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ARTICLE V.
The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necess-
ary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or, on the applica-
tion 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 conven-
tions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi-
cation 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,
any thing in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary
notwithstanding.
The senators and representatives beforementioned, and the members of
the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial offi-
cers, 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 rati-
fying 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 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 William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman
New-York Alexander Hamilton
New-Jersey William Livingston, David Brearley, William Paterson,
Jonathan Dayton,
Pennsylvania. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Miffin, Robert Morris,
George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll,
James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris,
Delaware George Read, Gunning Bedford, Junior, John Dickinson,
Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom.
Maryland James M'Henry, Daniel of St. Tho. Jenifer, Daniel Carrol
Virginia John Blair, James Madison, Junior
North-Carolina William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson.
South-Carolina John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney,
Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler.
Georgia (William Few, Abraham Baldwin.
attest, William Jackson, Secretary
______________________________
AMENDMENTS TO
THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
_______________________________
THE BILL OF RIGHTS
PREAMBLE
Preamble to the bill of rights of the Constitution of the United
States of America
Conventions of a number of States, having at the time of their adopt-
ing the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent miscon-
struction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and re-
strictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of
public confidence in the Government, will but ensure the beneficent
ends of its institution
RESOLVED...the following articles be ... part of the said
Constitution;
NOTE: THIS PREAMBLE IS NOT OFFICIALLY A PART OF THE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, THE 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 CON-STITUTION
AMENDMENT I
(1791)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assem-
ble, and to peti-tion the Government for a redress of grievances.
AMENDMENT II
(1791)
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.
AMENDMENT 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
prescrib-ed by law.
AMENDMENT 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, sup-
ported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
AMENDMENT V
(1791)
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 per-
son be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of
life or limb; nor shall be com-pelled in any criminal case to be a
witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or proper-
ty, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken
for public use, without just compensation.
AMENDMENT 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 dis-
trict 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 wit-
nesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his
defense.
AMENDMENT 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 a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of
the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
AMENDMENT VIII
(1791)
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
AMENDMENT IX
(1791)
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
AMENDMENT 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 respective-
ly, or to the people.
AMENDMENT XI
(1795)
The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to ex-
tend 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.
AMENDMENT 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 in-habitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in
their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct bal-
lots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make dis-
tinct 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 pre- sence of
the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and
the votes shall then be counted; - The person having the greatest num-
ber of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be
a majority of the whole number of the Electors appointed; and if no
person have such a majority, then from the persons having the highest
numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as Presi-
dent, the House of Representa-tives shall choose immediately, by bal-
lot, 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 neces-
sary 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. -] The person having the
greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-Pres-
ident, 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 necess-ary 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.
AMENDMENT XIII
(1865)
SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a pun-
ishment 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 appro-
priate legislation.
AMENDMENT 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 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 num-
ber of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when
the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for Pres-
ident and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Con-
gress, 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 way abridged, except for participation in
rebellion, or other crime, the basis of repre- sentation 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 Constitu-
tion 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 insur-
rection 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.
AMENDMENT 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
appropriate legislation.
AMENDMENT XVI
(1913)
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on income, from
whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several
States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
AMENDMENT XVII
(1913)
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: Provide, 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.
AMENDMENT XVIII
(1919)
SECTION 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the
manu-facture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within,
the import-ation 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.
AMENDMENT XIX
(1920)
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 leg-
islation.
AMENDMENT XX
(1933)
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 Repre-
sentatives at noon on the 3rd 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 success-ors shall then begin.
SECTION 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year,
and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd 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 cho-
sen 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, de-
claring who then shall then act as President, or the manner in which
one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accord-
ingly 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.
AMENDMENT XXI
(1933)
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, Terri-
tory, 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.
AMENDMENT 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 years 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 Presi-dent 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 Presi-dent, 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 sub-mission to the States by the Congress.
AMENDMENT XXIII
(1961)
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 pur-
poses 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 amendment by
appropriate legislation.
AMENDMENT XXIV
(1964)
SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any
prim-ary or other election 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 amendment by
appropriate legislation.
AMENDMENT XXV
(1967)
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-
Presi-dent, 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 declar-
ation 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 princi-pal 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 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 the receipt of the latter written
declar- ation, 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-Presi-dent shall continue to
discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall
resume the powers and duties of his office.
AMENDMENT XXVI
(1971)
SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are (18)
eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abrid-
ged 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.
******************************* END ****************************
