CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 29 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 TATES house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn merica. for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for nion, establis their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the e, promote the United States. They shall, in all cases except treason, felony our posterity Compensations and and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest, during their Privileges. attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either house they shall not be questioned in any other place. 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. ed in a Cor embers chose the age Revenue Bills-Procedure President's Action. itizen of the that State in Sec. 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 becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if be apportione not he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have ording to the originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to If after such reconsideration two-thirds of that house shall agree to number of fre reconsider it. luding India pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by shall be mad which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house it ed States, shall become a law. shall by by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall hirty thousand be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned enumeratis by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been prethree, Massented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless -icut five, N Congress by their adjournment prevents its return. in which case it shall not be a Every order, resolution or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and When vacance House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) d six, Virgi law. thereof shall be presented to the President of the United States: and before the same shall entatives s take effect shall be approved by him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be repassed Timpeachme by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and two Senate limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. nd each Sen they shall they shall b The seats at the expir the expirat But in all cases the votes of both houses shall be determined Sec. 8. The Congress shall have and excises, to pay the debts and welfare of the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts provide for the common defence and general United States; but all duties, imposts and General Powers of excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; to borCongress. row money on the credit of the United States; to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States; to coin money, laws on the h year, so and with the Indian tribes; to establish a uniform rule of naturalization and uniform 7 resignation ich he shall e-President, Inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries; to constitute ve thereof regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and ire, which she measures; to provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current t have attain coin of the United States; to establish postoffices and postroads; to promote the ted States, progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and the Senate, tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court, to define and punish piracies and felonies oose their committed on the high seas, and offences against the laws of nations; to declare war, 'he Senate s water; to raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall t purpose, be for a longer term than two years; to provide and maintain a navy, to make rules for the concurre the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrection and expel invasions; tes is tried the government and regulation of the land and naval forces; to provide for calling forth hment shall to provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such and enjoy part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to convicted sh the States respectively the appointment of the officers and the authority of training nd punish the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; to exercise exclusive r Senators as may, by cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress become the re thereof, Beat of government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places osing Senate for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings; e or alter purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the State in which the same shall be, in every and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution Monday in the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the Govern grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and and quali legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not exceedng ten miles square) ment of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof. Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the States now 1 quorum txisting shall think proper to admit shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior om day to of a ince alties as the rules d ncurren Limitations of Its 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 hereinbefore 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 conse quence 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 an 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. Sec. 10. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass Limitations of any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the State Powers. obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. No State snall, 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 imports laid by any State on imports or exports shall be for the use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress. No State shall, without the consent of Congress, pay 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. Section 1. ARTICLE II. The President and His Powers. 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. The Electoral College Eligibility, Succession and Compensation. 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 to 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 government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such a majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives_shall immediately choose by ballot one of them 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 representatives from each State having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors shal be the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have equa 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 shal give their votes: which day shall be the same throughout the United States. N 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. I case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation o inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolv 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 unti the disability be removed or a President shall be elected. The President shall, a stated times, receive for his services a compensation which shall be neither 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_Unite States, or any of them. Before he enters on the execution of his office he shal take the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) tha 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." Sec. 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 Military, Civil and the actual service of the United States, he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. 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. The President shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. Sec. 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 extraordiHessages and Extra nary occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and Sessions. 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 the public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all of the officers of the United States. Sec. 4. The President, Vice-President and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment for and Removal by Im- conviction of treason, bribery or other high crimes and mispeachment. demeanors. ARTICLE III. Supreme Court and Judicial Powers. 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 stablish. The judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices luring good behavior, and shall at stated times receive for their services a compensalon which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising inder this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made or which shall be made under their authority; to all cases affecting imits of Judicial ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, to all cases Power. of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies to which the United States shall be a party; to controversies etween two or more states; between a state and citizens of another state; between itizens of different states; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under rants of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof and foreign tates, citizens or subjects. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers ind consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall ave original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned the Supreme Court hall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and inder such regulations as the Congress shall make. The trial of all crimes, except a cases of impeachment, shall be by jury, and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crime shall have been committed, but when not committed within any tate, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have irected. Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war gainst 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 of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of lood or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted. reason and Its Punishment. ARTICLE IV. Rights of States and Citizens. Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, scords and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by eneral laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall e proved, and the effect thereof. Sec. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and imrunities of citizens in the several states. A person charged in any state with qual Rights of Citizens. 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 peror labor in one state, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, all, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service on held to service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service may be due. Creation of New C Sec. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union: new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any othe nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more or part of states, without the consent of the legislature: states concerned as well as of the Congress. The shall have power to dispose of and make all needful regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any the United States, or of any particular state. of ru cl Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this T republican form government, and shall protect Guarantee of Repub- them against invasion, and on application of the Leg lican Government. or of the executive (when the Legislature cannot be against domestic violence. Action by Congress Ratification. ARTICLE V. Amendments to Constitution. Co The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it ne shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of th latures of two-thirds of the several states, shall convention for proposing amendments, which in eith shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of fourths of the several states, or by convention in three-fourths thereof, as or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hund eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth se the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of it suffrage in the Senate. ARTICLE VI. Supreme Authority of Constitution. All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adop this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Co This Constitution a Debts and Treaties- Religious Test. tion as under the confederation. laws of the United States which shall be made in ance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be under the authority of the United States, shall supreme law of the land; and the judges in ever shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state contrary notwithstanding. The Senators and Representatives before mentione the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by affirmation to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be r as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. ARTICLE VII. Ratification of Constitution, The ratification of the convention of nine states shall be sufficient establishment of this Constitution between the ratifying the same. Nine States Suf ficient to Establish. Done in convention by the unanimous consent states present, the seventeenth day year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the in of September, dence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof hereunto subscribed our names. W GEO. WASHINGTON, President and Deputy from Virgin New Hampshire-JOHN LANGDON, NICHOLAS GILMAN, Massachusetts-NATHANIEL GORHAM, RUFUS KING. Connecticut-WM. SAML. JOHNSON, ROGER SHERMAN. New York-ALEXANDER HAMILTON. DAYTON. New Jersey-WILL. LIVINGSTON, DAVID BREARLY, WM. PATERSON, Pennsylvania-B. FRANKLIN, THOMAS MIFFLIN, ROBERT MORRIS. CLYMER, THOMAS FITZSIMONS, JARED INGERSOLL, WILSON. GOUV. MORRIS. Delaware-GEO. READ, GUNNING BEDFORD, Jun'r, JOHN DICKINSON, Maryland-JAMES M'HENRY, DAN. OF ST. THOMAS JENIFER, DANL. CAR Attest: WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretar AMENDMENTS. (The first ten amendments were proposed at the first session of the 1st Co of the United States, which was begun and held at the city of New York on 4. 1789, and were adopted by the requisite number of states-1 vol. Laws of U. S., p. 72. They together constitute a Bill of Rights.) The following is the preamble and resolution: Congress of the United States begun and held at the city of New York on Wednesday, the 4th day of March, 1789. The conventions of a number of the states having at the time of their adopting the Constitution expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added; and as extending the ground of public confidence in the government will best insure the beneficent ends of its Constitution. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both houses concurring, That the following articles be proposed to the legislatures of the several states as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of said legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of said Constitution, namely: ARTICLE I.-Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. ARTICLE II.-A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. ARTICLE III.-No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. ARTICLE IV.-The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. ARTICLE V.-No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger. nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. ARTICLE VI.-In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence. ARTICLE VII.-In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed $20. the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law. ARTICLE VIII.-Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. ARTICLE IX.-The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. ARTICLE X.-The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. ARTICLE XI.-(Proposed by Congress held at Philadelphia, December 2, 1793; ratification declared by President, January 8, 1798.) The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. ARTICLE XII.-(Proposed at first session of 8th Congress, in Washington. October 17, 1803; ratification announced by Secretary of State, September 25, 1804.) The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by Election of Presi- ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom at least dent and shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; Vice-President. they shall name in their ballots the persons voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the persons voted for as VicePresident, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each; which 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 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 vote shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall de |