corpus I, 17

hous of Rprsntativs

lction to & ligibility for I,2

members terms of ofce I,2;I,6 9; 13

Spakr of I,2;A24;A2,-4 10;

44-46


hous of RprsntativsContinud

spcial powrs

impacmnt I,2 10

Prsidntial lctions II,1;A12 1-20; -7

rvnu bills I,7 1

stats rprsntation in I,2 -10

vacancis I,2 10

Immunitis (s Privilgs

and immunitis)

Impacmnt

ofcials subject to II,4 22

pnaltis I, 11-12

powr of, lodgd in hous I,2 10

rasons II,4 22

trials, Snat I, 11

Indians, commrc wit,

Congrss powr I, 1

Inabitant (s Rsidnt) I,2;I, ; 11

Intrnational law,

Congrss powr I, 1

Invntors I, 1

Judiciary

infrior courts I,;III,1 1; 22

judicial rviw III,2 22-2

jurisdiction III,2 22-2

nomination & conrmation

of judgs II,2 21

Suprm Court III,1 22

terms of ofce &

compnsation III,1 22

Jury trials III,2;A6;A7 2; 4; 4

Lame duck amendment A20 41

Liquor A1;A21 40; 42

Marqu and rprisal, lttrs of I,,10 1; 17

Mn (s Prsons)

Militia (Military) A2;A ; 4congrssional powrs I, 1-16

prsidntial powrs II,2 21

Mony I, 1

National dbt VI 2-26

National Amricans (s Indians)

Naturalization I, 1

Navy I,;II,2 1; 21

Necessary and proper clause I,8 16


30/33


Nominat II,2;A2 21; 4

Oath of ofce, federal and state II,1;VI 20; 26

Original jurisdiction III,2 2

Pardons and rprivs,

Prsidnts powr II,2 21

Popl, powrs rsrvd to A10

Prsons A14 7-

Ptition t govrnmnt, rigt to A1

Pocket veto I,7 14

Poll tax, proibition A24,1 44

Post ofces & roads,

Congrss powr I, 1

Prsidncy, succssion to II,1;A20;A2 20; 41-42;

4-46

Prsidnt

disability A2, 4

lction II,1;A12;A22; 1-20;

A2 -7; 4; 44

eligibility for ofce II,1 20

lgislation, rol in I,7 1-14

oath of ofce II,1 20

powrs & dutis II,2- 21-22

term of ofce & compensation II,1 18-20

Prss, frdom of A1

Privilgs and immunitis

(of citizns) IV,2;A14,1 24; 7

Proibition A1;A21 40; 42

Proprty, taking for public us A 4

Punismnts, crul and unusual A

Rac A1

Ratication of Constitution V;VII 25; 26

Rligion, frdom of A1

Rligious oats VI 26

Rsidnt (s Inabitant) II,1 20

Sarc and sizur A4

Sas, Congrss powr I, 1Scrcy I, 12

Slf-incrimination A 4

Snat

lction to & ligibility for I, 11

qual rprsntation of stats V 2

ofcers I,3 11

Prsidnt of I,;A12 11; 6

Prsidnt of, pro tmpor I,;A2,-4 11; 4-46


SnatContinud

spcial powrs

impacmnt trials I, 11-12

Prsidntial appointmnts II,2 21

tratis II,2 21

terms of ofce I,3;I,6 10; 13

vacancis A17 -40

Slavry, proibition A1;A14,4 7; -

Soldirs, quartring of A

Spc, frdom of A1

Spnding, Congrss powr I, 14-1

Stat of Union mssag II, 21

Stats

and fdral lctions I,4 12

formation & admission to

Union IV, 24-2

powrs rquiring consnt of

Congrss I,10 17-1

powrs rsrvd to A10

protction against invasion,

violnc IV,4 2

rpublican form of

govrnmnt guarantd IV,4 2

suits against III,2;A11 22-2;

Sundays I,7 14

Suprm law of t land

(Constitution) VI 26

Taxing powr, in gnral I,7- 1-14

dirct taxs proibitd I, 17

incom taxs prmittd A16

Trritoris IV, 24-2

Titls of nobility I, 17

Trason II,4;III, 22; 2

Traty(is) I,10;II,2; 17; 21;

III,2;VI 22; 26

Trial I,;III,2; 12; 2;A6;A7 4

Vto, Prsidnts powr I,7 1-14

Vic-Prsidncy, succssion to A20;A2 41-42; 4-46

Vic-Prsidnt

conditions for assuming

Prsidncy II,1;A20; 20; 41-42;

A2 4-46


31/33


Vic PrsidntContinud

dclaring Prsidnt disabld,

rol in A2,4 4-46

Snat, rol in I,;A12 11; -7

term of ofce II,1 18

Voting rigts A14;A24 7-; 44

blacks, formr slavs A1,1

igtn-yars-old A26 46

womn A1 41

War powrs (s Congrss,

dclaring war, powrs;

Prsidnt, powrs & dutis;

Stats, protction against

invasion)

Warrants A4

Wigts and masurs

standards of I, 1

Womn (s Prsons)

No free government, nor the blessings of

liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by...a

frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

George Mason, 1776

The people made the Constitution, and the

people can unmake it. It is the creature of their

own will, and lives only by their will.

John Marshall, 1821

The happy Union of these States is a wonder;

their Constitution a miracle; their example the

hope of Liberty throughout the world.

James Madison, 1829


32/33

U.S. Citiznsip and Immigration Srvics

would lik to gratfully acknowldg t

support of t National Constitution Cntr

in Piladlpia, PA for tir assistanc in t

dvlopmnt of tis ducational product. For

mor information on t National Constitution

Cntr and its mission, plas visit

ttp://www.constitutioncntr.org/.


33/33

declaration and constitution

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