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.
The
House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year
by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the
Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State
Legislature.
No
Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of
twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who
shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be
chosen.
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, thee
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 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
choose 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.
When
vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority
thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The
House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and
shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3.
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.
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 the
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.
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 and Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be
chosen.
The
Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall
have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The
Senate shall choose 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.
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.
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.
The
Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representative,
shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress
may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place
of Choosing Senators.
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.
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 form day to day, and may be authorized to
compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such
Penalties as each House may provide.
Each
House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for
disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a
member. Each House shall keep a Journal
of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such
Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the
Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of
those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither
House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other,
adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the
two Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6.
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, Felon, 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 Houses, they
shall not be questioned in any other Place.
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.
All
bills for raising Revenue, shall originate in the House of Representatives; but
the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every
Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall
before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If
he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections
to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections
at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of
that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections,
to the other House, by which is 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 an Bill shall not be
returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall
have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he
had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in
which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every
Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of
Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be
presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take
Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be
repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to
the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8.
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.;
To
borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To
regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with
the Indian Tribes;
To
establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of
Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To
coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the
Standard of Weights and Measures;
To
provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of
the United States;
To
establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To
promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times
to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and
Discoveries;
To
constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To
define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and
Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To
declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning
Captures on Land and Water;
To
raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be
for a longer Term than two Years;
To
provide and maintain a Navy;
To
make Rules for the Government and Regulations of the land and naval Forces;
To
provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union,
suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To
provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing
such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States,
reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the
Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by
Congress;
To
exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not
exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the
acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of Government of the United States, and
to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the
Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,
Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To
make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution
the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the
Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9.
The
Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing
shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to
the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed
on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The
privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in
Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No
Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No
capitation, or other direct. Tax shall
be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before
directed to be taken.
No
Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No
Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports
of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one
State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No
Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations
made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and
Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No
Title of Nobility shall be granted by the 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.
No
State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation: grant Letters of
Marque and Reprisal; coin Money, emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold
and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex
post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any
Title of Nobility.
No
State shall, without 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 and
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.
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.
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:
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.
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 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 that has such Majority,
and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall
immediately choose 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 choose 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 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 choose from
them by Ballot the Vice-President.
The
Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which
they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United
States.
No
Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the
time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of
President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not
have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a
Resident within the United States.
In
Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation,
or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same
shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress made 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.
President
shall, at states 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.
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 do the best of my Ability, preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”
Section 2.
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
principle Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject
relating to their Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power
to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses Against the United States, except
in the Cases of Impeachment.
He
shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make
Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall
nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint
Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Councils, 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
made by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think
proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of
Departments.
The
President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the
Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of
the 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 Officer 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.
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 Councils; 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; 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 of Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other
public Ministers and Councils, and those in which a State shall be Party, the
supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction.
In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have
appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under
such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
The
Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such
Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been
committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such
Place or Places as the Congress made by Law have directed.
Section 3.
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.
The
Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment or Treason, but no
Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiter 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.
The
Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of
Citizens in the several States.
A
Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall
flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on demand of the
executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be
removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
No
Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping
into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be
discharged from such Service or Labour, But shall be delivered up on Claim of
the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.
Section 3.
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.
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
and 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
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.
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, and Thing in the Constitution or Laws of
any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
The
Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several
State Legislatures, and all executive 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 of 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.
George
Washington – President and deputy from Virginia
New Hampshire:
John Langdon,
Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts:
Nathaniel Gorham,
Rufus King
Connecticut:
Wm. Saml. Johnson,
Roger Sherman
New York:
Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey:
William Livingston,
David Brearley,
William Patterson,
Jonathan Dayton
Pennsylvania:
Benjamin Franklin,
Thomas Mifflin,
Robert Morris,
George Clymer,
Thomas Fitzsimons,
Jared Ingersoll,
James Wilson,
Gouvernour Morris
Delaware:
George Read,
Gunning Bedford Jr.,
John Dickinson,
Richard Bassett,
Jacob Broom
Maryland:
James McHenry,
Dan. of St Thos. Jenifer,
Daniel Carroll
Virginia:
John Blair,
James Madison Jr.
North Carolina:
William Blount,
Richd. Dobbs Spaight,
Hugh Williamson
South Carolina:
John Rutledge,
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney,
Charles Pinckney,
Pierce Butler
Georgia:
William Few,
Abraham Bladwin
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