The 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.

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. House of Representatives, how and by whom chosen Qualifications
of a Representative. Representatives and direct taxes, how apportioned.
Enumeration. Vacancies to be filled. Power of choosing officers, and of
impeachment.

1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every
second year by the people of the several States, and the elector in each
State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most
numerous branch of the State Legislature.

2. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained 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.

3. Representatives and direct taxes[Altered by 16th Amendment] 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 the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service
for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all
other persons.[Altered by 14th Amendment] 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 choose three, Massachusetts
eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New
York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six,
Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the
Executive Authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such
vacancies.

5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other
officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

Section 3. Senators, how and by whom chosen. How classified. State
Executive, when to make temporary appointments, in case, etc.
Qualifications of a Senator. President of the Senate, his right to vote.
President pro tem., and other officers of the Senate, how chosen. Power to
try impeachments. When President is tried, Chief Justice to preside.
Sentence.

1. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from
each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof,[Altered by 17th Amendment]
for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.

2. 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.[Altered
by 17th Amendment]

3. 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.

4. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the
Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

5. 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 the President of the United States.

6. 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.

7. Judgement 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, judgement
and punishment, according to law.

Section 4. Times, etc., of holding elections, how prescribed. One session
in each year.

1. 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.

2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such
meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,[Altered by 20th
Amendment] unless they by law appoint a different day.

Section 5. Membership, Quorum, Adjournments, Rules, Power to punish or
expel. Journal. Time of adjournments, how limited, etc.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to
time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgement
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.

4. 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.

1. 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.

2. 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 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. House to originate all revenue bills. Veto. Bill may be
passed by two-thirds of each House, notwithstanding, etc.

Bill, not returned in ten days to become a law. Provisions as to orders,
concurrent resolutions, etc.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 re-passed by two-thirds of the Senate and
House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed
in the case of a bill.

1. 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:

3. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several
states, and with the Indian tribes:

4. To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the
subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States:

5. To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix
the standard of weights and measures:

6. To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and
current coin of the United States:

8. 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:

10. To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas,
and offences against the law of nations:

11. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules
concerning captures on land and water:

12. To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use
shall be for a longer term than two years:

14. To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval
forces:

15. To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the
union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions:

16. 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:

17. 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,

18. 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. Provision as to migration or importation of certain persons.
Habeas Corpus, Bills of attainder, etc. Taxes, how apportioned. No export
duty. No commercial preference. Money, how drawn from Treasury, etc. No
titular nobility. Officers not top receive presents, etc.

1. 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 1808, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such
importations, not exceeding 10 dollars for each person.

2. 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.

4. No capitation, or other direct tax shall be laid unless in proportion
to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.[Altered by
16th Amendment]

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no
person holding any office or 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.

1. 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.

2. 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 its 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.

Section 1. President: his term of office. Electors of President; number
and how appointed. Electors to vote on same day. Qualification of
President. On whom his duties devolve in case of his removal, death, etc.
President's compensation. His oath of office.

1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States
of America. He shall hold office during the term of four years, and
together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected as
follows

2. Each State[Altered by 23rd Amendment] shall appoint, in such manner as
the Legislature 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
each; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the
seat of 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. 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 choose from them by ballot the Vice
President.[Altered by 12th Amendment]

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.[Altered by 25th
Amendment]

6. 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.

7. 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 the 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. President to be Commander-in-Chief. He may require opinions of
cabinet officers, etc., may pardon. Treaty-making power. Nomination of
certain officers. When President may fill vacancies.

1. 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
against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

2. 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.

3. The President shall have the power to fill up all vacancies that may
may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions, which
shall expire at the end of their next session.

Section 3. President shall communicate to Congress. He may convene and
adjourn Congress, in case of disagreement, etc. Shall receive ambassadors,
execute laws, and commission officers.

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 may 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 United States,
shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of,
treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

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. Judicial power; to what cases it extends. Original
jurisdiction of Supreme Court Appellate. Trial by Jury, etc. Trial, where

1. 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.[Altered by 11th Amendment]

2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls,
and those in which a state shall be a 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.

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.

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.

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.

Section 1. Each State to give credit to the public acts, etc. of every
other State.

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. Privileges of citizens of each State. Fugitives from Justice
to be delivered up. Persons held to service having escaped, to be
delivered up.

1. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and
immunities of citizens in the several states. [See the 14th Amendment]

2. A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who
shall flee 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.

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.[Altered by 13th Amendment]

Section 3. Admission of new States. Power of Congress over territory and
other property.

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,
without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned, as well as
of the Congress.

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. Republican form of government guaranteed. Each State to be
protected.

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 1808, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Ten Original Amendments: The Bill of Rights. Passed by Congres
September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.

AMENDMENT I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

AMENDMENT II A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a
free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be
infringed.

AMENDMENT III No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.

AMENDMENT IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not
be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,
supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to
be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

AMENDMENT V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury,
except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia,
when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any
person be subject for the same offense 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.

AMENDMENT VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and
district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall
have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature
and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against
him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and
to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

AMENDMENT VII In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall
exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and
no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the
United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

AMENDMENT VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

AMENDMENT IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall
not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

AMENDMENT X The powers not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the
States respectively, or to the people.

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to
any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the
United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of
any foreign state.

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 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,[Altered by 20th
Amendment] 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 numbers be a majority of the whole number of
electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two
highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a
quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of
Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a
choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of
President shall be eligible to that of Vice- President of the United States.

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the
United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State
wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor
shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law; nor to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of the laws.

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.

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.

The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law,
including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services
in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But
neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all
such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation,
the provisions of this article.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude.

The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from
whatever sources derived, without apportionment among the several States,
and without regard to any census or enumeration.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each
State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall
have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications
requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State
Legislatures. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in
the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of
election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the Legislature of any
State may empower the Executive thereof to make temporary appointments
until the people fill the vacancies by election as the Legislature may
direct. This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election
or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the
Constitution.

Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919.[Altered
by Amendment 21]

After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale,
or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof
into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory
subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby
prohibited. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power
to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. 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.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress
shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

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 3rd 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.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting
shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law
appoint a different day.

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.

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.

Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the
ratification of this article (October 1933).

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.

The Eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United
States is hereby repealed.

The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession
of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors,
in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

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.

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 that two years of a term to which some other person was elected
President shall be elected to the office of President more that 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 the term within which this Article becomes operative from
holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder
of such term. 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.

The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall
appoint in such manner as Congress may direct: 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 preform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of
amendment.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other
election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or
Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure
to pay poll tax or any other tax.

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or
resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the
President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take the office upon
confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.

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.

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, transmits 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 departments or
of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmits 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.

The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or
older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any
state on account of age.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.