IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776. THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in sucù förm That an authenticated copy of the Declaration of Independency, with the names of the Members of Congress subscribing the same, be sent to each of the United States, and that they be desired to have the same put on record. By order of Congress. CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [Went into operation first Wednesday in March, 1789. Owings v. Speed 5 Wheat. 420.] ARTICLE I. SECTION 1. Legislative powers; in whom vested. SEC. 2. House of Representatives, how and by whom chosen Qualifications of a Representative - Representatives and direct taxes, how apportioned - Enumeration - Vacancies to be filledPower of choosing officers, and of impeachment. ་ SEC. 3. Senators, how and by whom chosen-How classified State Executive, when to make temporary appointments, in case, etc.-Qualifications of a Senator - President of the Senate, his right to vote - President, pro tem., and other officers of the Senate, how chosen-Power to try impeachments- When President is tried, Chief Justice to preside Sentence. SEC. 4. Times, etc., of holding elections, how prescribed - One Session in each year. SEC. 5. Membership - Quorum --Adjournments-Rules-Power to punish or expel-Journal-Time of adjourments, how limited, etc. SEC. 6. Compensation - Privileges - Disqualification in certain cases. SEC. 7. House to originate all revenue bills - Veto - Bill may be passed by two-thirds of each house, notwithstanding, etc.— Bill, not returned in ten days, to become a law - Provisions as to orders, concurrent resolutions, etc. SEC. 8. Powers of Congress. SEC. 9. Provision as to migration or importation of certain per sons-Habeas Corpus-Bills of attainder, etc.-Taxes, how apportioned - No export duty- No commercial preference - Money, how drawn from treasury, etc.-No titular nobility - Officers not to receive presents, etc. SEC. 10. States prohibited from the exercise of certain powers. [COPYRIGHTED, 1891.] |