Constitution

		Constitution of the United States

	We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union,
	establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common
	defense, 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.


Article I
Section 1.All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a
	Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of
	Representatives.

Section 2.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 United States,
	and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he
	shall be chosen.

	{Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the
	several states which may be included within this union, according
	to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding
	to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to
	service for a term of years, and excluding I ndians not taxed, three
	fifths of all other Persons. }

	The actual Enumeration shall be made
	within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United
	States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as
	they shall by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed
	one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one
	Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of
	New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight,
	Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New Y ork
	six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six,
	Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
	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 choose their speaker and other officers;
	and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
	Section 3.The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two
	Senators from each state,

	{chosen by the legislature thereof, for six
	years; and each Senator shall have one vote. }

	{I mmediately 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 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 United States and who
	shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be
	chosen.
	The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but
	shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.
	The Senate shall choose 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 United States.
	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 United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person

	shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members
	present.
	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 United States: but the party convicted shall
	nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and
	punishment, according to law.

Section 4.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 choosing 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.

Section 5.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 behavior, 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.

Section 6.The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation
	for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of
	the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach
	of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the
	session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the
	same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be
	questioned in any other place.
	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 increased 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.

Section 7.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.

Section 8.The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties,
	imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense
	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 United States;
	To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states,
	and with the Indian tribes;
	To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the
	subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States;
	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 United States;
	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
		offenses 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 union,
	suppress insurrections and repel invasions;
	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, dockyards, 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.
	Section 9.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 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
	receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time
	to time.
	No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person
	holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent
	of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any
	kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.


Section 10.No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation;
	grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make
	anything 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
	control 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.

Article II
Section 1.The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United
	States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years
	and together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be
	elected, as follows:
	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 United States, shall be appointed an elector.

	{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 choose 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 choose 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. I n 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 choose from
	them by ballot the Vice President. }

	The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day
	on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same
	throughout the United States.
	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 Y ears a
	resident within the United States.

	{I n 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 United States, or any of them.
	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."

Section 2.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 offenses
	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.

Section 3.He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of
	the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such
	measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on
	extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in
	case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of
	adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper;
	he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care
	that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of
	the United States.

Section 4.The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United
	States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction
	of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Article III
Section 1.The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one
	Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time
	to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior
	courts, shall hold their offices during good behaviour, and shall, at stated
	times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be
	diminished during their continuance in office.

Section 2.The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity,
	arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties
	made, or which shall be made, under their authority; — to all cases
	affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; — to all cases of
	admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; — to controversies to which the
	United States shall be a party; — to controversies between two or more
	states; — {between a state and citizens of another state }; —
	between citizens of different states; — between citizens of the same state
	claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the
	citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.
	In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and
	those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original
	jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court
	shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such
	exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.
	The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury;
	and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have
	been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall
	be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.

Section 3.Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying
	war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and
	comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of
	two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.
	The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but
	no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except
	during the life of the person 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.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 labor 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 labor, but
	shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service
	or labor may be due. }

Section 3.New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union;
	but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any
	other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states,
	or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states
	concerned as well as of the Congress.

	The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and
	regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the
	United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to
	prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular state.

	Section 4.The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a
	republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against
	invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when
	the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.

Article V
	The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary,
	shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the
	legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for
	proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents
	and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures
	of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths
	thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the
	Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the
	year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the
	first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no
	state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the
	Senate.

Article VI
	All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of
	this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this
	Constitution, as under the Confederation.

	This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in
	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, anything in the
	Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.
	The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of
	the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of
	the	United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or
	affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be
	required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United
	States.

Article VII
	The ratification of the conventions of nine states, shall be sufficient for the
	establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same.
	Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the
	seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
	hundred and eighty seven and of the independence of the United States of
	America the twelfth.

In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,


G.o Washington — Presdt. and deputy from Virginia

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
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