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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and
secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States
of America.
Article I
Section 1.
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a
Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate
and House of Representatives.
Section 2.
[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.
[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.
[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. 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, Massachussetts eight,
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Maryland six,
Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and
Georgia three.
[4] When vacancies happen in the Representation from any
State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of
Election to fill such Vacancies.
[5] The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker
and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3.
[1] The Senate of the United States shall be composed of
two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof,
for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
[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.
[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.
[4] The Vice President of the United States shall be
President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they
shall be equally divided.
[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 excercise the Office of President of the United
States.
[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.
[7] Judgement 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, Judgement, and Punishment,
according to Law.
Section 4.
[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.
[2] The Congress shall assemble at least once in every
Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December
unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section 5.
[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.
[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.
[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 Judgement 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.
[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.
[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. They shall in all
Cases, except Treason, Felony Breach of the Peace, be privileged
from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their
respective Houses, and in going to and from the same; and for any
Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in
any other Place.
[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.
[1] All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the
House of Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur
with Ammendments as on other Bills.
[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 the 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 such
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.
[3] Every Order, Resolution, or Vote, to Which the
Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be
necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be
presented to the President of the United States; and before the
Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being
disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate
and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and
Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8.
[1] The Congress shall have the Power To lay and collect
Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide
for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;
but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout
the United States;
[2] To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
[3] To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among
the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
[4] To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and
uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United
States;
[5] To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of
foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
[6] To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the
Securities and current Coin of the United States;
[7] To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
[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;
[9] To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
[10] To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed
on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
[11] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal,
and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
[12] To raise and support Armies, but no Appropiation of
Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
[13] To provide and maintain a Navy;
[14] To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the
land and naval forces;
[15] To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute
the Laws of the Union, supress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
[16] To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining ,
the Malitia, 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 dicipline
prescribed by Congress;
[17] To excercise 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 excercise 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
[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.
[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.
[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.
[3] No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be
passed.
[4] No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid,
unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before
directed to be taken.
[5] No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from
any State.
[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.
[7] No money shall be drawn form the Treasury, but in
Consequence of Appropiations 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.
[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.
[1] No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or
Confederatrion; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money;
emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a
Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post
facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant
any Title of Nobility.
[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 its inspection Laws: and
the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on
Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the
United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision
and Controul of the Congress.
[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.
[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:
[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.
[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 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 of the Certificates, and the Votes
shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of
Votes shall be 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 the States the Representation from each
State having one Vote; A qourum 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 greater
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.
[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.
[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 thw Office of President;
neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall
have not have attained the Age of thirty five Years, and been
fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
[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, 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.
[7] The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his
Services, a Compensation, which 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.
[8] Before he enter on the execution of his Office, he
shall take the following Oath or Affirmatiom: "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.
[1] The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army
and Navy of the United States, and the militia of the several
States, when called into the actual Service of the United States;
he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer
in each of the Executive Departments, upon any Subject relating
to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have
Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the
United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
[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.
[3] The President shall have the 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 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 Occaisions, 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 recieve 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, recieve for their
Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during
their Continuance in Office.
Section 2.
[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;-between Citizens of
different States;-between Citizens of the same state claiming
Lands under the Grants of different States, and between a State,
or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or
Subjects.
[2] In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public
Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be a
Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In
all other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have
appellate Jurisdiction, both as to the Law and Fact, with such
Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall
make.
[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.
[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 Testamony of two Witnesses to the same
overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
[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.
[1] The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all
Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
[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.
[3] No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under
the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of
any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or
Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom
such Service or Labour may be due.
Section 3.
[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.
[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
Ammendments, 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 fourth thereof, as the one or the other Mode
of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no
Ammendment 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
Sufferage in the Senate.
Article VI
[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.
[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.
[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.
AMMENDMENTS
Ammendment I [1791]
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free excercise 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.
Ammendment II [1791]
A well regulated Malitia, being necessary to the security of a
free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall
not be infringed.
Ammendment III [1791]
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.
Ammendment IV [1791]
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.
Ammendment V [1791]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise in-
famous 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.
Ammendment VI [1791]
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right
to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State
and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which
district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be
informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be
confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Ammendment VII [1791]
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 jury, shall be otherwise re-
examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the
rules of the common law.
Ammendment VIII [1791]
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.
Ammendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not
be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Ammendment X [1791]
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.
Ammendment XI [1798]
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to
extent 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.
Ammendment XII [1804]
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 of the number of votes for each, which lists they
shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of
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 the 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 of
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 death or other constitutional disability of the
President.-The person having the greatest number of votes as
Vice-President, shall be 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.
Ammendment XIII [1865]
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 the power to enforce this article by
appropiate legislation.
Ammendment XIV [1868]
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, and citizens of the United States, or in any
abridged, except for particitation on rebellion, or other crime,
the basis for 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 having 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 or 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 the power to enforce, by appropiate
legislation, the provisions of this article.
Ammentment XV [1870]
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
appropiate legislation.
Ammendment XVI [1913]
The Congress shall have the 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.
Ammendment XVII [1913]
[1] 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 legislature.
[2] 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.
[3] This ammendment shall not be so construed as to affect
the election or term of any Senator before it became valid as
part of the Constitution.
Ammendment XVIII [1919]
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 appropiate legislation.
Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been
ratified as an ammendment to the Constitution by the legislatures
of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within
seven years of the date of submission hereof to the States by the
Congress.
Ammendment XIX [1920]
[1] The right of the citizens of the United States to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State
on account of sex.
[2] Congress have the power to enforce this article by
appropiate legislation.
Ammendment XX [1933]
Section 1.
The terms of 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 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 the 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 provide by
law 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 ammendment to the Constitution by the legislatures
of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from
the date of its submission.
Ammendment XXI [1933]
Section 1.
The eighteenth article of ammendment 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 ammendment to the Constitution by conventions in
the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven
years of the date of the submission hereof to the States by the
Congress.
Ammendment XXII [1951]
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 ywars of a
term to which some other person was elected President shall be
elected to the office of 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 ammentment to the Constitution by the legislatures
of three-fourths of the several States within seven years of the
date of its submission to the States by the Congress.
Ammendment XXIII [1961]
Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the
United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may
direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the
whole numbers 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 twelvth article of ammendment.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropiate legislation.
Ammendment XIV [1964]
Section 1.
The right of the citizens of the United States 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 any other tax.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropiate legislation.
Ammendment XXV [1967]
Section 1.
In the 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 shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting
President.
Section 4.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of the principal
officers of the executive departments or of such other body as
Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro
tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives their written declaration that the President is
unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice
President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the
office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro
tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists,
he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the
Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of
the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by
law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro
tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives their written declaration and 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 power 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.
Ammendment XXVI [1971]
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 the power to enforce this article by
appropiate legislation.
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