1076 lines
44 KiB
Plaintext
1076 lines
44 KiB
Plaintext
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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
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perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic
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Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the
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general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to
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ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
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Constitution for the United States of America.
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Article I.
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Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be
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vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall
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consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
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Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of
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Members chosen every second Year by the People of the
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several States, and the Electors in each State shall have
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the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most
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numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
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No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have
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attained to the Age of twenty-five Years, and been seven
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Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not,
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when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he
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shall be chosen.
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[Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among
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the several States which may be included within this Union,
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according to their respective Numbers, which shall be
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determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons,
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including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and
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excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other
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Persons.] The actual Enumeration shall be made within three
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Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United
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States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in
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such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of
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Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty
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Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one
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Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made,
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the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three,
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Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations
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one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four,
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Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia
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ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia
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three.
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When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State,
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the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of
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Election to fill such Vacancies.
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The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and
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other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of
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Impeachment.
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Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed
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of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature
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thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one
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Vote.
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Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of
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the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may
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be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the
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first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second
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Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth
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Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth
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Year, so that one-third may be chosen every second Year; and
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if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the
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Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive
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thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next
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Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such
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Vacancies.
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No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to
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the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of
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the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an
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Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
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The Vice President of the United States shall be President
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of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be
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equally divided.
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The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a
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President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President,
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or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the
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United States.
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The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all
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Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be
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on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United
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States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no
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Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two
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thirds of the Members present.
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Judgement in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further
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than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold
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and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the
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United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be
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liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and
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Punishment, according to Law.
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Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections
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for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in
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each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may
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at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as
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to the Place of Chusing Senators.
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The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and
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such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,
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unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
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Section 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections,
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Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a
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Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business;
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but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be
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authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in
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such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may
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provide.
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Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,
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punish it Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the
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Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
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Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from
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time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may
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in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of
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the Members of either House on any question shall, at the
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Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the
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Journal.
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Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall,
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without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than
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three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the
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two Houses shall be sitting.
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Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a
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Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law,
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and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They
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shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the
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Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at
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the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and
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returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in
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either House, they shall not be Questioned in any other
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Place.
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No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for
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which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under
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the Authority of the United States, which shall have been
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created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased
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during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the
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United States, shall be a Member of either House during his
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Continuance in Office.
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Section 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in
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the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or
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concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
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Every Bill which shall have passed the House of
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Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a
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Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If
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he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it,
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with his Objections to that House in which it shall have
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originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their
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Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such
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Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass
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the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to
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the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered,
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and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become
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a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall
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be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons
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voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the
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Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be
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returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted)
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after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be
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a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the
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Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which
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Case it shall not be a Law.
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Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of
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the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary
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(except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to
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the President of the United States; and before the Same
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shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being
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disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the
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Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules
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and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
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Section 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect
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Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debt and
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provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the
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United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be
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uniform throughout the United States;
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To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
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To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the
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several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
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To establish an uniform rule of Naturalization, and uniform
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Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United
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States;
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To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign
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Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
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To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the
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Securities and current Coin of the United States;
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To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
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To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by
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securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the
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exclusive Right to their respective Writings and
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Discoveries;
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To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
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To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the
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high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
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To declare War, grand Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and to
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make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
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To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money
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to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
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To provide and maintain a Navy;
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To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land
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and naval Forces;
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To provide for calling for the Militia to execute the
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Laws of the Union; suppress Insurrections and repel
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Invasions;
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To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the
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Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be
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employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to
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the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers,
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and the Authority of training the Militia according to the
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discipline prescribed by Congress;
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To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever,
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over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may,
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by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of
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Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United
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States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places
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purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in
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which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,
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Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful
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Building;--And
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To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for
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carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other
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Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the
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United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
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Section 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as
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any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit,
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shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year
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one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may
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be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars
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for each Person.
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The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be
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suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the
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public Safety may require it.
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No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
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No capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in
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Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before
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directed to be taken.
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No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any
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State.
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No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce
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or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another:
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nor shall Vessels bound to, or from one State, be obliged to
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enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
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No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in
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Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular
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Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of
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all public Money shall be published from time to time.
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No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States:
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And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under
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them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of
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any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind
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whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
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Section 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance,
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or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin
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Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and
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silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of
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Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the
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Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
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No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any
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Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be
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absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws:
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and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any
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State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the
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Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be
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subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
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No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any
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duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of
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Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another
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State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless
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actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not
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admit of delay.
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Article II.
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Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a
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President of the United States of America. He shall hold his
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Office during the term of four Years, and, together with the
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Vice-President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as
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follows.
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Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature
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thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole
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Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State
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may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or
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Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or
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Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an
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Elector.
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[The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote
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by Ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be
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an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they
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shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the
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Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and
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certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government
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of the United States, directed to the President of the
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Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence
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of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the
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Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The
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Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the
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President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number
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of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who
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have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then
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the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by
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Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a
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Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said
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House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in
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chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States,
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the representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum
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for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from
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two-thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States
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shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the
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Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest
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Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President.
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But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes,
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the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the
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Vice-President.]
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The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors,
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and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day
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shall be the same throughout the United States.
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No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the
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United States, at the time of Adoption of this Constitution,
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shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall
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any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have
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attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen
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Years a Resident within the United States.
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In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of
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his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers
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and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the
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Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the
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Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of
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the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer
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shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act
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accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President
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shall be elected.
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The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his
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Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased
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nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have
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been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period
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any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
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Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall
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take the following Oath or Affirmation:--``I do solemnly
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swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office
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of President of the United States, and will to the best of
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my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of
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the United States.''
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Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the
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Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of
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the several States, when called into the actual Service of
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the United States; he may require the Opinion in writing, of
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the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments,
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upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective
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Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprives and
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Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in
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||
|
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 up all Vacancies that
|
||
|
may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting
|
||
|
Commissions which shall expire at the End of their 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 Officers 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 Behaviour, 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 Consuls;--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 of
|
||
|
another State;--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 or
|
||
|
Subjects.
|
||
|
|
||
|
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers
|
||
|
and Consuls, 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 and Places as the Congress may 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 of
|
||
|
Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption
|
||
|
of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person
|
||
|
attained.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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
|
||
|
any 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 Persuance 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 before mentioned, and the
|
||
|
Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive
|
||
|
and 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 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 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 Twelth. In
|
||
|
witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Go WASHINGTON
|
||
|
Presidt and deputy from Virginia
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
New Hampshire. Delaware.
|
||
|
|
||
|
John Langdan Geo: Read
|
||
|
Nicholas Gilman John Dickinson
|
||
|
Jaco: Broom
|
||
|
Gunning Bedford jun
|
||
|
Massachusetts. Richard Bassett
|
||
|
|
||
|
Nathaniel Gorham
|
||
|
Rufus King Maryland.
|
||
|
|
||
|
James McHenry
|
||
|
Connecticut. Danl Carroll
|
||
|
Dan: of St Thos Jenifer
|
||
|
Wm Saml Johnson
|
||
|
Roger Sherman
|
||
|
Virginia.
|
||
|
|
||
|
New York. John Blair--
|
||
|
James Madison Jr.
|
||
|
Alexander Hamilton
|
||
|
|
||
|
North Carolina.
|
||
|
New Jersey.
|
||
|
Wm Blount
|
||
|
Wil: Livingston Hu Williamson
|
||
|
David Brearley. Richd Dobbs Spaight.
|
||
|
Wm Patterson
|
||
|
Jona: Dayton
|
||
|
South Carolina.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Pennsylvania. J. Rutledge
|
||
|
Charles Pinckney
|
||
|
B. Franklin Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
|
||
|
Robt. Morris Pierce Butler
|
||
|
Thos. Fitzsimons
|
||
|
James Wilson
|
||
|
Thomas Mifflin Georgia.
|
||
|
Geo. Clymer
|
||
|
Jared Ingersoll William Few
|
||
|
Gouv Morris Abr Baldwin
|
||
|
Attest:
|
||
|
WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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 Constitution.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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 defense.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article VII.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article VIII.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Excessive bail shall not be required, or 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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The Electors shall meet in their respective sates and vote
|
||
|
by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at
|
||
|
least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with
|
||
|
themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person
|
||
|
voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person
|
||
|
voted for as Vice-President, 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 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 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 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 necessary 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-President, 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 necessary 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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XIII.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except
|
||
|
as a punishment 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 appropriate legislation.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XIV.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United
|
||
|
States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens
|
||
|
of the United States and of 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 number of persons in each State,
|
||
|
excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at
|
||
|
any election for the choice of electors for President and
|
||
|
Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in
|
||
|
Congress, 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
|
||
|
abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other
|
||
|
crime, the basis of representation 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
|
||
|
Constitution 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 insurrection 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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XV.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XVI.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on
|
||
|
incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment
|
||
|
among the several States, and without regard to any census
|
||
|
or enumeration.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XVII.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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: Provided,
|
||
|
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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XVIII.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this
|
||
|
article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of
|
||
|
intoxicating liquors within, the importation 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 legislature 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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XIX.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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 legislation.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XX.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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 representatives at noon on the 3d 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 successors shall then begin.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Section 2. The congress shall assemble at least once in
|
||
|
every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d
|
||
|
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 chosen 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, declaring who shall then act as
|
||
|
President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be
|
||
|
selected, and such person shall act accordingly 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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XXI.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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,
|
||
|
Territory, 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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XXII.
|
||
|
|
||
|
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 the President
|
||
|
more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any
|
||
|
person holding the office of President 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
|
||
|
President, during the term within which this Article become
|
||
|
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 submission to the
|
||
|
States by the Congress.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XXIII.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Section I. 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 Representative 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 purposes 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
|
||
|
article by appropriate legislation.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XXIV.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to
|
||
|
vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice
|
||
|
President, for electors 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
|
||
|
article by appropriate legislation.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XXV.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Section 1. In the 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 President, 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
|
||
|
Representative his written declaration that he is unable to
|
||
|
discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he
|
||
|
transmits to them a written declaration 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
|
||
|
power 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
|
||
|
principal 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 receipt of the latter written
|
||
|
declaration, 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 President shall continue to discharge
|
||
|
the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall
|
||
|
resume the powers and duties of his office.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XXVI.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who
|
||
|
are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be
|
||
|
denied or abridged 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.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Article XXVII.
|
||
|
|
||
|
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the
|
||
|
Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an
|
||
|
election of representatives shall have intervened.
|