795 lines
37 KiB
Text
795 lines
37 KiB
Text
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THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
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_________________________________________________________________
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(See Note 1)
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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect
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Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
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common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings
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of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish
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this Constitution for the United States of America.
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Article. I.
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Section 1.
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All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of
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the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of
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Representatives.
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Section. 2.
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Clause 1: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members
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chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the
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Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for
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Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
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Clause 2: 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 Years a
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Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an
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Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
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Clause 3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among
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the several States which may be included within this Union, according
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to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to
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the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for
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a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all
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other Persons. (See Note 2) The actual Enumeration shall be made
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within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the
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United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such
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Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives
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shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall
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have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be
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made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three,
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Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one,
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Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight,
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Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South
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Carolina five, and Georgia three.
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Clause 4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State,
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the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill
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such Vacancies.
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Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and
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other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
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Section. 3.
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Clause 1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two
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Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, (See Note
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3) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
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Clause 2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of
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the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into
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three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be
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vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at
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the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the
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Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every
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second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise,
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during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive
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thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the
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Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies. (See Note 4)
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Clause 3: 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 the United
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States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that
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State for which he shall be chosen.
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Clause 4: 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 equally divided.
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Clause 5: The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a
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President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when
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he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
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Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all
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Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or
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Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the
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Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without
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the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
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Clause 7: Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further
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than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy
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any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the
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Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to
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Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
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Section. 4.
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Clause 1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for
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Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the
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Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or
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alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
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Clause 2: 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, (See Note 5)
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unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
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Section. 5.
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Clause 1: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and
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Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall
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constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn
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from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of
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absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House
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may provide.
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Clause 2: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,
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punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence
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of two thirds, expel a Member.
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Clause 3: 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 in their
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Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of
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either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of
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those Present, be entered on the Journal.
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Clause 4: Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall,
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without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days,
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nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be
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sitting.
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Section. 6.
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Clause 1: The Senators and Representatives shall receive a
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Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid
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out of the Treasury of the United States. (See Note 6) They shall in
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all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace,
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beprivileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of
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their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same;
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and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be
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questioned in any other Place.
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Clause 2: No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for
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which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the
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Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the
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Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no
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Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member
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of either House during his Continuance in Office.
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Section. 7.
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Clause 1: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House
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of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with
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Amendments as on other Bills.
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Clause 2: Every Bill which shall have passed the House of
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Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be
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presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he
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shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to
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that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the
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Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If
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after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to
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pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the
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other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if
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approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in
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all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
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and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill
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shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any
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Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays
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excepted) 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 Congress by
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their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a
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Law.
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Clause 3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of
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the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a
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question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the
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United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be
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approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two
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thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the
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Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
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Section. 8.
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Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes,
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Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the
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common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all
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Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United
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States;
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Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
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Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the
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several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
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Clause 4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform
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Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
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Clause 5: 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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Clause 6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the
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Securities and current Coin of the United States;
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Clause 7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
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Clause 8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by
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securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive
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Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
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Clause 9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
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Clause 10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the
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high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
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Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and
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make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
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Clause 12: 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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Clause 13: To provide and maintain a Navy;
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Clause 14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land
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and naval Forces;
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Clause 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the
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Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
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Clause 16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the
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Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the
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Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively,
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the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the
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Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
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Clause 17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever,
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over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, byCession
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of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat
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of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority
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over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the
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State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,
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Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
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Clause 18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for
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carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers
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vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or
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in any Department or Officer thereof.
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Section. 9.
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Clause 1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the
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States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be
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prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight
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hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such
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Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
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Clause 2: 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 public
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Safety may require it.
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Clause 3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
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Clause 4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in
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Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be
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taken. (See Note 7)
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Clause 5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any
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State.
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Clause 6: 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: nor shall
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Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or
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pay Duties in another.
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Clause 7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in
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Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and
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Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be
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published from time to time.
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Clause 8: 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 them, shall,
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without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument,
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Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or
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foreign State.
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Section. 10.
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Clause 1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or
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Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit
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Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in
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Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or
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Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of
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Nobility.
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Clause 2: 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 absolutely
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necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of
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all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall
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be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws
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shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
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Clause 3: 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 Peace, enter
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into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign
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Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent
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Danger as will not admit of delay.
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Article. II.
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Section. 1.
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Clause 1: The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the
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United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of
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four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same
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Term, be elected, as follows
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Clause 2: 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 Number of
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Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the
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Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an
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Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed
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an Elector.
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Clause 3: 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 an
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Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a
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List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for
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each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to
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the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the
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President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the
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Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the
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Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having
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the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be
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a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be
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more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of
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Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by
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Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority,
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then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like
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Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes
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shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having
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one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or
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Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the
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States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice
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of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of
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the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain
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two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by
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Ballot the Vice President. (See Note 8)
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Clause 4: 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 shall be
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the same throughout the United States.
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Clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the
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United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
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be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be
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eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of
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thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the
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United States.
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Clause 6: 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 and
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Duties of the said Office, (See Note 9) the Same shall devolve on the
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VicePresident, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of
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Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and
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Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President,
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and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be
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removed, or a President shall be elected.
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Clause 7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his
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Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor
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diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and
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he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the
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United States, or any of them.
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Clause 8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall
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take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or
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affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the
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United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect
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and defend the Constitution of the United States."
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Section. 2.
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Clause 1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and
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Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States,
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when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may
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require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of
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the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of
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their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves
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and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of
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Impeachment.
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Clause 2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of
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the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators
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present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and
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Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public
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Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other
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Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein
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otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the
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Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as
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they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in
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the Heads of Departments.
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Clause 3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that
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may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions
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which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
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Section. 3.
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He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the
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State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures
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as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary
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Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of
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Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he
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may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall
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receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care
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that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the
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Officers of the United States.
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Section. 4.
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The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United
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States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and
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Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and
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Misdemeanors.
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Article. III.
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Section. 1.
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The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one
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supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from
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time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and
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inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and
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shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation,
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which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
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Section. 2.
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Clause 1: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and
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Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United
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States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their
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Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers
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and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to
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Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to
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Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and
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Citizens of another State; (See Note 10)--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.
|
|
|
|
Clause 2: 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.
|
|
|
|
Clause 3: 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 or Places as the Congress
|
|
may by Law have directed.
|
|
|
|
Section. 3.
|
|
|
|
Clause 1: 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.
|
|
|
|
Clause 2: 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 attainted.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Clause 1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all
|
|
Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
|
|
|
|
Clause 2: 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.
|
|
|
|
Clause 3: 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. (See Note 11)
|
|
|
|
Section. 3.
|
|
|
|
Clause 1: 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.
|
|
|
|
Clause 2: 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 [1]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.
|
|
|
|
Clause 1: 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.
|
|
|
|
Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which
|
|
shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which
|
|
shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the
|
|
supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound
|
|
thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the
|
|
Contrary notwithstanding.
|
|
|
|
Clause 3: 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 Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto
|
|
subscribed our Names,
|
|
|
|
GO WASHINGTON--Presidt. and deputy from Virginia
|
|
|
|
[Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.]
|
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
|
|
Geo: Read
|
|
Gunning Bedford jun
|
|
John Dickinson
|
|
Richard Bassett
|
|
Jaco: Broom
|
|
|
|
Maryland
|
|
|
|
James MCHenry
|
|
Dan of ST ThoS. Jenifer
|
|
DanL Carroll.
|
|
|
|
Virginia
|
|
|
|
John Blair--
|
|
James Madison Jr.
|
|
|
|
North Carolina
|
|
|
|
WM Blount
|
|
RichD. Dobbs Spaight.
|
|
Hu Williamson
|
|
|
|
South Carolina
|
|
|
|
J. Rutledge
|
|
Charles 1ACotesworth Pinckney
|
|
Charles Pinckney
|
|
Pierce Butler.
|
|
|
|
Georgia
|
|
|
|
William Few
|
|
Abr Baldwin
|
|
|
|
New Hampshire
|
|
|
|
John Langdon
|
|
Nicholas Gilman
|
|
|
|
Massachusetts
|
|
|
|
Nathaniel Gorham
|
|
Rufus King
|
|
|
|
Connecticut
|
|
WM. SamL. Johnson
|
|
Roger Sherman
|
|
|
|
New York
|
|
|
|
Alexander Hamilton
|
|
|
|
New Jersey
|
|
|
|
Wil: Livingston
|
|
David Brearley.
|
|
WM. Paterson.
|
|
Jona: Dayton
|
|
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
|
|
|
B Franklin
|
|
Thomas Mifflin
|
|
RobT Morris
|
|
Geo. Clymer
|
|
ThoS. FitzSimons
|
|
Jared Ingersoll
|
|
James Wilson.
|
|
Gouv Morris
|
|
|
|
Attest William Jackson Secretary
|
|
|
|
NOTES
|
|
|
|
Note 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed copy
|
|
signed by Gen. Washington and the deputies from 12 States. The small
|
|
superior figures preceding the paragraphs designate Clauses, and were
|
|
not in the original and have no reference to footnotes.
|
|
|
|
The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on
|
|
September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified by the several
|
|
States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7, 1787;
|
|
Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787;
|
|
Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts,
|
|
February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23,
|
|
1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788.
|
|
|
|
Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788.
|
|
|
|
The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia, June 25, 1788;
|
|
New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21, 1789; Rhode
|
|
Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont, January 10, 1791.
|
|
|
|
In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommending an
|
|
alteration in the Articles of Confederation, but no action was taken
|
|
on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to proceed in the
|
|
matter. In January 1786, the Legislature of Virginia passed a
|
|
resolution providing for the appointment of five commissioners, who,
|
|
or any three of them, should meet such commissioners as might be
|
|
appointed in the other States of the Union, at a time and place to be
|
|
agreed upon, to take into consideration the trade of the United
|
|
States; to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial
|
|
regulations may be necessary to their common interest and their
|
|
permanent harmony; and to report to the several States such an act,
|
|
relative to this great object, as, when ratified by them, will enable
|
|
the United States in Congress effectually to provide for the same. The
|
|
Virginia commissioners, after some correspondence, fixed the first
|
|
Monday in September as the time, and the city of Annapolis as the
|
|
place for the meeting, but only four other States were represented,
|
|
viz: Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; the
|
|
commissioners appointed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North
|
|
Carolina, and Rhode Island failed to attend. Under the circumstances
|
|
of so partial a representation, the commissioners present agreed upon
|
|
a report, (drawn by Mr. Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their
|
|
unanimous conviction that it might essentially tend to advance the
|
|
interests of the Union if the States by which they were respectively
|
|
delegated would concur, and use their endeavors to procure the
|
|
concurrence of the other States, in the appointment of commissioners
|
|
to meet at Philadelphia on the Second Monday of May following, to take
|
|
into consideration the situation of the United States; to devise such
|
|
further provisions as should appear to them necessary to render the
|
|
Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of
|
|
the Union; and to report such an act for that purpose to the United
|
|
States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to by them and afterwards
|
|
confirmed by the Legislatures of every State, would effectually
|
|
provide for the same.
|
|
|
|
Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a resolution in favor
|
|
of a convention, and the Legislatures of those States which had not
|
|
already done so (with the exception of Rhode Island) promptly
|
|
appointed delegates. On the 25th of May, seven States having convened,
|
|
George Washington, of Virginia, was unanimously elected President, and
|
|
the consideration of the proposed constitution was commenced. On the
|
|
17th of September, 1787, the Constitution as engrossed and agreed upon
|
|
was signed by all the members present, except Mr. Gerry of
|
|
Massachusetts, and Messrs. Mason and Randolph, of Virginia. The
|
|
president of the convention transmitted it to Congress, with a
|
|
resolution stating how the proposed Federal Government should be put
|
|
in operation, and an explanatory letter. Congress, on the 28th of
|
|
September, 1787, directed the Constitution so framed, with the
|
|
resolutions and letter concerning the same, to "be transmitted to the
|
|
several Legislatures in order to be submitted to a convention of
|
|
delegates chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity to
|
|
the resolves of the convention."
|
|
|
|
On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed for commencing
|
|
the operations of Government under the new Constitution, it had been
|
|
ratified by the conventions chosen in each State to consider it, as
|
|
follows: Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787;
|
|
New Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut,
|
|
January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28,
|
|
1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788;
|
|
Virginia, June 25, 1788; and New York, July 26, 1788.
|
|
|
|
The President informed Congress, on the 28th of January, 1790, that
|
|
North Carolina had ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789; and he
|
|
informed Congress on the 1st of June, 1790, that Rhode Island had
|
|
ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790. Vermont, in convention,
|
|
ratified the Constitution January 10, 1791, and was, by an act of
|
|
Congress approved February 18, 1791, "received and admitted into this
|
|
Union as a new and entire member of the United States."
|
|
|
|
Note 2: The part of this Clause relating to the mode of apportionment
|
|
of representatives among the several States has been affected by
|
|
Section 2 of amendment XIV, and as to taxes on incomes without
|
|
apportionment by amendment XVI.
|
|
|
|
Note 3: This Clause has been affected by Clause 1 of amendment XVII.
|
|
|
|
Note 4: This Clause has been affected by Clause 2 of amendment XVIII.
|
|
|
|
Note 5: This Clause has been affected by amendment XX.
|
|
|
|
Note 6: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXVII.
|
|
|
|
Note 7: This Clause has been affected by amendment XVI.
|
|
|
|
Note 8: This Clause has been superseded by amendment XII.
|
|
|
|
Note 9: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXV.
|
|
|
|
Note 10: This Clause has been affected by amendment XI.
|
|
|
|
Note 11: This Clause has been affected by amendment XIII.
|
|
|
|
Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United
|
|
States (and two others, one of which failed of ratification and the
|
|
other which later became the 27th amendment) were proposed to the
|
|
legislatures of the several States by the First Congress on September
|
|
25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by the following
|
|
States, and the notifications of ratification by the Governors thereof
|
|
were successively communicated by the President to Congress: New
|
|
Jersey, November 20, 1789; Maryland, December 19, 1789; North
|
|
Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New
|
|
Hampshire, January 25, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York,
|
|
February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7,
|
|
1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; and Virginia, December 15, 1791.
|
|
|
|
Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791.
|
|
|
|
The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures of
|
|
Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939; and
|
|
Connecticut, April 19, 1939.
|
|
|
|
Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of amendment had
|
|
numbers assigned to them at the time of ratification.
|
|
|
|
Note 14: This sentence has been superseded by section 3 of amendment
|
|
XX.
|
|
|
|
Note 15: See amendment XIX and section 1 of amendment XXVI.
|
|
|
|
Note 16: Repealed by section 1 of amendment XXI.
|
|
|
|
References
|
|
|
|
1. http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html
|