IN SENATE

OF

THE UNITED STATES.

February 27, 1816

Mr. Varnum submitted the following resolution for consideration, which was read and passed to the second reading.

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representa tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, That the following be proposed to the legislatures of the several States, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States; which, when ratified by three fourths of the said legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution, viz:

That for the purpose of choosing Representatives in the Congress of the United States, each State shall, by its legislature, be divided into a number of districts equal to the number of Representatives to which such State may be entitled.

Those districts shall be formed of contiguous territory, and contain, as nearly as may be, an equal number of inhabitants entitled, by the Constitution, to be represented. In each district the qualified voters shall elect one Representative and

no more.

That for the purpose of appointing electors of President and Vice President of the United States, each State shall, by its legislature, be divided into a number of districts, equal to the number of electors to which such State may be entitled. Those districts shall be composed of contiguous territory, and contain, as nearly as may be, an equal number of inhabitants entitled, by the Constitution, to representation. In each district the persons qualified to vote for Representatives shall appoint one elector and no more. The electors when convened, shall have power, in case any of those appointed as above prescribed shall fail to attend for the purposes of their said appointment, on the day prescribed for giving their votes for President and Vice President of the United States, to appoint another or others to act in the place of him or them so failing to attend.

Neither the districts for choosing Representatives nor those for appointing electors shall be altered in any State until a census and apportionment of Representatives under it, subsequent to a division of the State into districts, shall be made. The division of States into districts, hereby provided for, shall take place immediately after this amendmeut shall be adopted and ratified, as a part of the Constitution of the United States; and successively immediately afterwards, whenever a census and apportionment of Representatives under it, shall be made. The division of such State into districts for the purposes both of choosing Representatives and of appointing electors, shall be altered agreeable to the provisions of this amendment, and on no other occasion.