Here, for your edification, enlighten and enjoyment is the US
Constitution and all of the amendments. The first 10 amendments to
the Constitution are popularly known as the Bill of Rights.
Strangely, when folks shout Hey, you can't do that. It's
unconstitutional! they're usually shouting about the Bill of
Rights, not the Constitution itself.
Funny thing about most Americans... they have never read the
Constitution or the Bill of Rights, yet many of them spout off
about what "rights" the constitution guarantees them.
You don't really need to be a lawyer or judge or anything like
that in order to comprehend this fine example of 18’Th century
legalese. If you can read written English, you can understand this
stuff... except perhaps for the second amendment, about which lots
of really smart people still disagree.
Interesting fun-filled fact:
Prior to 1913, there was no federal income tax because it
wasn't constitutional. The ratification of the 16’Th amendment
changed all that.
Kudos to the nice folks at http://www.house.gov (yeah, that's
right... the United States Congress) for the text contained
herein.
Kudos also to good folks like George Washington, Benjamin
Franklin and Alexander Hamilton for their original work.
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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 defense, 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 are
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 appoints 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 Behavior, 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, be privileged 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 increased during such
time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States,
shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in
Office.
Section. 7.
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 reposed 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 Defense 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 a 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 Marquee 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, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of
Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States,
and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the
Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall
be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards,
and other needful Buildings;--And
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 Marquee 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 Control 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 Vice-President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the
Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the
President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then
act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until
the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
Clause 7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his
Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor
diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected,
and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument
from the 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
Behavior, 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 Labor 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 Labor, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the
Party to whom such Service or Labor 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. Jennifer
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
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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 defense.
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.
This amendment was ratified by the following States:
Illinois, November 14, 1962; New Jersey, December 3, 1962;
Oregon, January 25, 1963; Montana, January 28, 1963; West
Virginia, February 1, 1963; New York, February 4, 1963; Maryland,
February 6, 1963; California, February 7, 1963; Alaska, February
11, 1963; Rhode Island, February 14, 1963; Indiana, February 19,
1963; Utah, February 20, 1963; Michigan, February 20, 1963;
Colorado, February 21, 1963; Ohio, February 27, 1963; Minnesota,
February 27, 1963; New Mexico, March 5, 1963; Hawaii, March 6,
1963; North Dakota, March 7, 1963; Idaho, March 8, 1963;
Washington, March 14, 1963; Vermont, March 15, 1963; Nevada, March
19, 1963; Connecticut, March 20, 1963; Tennessee, March 21, 1963;
Pennsylvania, March 25, 1963; Wisconsin, March 26, 1963; Kansas,
March 28, 1963; Massachusetts, March 28, 1963; Nebraska, April 4,
1963; Florida, April 18, 1963; Iowa, April 24, 1963; Delaware, May
1, 1963; Missouri, May 13, 1963; New Hampshire, June 12, 1963;
Kentucky, June 27, 1963; Maine, January 16, 1964; South Dakota,
January 23, 1964; Virginia, February 25, 1977.
Ratification was completed on January 23, 1964.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by North Carolina on
May 3, 1989.
The amendment was rejected by Mississippi (and not subsequently
ratified) on December 20, 1962.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator of
General Services that the amendment had become valid was made on
Feb. 5, 1964, F.R. Doc. 64 091229, 29 F.R. 1715.
Article [XXV.]
Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office
or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become
President.
Section. 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the
Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who
shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both
Houses of Congress.
Section. 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President
pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he
transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such
powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as
Acting President.
Section. 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of
either the principal officers of the executive departments or of
such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the
President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives their written declaration that the President is
unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice
President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the
office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro
tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists,
he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the
Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of
the executive department (See Note 17) or of such other body as
Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the
President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives their written declaration that the President is
unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon
Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight
hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within
twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration,
or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after
Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of
both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers
and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to
discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President
shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed by the Eighty-ninth Congress by
Senate Joint Resolution No. 1, which was approved by the Senate on
Feb. 19, 1965, and by the House of Representatives, in amended
form, on Apr. 13, 1965. The House of Representatives agreed to a
Conference Report on June 30, 1965, and the Senate agreed to the
Conference Report on July 6, 1965. It was declared by the
Administrator of General Services, on Feb. 23, 1967, to have been
ratified by the legislatures of 39 of the 50 States.
This amendment was ratified by the following States:
Nebraska, July 12, 1965; Wisconsin, July 13, 1965; Oklahoma,
July 16, 1965; Massachusetts, August 9, 1965; Pennsylvania, August
18, 1965; Kentucky, September 15, 1965; Arizona, September 22,
1965; Michigan, October 5, 1965; Indiana, October 20, 1965;
California, October 21, 1965; Arkansas, November 4, 1965; New
Jersey, November 29, 1965; Delaware, December 7, 1965; Utah,
January 17, 1966; West Virginia, January 20, 1966; Maine, January
24, 1966; Rhode Island, January 28, 1966; Colorado, February 3,
1966; New Mexico, February 3, 1966; Kansas, February 8, 1966;
Vermont, February 10, 1966; Alaska, February 18, 1966; Idaho,
March 2, 1966; Hawaii, March 3, 1966; Virginia, March 8, 1966;
Mississippi, March 10, 1966; New York, March 14, 1966; Maryland,
March 23, 1966; Missouri, March 30, 1966; New Hampshire, June 13,
1966; Louisiana, July 5, 1966; Tennessee, January 12, 1967;
Wyoming, January 25, 1967; Washington, January 26, 1967; Iowa,
January 26, 1967; Oregon, February 2, 1967; Minnesota, February
10, 1967; Nevada, February 10, 1967.
Ratification was completed on February 10, 1967.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Connecticut,
February 14, 1967; Montana, February 15, 1967; South Dakota, March
6, 1967; Ohio, March 7, 1967; Alabama, March 14, 1967; North
Carolina, March 22, 1967; Illinois, March 22, 1967; Texas, April
25, 1967; Florida, May 25, 1967.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator of
General Services that the amendment had become valid was made on
Feb. 25, 1967, F.R. Doc. 67 092208, 32 F.R. 3287.
Article [XXVI.]
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are
eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed by the Ninety-second Congress by
Senate Joint Resolution No. 7, which was approved by the Senate on
Mar. 10, 1971, and by the House of Representatives on Mar. 23,
1971. It was declared by the Administrator of General Services on
July 5, 1971, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 39 of
the 50 States.
This amendment was ratified by the following States:
Connecticut, March 23, 1971; Delaware, March 23, 1971; Minnesota,
March 23, 1971; Tennessee, March 23, 1971; Washington, March 23,
1971; Hawaii, March 24, 1971; Massachusetts, March 24, 1971;
Montana, March 29, 1971; Arkansas, March 30, 1971; Idaho, March
30, 1971; Iowa, March 30, 1971; Nebraska, April 2, 1971; New
Jersey, April 3, 1971; Kansas, April 7, 1971; Michigan, April 7,
1971; Alaska, April 8, 1971; Maryland, April 8, 1971; Indiana,
April 8, 1971; Maine, April 9, 1971; Vermont, April 16, 1971;
Louisiana, April 17, 1971; California, April 19, 1971; Colorado,
April 27, 1971; Pennsylvania, April 27, 1971; Texas, April 27,
1971; South Carolina, April 28, 1971; West Virginia, April 28,
1971; New Hampshire, May 13, 1971; Arizona, May 14, 1971; Rhode
Island, May 27, 1971; New York, June 2, 1971; Oregon, June 4,
1971; Missouri, June 14, 1971; Wisconsin, June 22, 1971; Illinois,
June 29, 1971; Alabama, June 30, 1971; Ohio, June 30, 1971; North
Carolina, July 1, 1971; Oklahoma, July 1, 1971.
Ratification was completed on July 1, 1971.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Virginia, July 8,
1971; Wyoming, July 8, 1971; Georgia, October 4, 1971.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator of
General Services that the amendment had become valid was made on
July 7, 1971, F.R. Doc. 71 099691, 36 F.R. 12725.
Article [XXVII.]
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the
Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election
of Representatives shall have intervened.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment, being the second of twelve articles proposed by
the First Congress on Sept. 25, 1789, was declared by the
Archivist of the United States on May 18, 1992, to have been
ratified by the legislatures of 40 of the 50 States.
This amendment was ratified by the following States: Maryland,
December 19, 1789; North Carolina, December 22, 1789; South
Carolina, January 19, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790; Vermont,
November 3, 1791; Virginia, December 15, 1791; Ohio, May 6, 1873;
Wyoming, March 6, 1978; Maine, April 27, 1983; Colorado, April 22,
1984; South Dakota, February 21, 1985; New Hampshire, March 7,
1985; Arizona, April 3, 1985; Tennessee, May 23, 1985; Oklahoma,
July 10, 1985; New Mexico, February 14, 1986; Indiana, February
24, 1986; Utah, February 25, 1986; Arkansas, March 6, 1987;
Montana, March 17, 1987; Connecticut, May 13, 1987; Wisconsin,
July 15, 1987; Georgia, February 2, 1988; West Virginia, March 10,
1988; Louisiana, July 7, 1988; Iowa, February 9, 1989; Idaho,
March 23, 1989; Nevada, April 26, 1989; Alaska, May 6, 1989;
Oregon, May 19, 1989; Minnesota, May 22, 1989; Texas, May 25,
1989; Kansas, April 5, 1990; Florida, May 31, 1990; North Dakota,
March 25, 1991; Alabama, May 5, 1992; Missouri, May 5, 1992;
Michigan, May 7, 1992; New Jersey, May 7, 1992.
Ratification was completed on May 7, 1992.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Illinois on May 12,
1992.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Archivist of the
United States that the amendment had become valid was made on May
18, 1992, F.R. Doc. 92 0911951, 57 F.R. 21187.
[Editorial note: There is some conflict as to the exact dates
of ratification of the amendments by the several States. In some
cases, the resolutions of ratification were signed by the officers
of the legislatures on dates subsequent to that on which the
second house had acted. In other cases, the Governors of several
of the States "approved" the resolutions (on a
subsequent date), although action by the Governor is not
contemplated by article V, which required ratification by the
legislatures (or conventions) only. In a number of cases, the
journals of the State legislatures are not available. The dates
set out in this document are based upon the best information
available.]
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NOTES
Note 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed
copy signed by Gen. Washington and the deputies from 12 States.
The small superior figures preceding the paragraphs designate
Clauses, and were not in the original and have no reference to
footnotes.
The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on
September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified by the several
States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7, 1787;
Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787;
Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788;
Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South
Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788.
Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788.
The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia, June
25, 1788; New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21,
1789; Rhode Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont, January 10, 1791.
In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommending
an alteration in the Articles of Confederation, but no action was
taken on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to proceed
in the matter. In January 1786, the Legislature of Virginia passed
a resolution providing for the appointment of five commissioners,
who, or any three of them, should meet such commissioners as might
be appointed in the other States of the Union, at a time and place
to be agreed upon, to take into consideration the trade of the
United States; to consider how far a uniform system in their
commercial regulations may be necessary to their common interest
and their permanent harmony; and to report to the several States
such an act, relative to this great object, as, when ratified by
them, will enable the United States in Congress effectually to
provide for the same. The Virginia commissioners, after some
correspondence, fixed the first Monday in September as the time,
and the city of Annapolis as the place for the meeting, but only
four other States were represented, via: Delaware, New York, New
Jersey, and Pennsylvania; the commissioners appointed by
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Rhode Island
failed to attend. Under the circumstances of so partial a
representation, the commissioners present agreed upon a report,
(drawn by Mr. Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their unanimous
conviction that it might essentially tend to advance the interests
of the Union if the States by which they were respectively
delegated would concur, and use their endeavors to procure the
concurrence of the other States, in the appointment of
commissioners to meet at Philadelphia on the Second Monday of May
following, to take into consideration the situation of the United
States; to devise such further provisions as should appear to them
necessary to render the Constitution of the Federal Government
adequate to the exigencies of the Union; and to report such an act
for that purpose to the United States in Congress assembled as,
when agreed to by them and afterwards confirmed by the
Legislatures of every State, would effectually provide for the
same.
Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a resolution
in favor of a convention, and the Legislatures of those States
which had not already done so (with the exception of Rhode Island)
promptly appointed delegates. On the 25th of May, seven States
having convened, George Washington, of Virginia, was unanimously
elected President, and the consideration of the proposed
constitution was commenced. On the 17th of September, 1787, the
Constitution as engrossed and agreed upon was signed by all the
members present, except Mr. Gerry of Massachusetts, and Messrs.
Mason and Randolph, of Virginia. The president of the convention
transmitted it to Congress, with a resolution stating how the
proposed Federal Government should be put in operation, and an
explanatory letter. Congress, on the 28th of September, 1787,
directed the Constitution so framed, with the resolutions and
letter concerning the same, to "be transmitted to the several
Legislatures in order to be submitted to a convention of delegates
chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity to the
resolves of the convention."
On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed for
commencing the operations of Government under the new
Constitution, it had been ratified by the conventions chosen in
each State to consider it, as follows: Delaware, December 7, 1787;
Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787;
Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788;
Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South
Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; Virginia,
June 25, 1788; and New York, July 26, 1788.
The President informed Congress, on the 28th of January, 1790,
that North Carolina had ratified the Constitution November 21,
1789; and he informed Congress on the 1st of June, 1790, that
Rhode Island had ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790. Vermont,
in convention, ratified the Constitution January 10, 1791, and
was, by an act of Congress approved February 18, 1791,
"received and admitted into this Union as a new and entire
member of the United States."
Note 2: The part of this Clause relating to the mode of
apportionment of representatives among the several States has been
affected by Section 2 of amendment XIV, and as to taxes on incomes
without apportionment by amendment XVI.
Note 3: This Clause has been affected by Clause 1 of amendment
XVII.
Note 4: This Clause has been affected by Clause 2 of amendment
XVIII.
Note 5: This Clause has been affected by amendment XX.
Note 6: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXVII.
Note 7: This Clause has been affected by amendment XVI.
Note 8: This Clause has been superseded by amendment XII.
Note 9: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXV.
Note 10: This Clause has been affected by amendment XI.
Note 11: This Clause has been affected by amendment XIII.
Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the
United States (and two others, one of which failed of ratification
and the other which later became the 27th amendment) were proposed
to the legislatures of the several States by the First Congress on
September 25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by the
following States, and the notifications of ratification by the
Governors thereof were successively communicated by the President
to Congress: New Jersey, November 20, 1789; Maryland, December 19,
1789; North Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina, January
19, 1790; New Hampshire, January 25, 1790; Delaware, January 28,
1790; New York, February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790;
Rhode Island, June 7, 1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; and
Virginia, December 15, 1791.
Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791.
The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures
of Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939; and
Connecticut, April 19, 1939.
Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of
amendment had numbers assigned to them at the time of
ratification.
Note 14: This sentence has been superseded by section 3 of
amendment XX.
Note 15: See amendment XIX and section 1 of amendment XXVI.
Note 16: Repealed by section 1 of amendment XXI.
Note 17: So in original. Probably should be
"departments".
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