We the People of the United States, in Order
to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United States of America.
All legislative Powers
herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the
The House of
Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the
People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the
Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State
Legislature.
No Person shall be a
Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and
been seven Years a Citizen of the
Representatives and
direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be
included within this
When vacancies happen
in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall
issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of
Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have
the sole Power of Impeachment.
The Senate of the
Immediately after they
shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided
as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first
Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second
Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the
Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second
Year; and if Vacancies happen by
Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State,
the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of
the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
No Person shall be a
Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine
Years a Citizen of the
The Vice President of
the
The Senate shall chuse
their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the
Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the
The Senate shall have
the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they
shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the
Judgment in Cases of
Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and
disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under
the
The Times, Places and
Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be
prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at
any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of
chusing Senators.
The Congress shall
assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,
unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Each House shall be
the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a
Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number
may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of
absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may
provide.
Each House may
determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly
Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep
a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting
such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of
the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth
of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during
the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for
more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses
shall be sitting.
The Senators and
Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be
ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the
No Senator or
Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to
any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have
been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such
time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a
Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
All Bills for raising
Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may
propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall
have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it
become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve
he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that
House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at
large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such
Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall
be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall
likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall
become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be
determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and
against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If
any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays
excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law,
in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment
prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order,
Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of
Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be
presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take
Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be
repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to
the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
The Congress shall
have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the
Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United
States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the
United States;
To borrow Money on the
credit of the
To regulate Commerce
with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an
uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies
throughout the
To coin Money, regulate
the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and
Measures;
To provide for the
Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the
To establish Post
Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress
of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and
Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute
Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish
Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law
of Nations;
To declare War, grant
Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and
Water;
To raise and support
Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term
than two Years;
To provide and
maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the
Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling
forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the
To provide for
organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part
of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to
the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of
training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive
Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten
Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of
Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to
exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the
Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,
Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which
shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers,
and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the
United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
The Migration or
Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think
proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one
thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such
Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the
Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion
or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder
or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or
other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration
herein before directed to be taken.
No Tax or Duty shall
be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be
given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over
those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to
enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be
drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and
a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public
Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility
shall be granted by the
No State shall enter
into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and
Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver
Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto
Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of
Nobility.
No State shall,
without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or
Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection
Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on
Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States;
and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the
Congress.
No State shall,
without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships
of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another
State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or
in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
The executive Power
shall be vested in a President of the
Each State shall
appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of
Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which
the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or
Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the
The
Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two
Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with
themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the
Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit
sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the
President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of
the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the
Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes
shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of
Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and
have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately
chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority,
then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner
chuse the President. But in chusing 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. In every Case,
after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of
Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain
two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot
the Vice President.
The Congress may
determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall
give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the
No Person except a
natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the
Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President;
neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained
to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the
United States.
In
Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation,
or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same
shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for
the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and
Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such
Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President
shall be elected.
The President shall,
at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither
be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected,
and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the
Before he enter on the
Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or
Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully
execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of
my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United
States."
The President shall be
Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the
Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the
United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer
in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of
their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and
Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power,
by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided
two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and
with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other
public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other
Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise
provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by
Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in
the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall
have Power to fill 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.
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.
The President, Vice
President and all civil Officers of the
The judicial Power of
the
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 or Places as
the Congress may by Law have directed.
Treason against the
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
All Debts contracted
and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
be as valid against the
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.
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.
The Ratification of
the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of
this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
The Word, "the," being interlined
between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, the Word
"Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of
the first Page, The Words "is tried" being interlined between the
thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word
"the" being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines
of the second Page.
Attest William Jackson Secretary
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,
G°. Washington
Presidt and deputy from Virginia
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 Cotesworth 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 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
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.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a
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.
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.
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.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to
a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been
previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of
the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
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 re-examined in any Court of the
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not
be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The powers not delegated to the
AMENDMENT XI
Passed by Congress March 4,
1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.
Note:
Article III, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 11.
The Judicial power of the
Passed by Congress December
9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804.
Note: A
portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th
amendment.
The Electors shall meet in their respective
states 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 the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open
all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having
the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such
number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no
person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not
exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives
shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the
President, the 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 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
*Superseded
by section 3 of the 20th amendment.
Passed by Congress January
31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.
Note: A
portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the
13th amendment.
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
Section
2.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Passed by Congress June 13,
1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.
Note:
Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th
amendment.
Section
1.
All persons born or naturalized in the
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 way 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
Section
5.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the
provisions of this article.
*Changed by
section 1 of the 26th amendment.
Passed by Congress February
26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.
Section
1.
The right of citizens of the
Section
2.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Passed by Congress July 2,
1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.
Note:
Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16.
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.
Passed by Congress May 13,
1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.
Note:
Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.
The Senate of the
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.
Passed by Congress December
18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Repealed by amendment 21.
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
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 legislatures 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.
Passed by Congress June 4, 1919.
Ratified August 18, 1920.
The right of citizens of the
Congress shall have power to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation.
Passed by Congress March 2,
1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.
Note:
Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this
amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section
3.
Section
1.
The terms of the President and the 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 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.
Passed by Congress February
20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.
Section
1.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the
Section
2.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of
the
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.
Passed by Congress March 21,
1947. Ratified February 27, 1951.
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 President more than once. But this Article shall
not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was
proposed by 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 becomes 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.
Passed by Congress June 16,
1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.
Section
1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the
A number of electors of President and Vice
President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives 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.
Passed by Congress August
27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.
Section
1.
The right of citizens of the
Section
2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Passed by Congress July 6,
1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.
Note:
Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.
Section
1.
In 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 Representatives 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 powers 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.
Passed by Congress March 23,
1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.
Note:
Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the
26th amendment.
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.
Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789.
Ratified May 7, 1992.
No law, varying the compensation for the
services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an
election of representatives shall have intervened.