The Constitution of the United States

Purpose
Part 1 - Congress and Legislation
Part 2 - The President
Part 3. - Jurisdiction
Part 4. - The States
Part 5. - Amendment
Part 6. - Highest Law
Part 7. - Approval
The Amendments

Purpose

• Section 1 - The Legislature

• Section 2 - The Representatives

• Section 3 - The Senate

• Section 4 - Elections, Meetings

• Section 5 - Rules and Goings On

• Section 6 - Payment

• Section 7 - Making Laws

• Section 8 - The Powers of Congress

• Section 9 - Powers the United States Do Not Have

• Section 10 - Powers the Separate States Do Not Have

• Section 1 - Selecting the President

• Section 2 - The Purpose of the President

• Section 3 - Relation to Congress

• Section 4 - Taken from Office

Part 4. - The States

Part 5. - Amendment

Part 6. - Highest Law

Part 7. - Approval

The Amendments

Purpose

1. To have fewer errors in organization,
   
2. To put justice forward,
   
3. To keep peace at home,
   
4. To make the society safe from attack,
   
5. To increase general well-being,
   
6. To make certain we have the pleasures of being free, and
7. To give them to those who come after us.

Section 1 - The Legislature

All legislative (law making) powers are given to the congress of the united states, which is made up of a senate and a house of representatives.

Section 2 - The Representatives

A selection of the persons for the house of representatives is made every second year by the people of the states, and the electors (those who make the selection) in each state have to have the same qualities as electors of the branch of the legislature which has the most people in that state.

No person who is less than twenty five can be a representative. He has to also have been a citizen (a part of the society) of the united states for seven years, and live in the state that he represents.

Each state will be represented and directly taxed for this union, based on its numbers. These numbers are gotten by adding the number of free persons, and those in debt for a time, to 3/5 of all other persons. But the Indians, who are not not taxed, will not be added for representation. (This was changed by the 14th amendment, section 2.)

This numbering is to be done within 3 years after the first meeting of the congress of the united states, and every ten years after that, as they direct by law. The number of representatives can not be more than one for every 30,000 people, but each state will have at least one representative.

(Until such numbering was done, the State of New Hampshire was given 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.)

When any state does not have someone for representation, the executive authority of that state will give out "law orders of election" so someone can represent it.

The house of representatives makes a selection of "speaker" and other persons of authority; and is the only body that has the power of impeachment (the power to come with a statement of wrongdoing).

Section 3 - The Senate

The senate of the united states is made up of two senators from each state. The legislature of each state makes its selection of senator, who serves for six years. Each senator has one vote. Senators are put into three equal groups. (At first, one group was in office for two years, the second for four, and the third for six. After the division, each was a senator for six years) A selection is made of 1/3 of all senators every two years. If a senator gives up office or goes away for another reason, while the state legislature is not on break, the executive of that state may put someone in the position for a short time until the next meeting of the state legislature, which then puts people in such positions. (After the 17th amendment, section 1. senators no longer work for the state legislatures.)

A senator has to be thirty, part of the society of the united states for nine years, and living in the state for which he is selected.

The vice president of the united states is the president of the senate, but does not have a vote if the senate votes are not equally divided.

The senate can select other persons of authority, and a senate president for when the vice president is not present, or becomes the president of the united states.

Only the senate has the power of hearing for all impeachments. When doing so, they will be on oath or agreement. When the president of the united states is given a hearing, the chief justice is president. No decision can be made against the person being given a hearing, if 2/3 of the group present are not in agreement.

If someone is impeached, he can only be taken out of office by the senate, and may not hold or have special rights to any office of honor or profit under the united states, or be responsible for others. But the one against whom the decision is made is himself responsible and subject to statements against him, to a hearing, to decisions of the law, and to punishment, as an outcome of law.

Section 4 - Elections, Meetings

Decisions about the times, places and way of having elections for senators and representatives, will be made in each state by its own legislature; but the congress may make or change such laws at any time by law, but not for the place of selecting senators.

The congress will get together at least once a year, and such meeting will be on the first Monday in December, if they do not by law put it on a different day. (See the 20th Amendment, section 2.)

Section 5 - Rules and Goings On

Each house will be the judge of the elections, of the needs for coming back to congress, and of the qualities needed to be part of its own group, and if more than half of those from each group is present, it will be enough to do business; but a smaller number may go out from the meeting from day to day, and may be given authority to make those not present be present, in such a way, and under such punishments as each house may give.

Each house may have the rules of its goings on marked out, punish persons from its group for bad behavior, and, with the agreement of 2/3, put someone out from the group.

Each house will keep a daily record of its goings on, and from time to time make them public, but not for such parts as they think may need to be kept secret; and the "yes" and "no" of those of either house on any question will be put in the record at the desire of 1/5 of those who are present.

No house will put off business for more than three days while the congress is taking place, without the agreement of the other house, nor have it moved to any place other than that in which the two houses will be seated.

Section 6 - Payment

The senators and representatives will get a payment for their public work, to be made certain by law, and paid out of the store of money of the united states. They will always be free from police control while at the meeting of their own group, and in going to and coming back from the meeting, but not for acts against the country, serious crime, and breaking the peace; and they will not be questioned in any other place because of any talk or discussion in either house.

No senator or representative will be given any non-military office position under the authority of the united states, if the position is made while in the time for which he was elected, nor will his payments be increased in such time; and no person in any office under the united states, will be a part of either house while he is in such office.

Section 7 - Making Laws

All lawmaking acts (bills) for getting income will be started in the house of representatives; but the senate may put forward amendments (changes) or agree to them as on other bills.

Every bill which will have come through the house of representatives and the senate will be presented to the president of the united states before it becomes a law; He will put his name to it if he gives his approval, but if he does not approve, he will give it back to that house from which it came, with his statements against it, and that house will put in those statements in their records for the public to see, and look at it again. If after going over it again, 2/3 of that house will agree to make the bill law, it will be sent to the other house, together with the statements against it. They will go over it in the same way, and if an agreement is made by 2/3 of that house, it will become a law. But whenever done in this way, persons from both houses will voice their selection with a "yes" or "no", and the names of the persons who are for and against the bill will be put in the daily record of each house in which it took place. If any bill will not be given back by the president within ten days (without Sundays) after it is presented to him, it will be a law, as if he had put his name to it. If the bill may not be given back to the congress because the meeting has come to an end, it will not be a law.

Every order, decision, or vote to which the agreement of the senate and house of representatives may be necessary will be presented to the president of the united states (but not on a question of putting an end to a meeting); and will get his approval before it will take effect, or if it is disapproved by him, it will be put through again by 2/3 of the senate and house of representatives, by those same rules and limiting conditions in the case of a bill.

Section 8 - The Powers of Congress

The congress will have power:

1. To make and take taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts, and be responsible for keeping the united states safe from attack and in general well-being; but all duties, imposts and excises will be equal in all of the united states;

2. To get money that will be given back, on the credit of the united states;

3. To give direction to business with foreign nations, among the individual states, and with the Indian tribes;

4. To get an equal rule started for making persons part of the nation by law, and equal laws all through the united states on the subject of broken banks;

5. To stamp metal money, give direction to the value of it, and of foreign stamped metal money, and make a fixed regular guide of weights and measures;

6. To be responsible for the punishment of those who make false copies of the securities and current stamped metal money of the united states;

7. To get post offices and post roads started;

8. To give help to the progress of science and useful arts, by giving to writers and inventors the right to own their writings and discoveries for limited times;

9. To be judges with less say than the supreme court;

10. To make a clear outline of the nature of piracies and felonies done on the high seas, and wrongdoing against the law of nations, and to punish them;

11. To make a clear public statement for going to war, give letters of marque and reprisal (to let private representatives go after an enemy of the states), and make rules about taking prisoners on land and water;

12. To put together and support land forces, but no money will be put to that use for more than two years;

13. To be responsible for and keep a sea force;

14. To make rules for the government and rule of the land and sea forces;

15. To be responsible for requesting that the trained military people come forward to give effect to the laws of the united society, put down wars within, and keep attacks out;

16. To be responsible for putting together, arming, and keeping the military persons in line, and for governing the part of them who are paid by the united states, keeping for each state the authority to give positions of military authority, and the authority to train the military people as an outcome of the fixed rules of military behavior marked out by congress;

17. To be the only lawmaking government in all questions, over a part of the country (no more than ten square miles) which may become the seat of the government of the united states, given by certain states, and the agreement of congress, and to have the same authority over all places paid for with the agreement of the legislature of that state in which the seat will be, to put up forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other necessary buildings; And

18. To make all laws which will be necessary and right to act on these powers, and all other powers given by this constitution for the government of the united states, or in any department or officer of them.

Section 9 - Powers the United States Do Not Have

• The congress will not stop any of the states now existing from letting new persons in by land or sea that they believe right, before 1808, but a tax or duty of not more than ten dollars for each person may be put on those who come in.

• The special right of the law order of habeas corpus will not be put off, if doing so is not needed to make the public safe where there is a rebellion or invasion. (This special right says that no person can be kept against his will without a statement of wrongdoing)

• No law will be put through after the fact, or by which a person is given a punishment without a hearing.

• There will be no head tax or other direct tax, if it is not in agreement with the numbering as directed earlier in this constitution. (A change was made by the 16th Amendment.)

• No tax or duty will be put on anything going out from any state.

• No higher position will be given to the ports of one state over those of another, by any business or income rule: no vessels going to or from one state, will have to go in, clear, or pay duties in another.

• No money will be taken from the store of money until it is marked out in detail by law; and a regular statement and account of all public money taken in and paid out will be made public from time to time.

• No position with special rights will be given by the united states, and no person who is in any office of profit or who is responsible for others under the united states, will take any present, payment, office, or position, of any kind, from any king, prince or foreign state, without the agreement of the congress.

  Section 10 - Powers the Separate States Do Not Have

• No state will:

  • Take part in any treaty (agreement between states or nations), alliance (taking of sides with other states or nations), or confederation (grouping of states or nations united by agreement);
  • Give letters of marque and reprisal (see above);
  • Stamp money;
  • Make agreements for future payment;
  • Make an offer in payment of debts with anything but gold and silver stamped metal money;
  • Put through:
    • Any law by which a person is given a punishment without a hearing,
    • Any law after the fact, or
    • Any law damaging the force of contracts, or
  • Give anyone special rights.

• No state will take any tax or other payment on goods coming in or going out, without the agreement of the congress, but for what may be completely necessary for giving effect to it's laws for looking over such goods: and the net produce of all taxes and payments, put by any state on goods coming in or going out, will be for the use of the store of money of the united states; and all such laws will be subject to the change and control of the congress.

• No state will:

  • Take any tax by weight of goods,
  • Keep military forces or ships of war in time of peace,
  • Take part in any agreement with another state, or with a foreign power, or
  • Take part in war, without the agreement of congress, if not in fact attacked, or in clear danger which will not let it be put off.

  Part 2 - The President

  Section 1 - Selecting the President

  The executive power (to give effect to such laws) will be given to a president of the united states of America. He will have this position for four years, together with the vice-president, and they will be selected in this way:

  Each state will give positions to a number of electors, equal to the number of senators and representatives to which the state has a right in the congress, and in a way that its legislature may direct,: but no senator or representative, or person under the united states, who is in an office of profit or is responsible for others, will be an elector.

  (The electors will get together in their own states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom at least one will not be living in the same state as themselves. And they will make a list of all the persons for which they voted, and of the number of votes for each; They will sign and make a written statement that this list is true, and send it locked to the seat of the government of the united states, and directed to the president of the senate. The president of the senate will open all the statements, while the senate and house of representatives are present, and the number of votes will then be taken. The person having the greatest number of votes will be the president, if such number also equals more than 50% of all the electors; and if more than one has such a majority, and has an equal number of votes, then the house of representatives will make a decision on one of them for president by ballot right away; and if no person gets more than 50%, then from the five highest on the list that house will in the same way make the selection of president. But in making the selection of the president, the votes will be taken by state, each state having one vote through such representation; In order to do this, one or more from two-thirds of the states will be necessary, and more than half of all the states will be necessary for a choice to be made. In every case, after the choice of the president, the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors will be the vice president. But if there still are two or more who have equal votes, the senate will make a selection for vice-president from them by ballot.) (This was changed by the 12th amendment.)

  The Congress may mark out the time of making a selection of the electors, and the day on which they will give their votes; This day will be the same all through the united states.

  Only a natural citizen by birth, (or someone who was a citizen of the united states at the time this constitution was made,) will be able to take the office of president; and anyone who takes that office has to be thirty-five years old, and to have lived within the united states for fourteen years.

  (If the president is taken from office, meets his death, gives up his office, or is not able to do what he must as president, then the vice president will take over, and the congress may by law be responsible for the case of taking the president or vice president from office, or in his death, his leaving office, or his not being able to do his work, making a decision about what officer will then act as president, and such officer will act in that way, until the person is able again, or until a president is elected.) (A change has been made by the 20th and 25th amendments.)

  The president will get a payment for his work at given times, which will not be made greater or less during the time for which he will have been elected, and he will not get any other payment from all or any of the united states within that time.

  Before he begins giving effect to his office, he will take this oath or statement of agreement:

  "I certainly agree and will be serious in giving effect to the office of president of the united states, and will keep the constitution of the united states safe from loss, safe from danger, and safe from attack, the best that I am able."

  Section 2 - The Purpose of the President

• The president will be chief leader of:
  • The land and sea forces of the united states, and of

  • The trained military men of the individual states, when called to act in the service of the united states;

• He may make the principal officer, in each of the executive divisions, give his opinion, in writing, about any subject having relation to that which is rightly done within the offices in question, and

• He will have power to free from punishment those who have done wrong against the united states, but not in relation to impeachment.

• He will have power, by and with the advice and approval of the senate, to make Treaties, on condition that 2/3 of the senators present are in agreement; and

• He will put forward the names, and by and with the advice and approval of the senate, will give the positions of Ambassador, other public Ministers and Consuls, judges of the supreme court, and all other Officers of the united states, whose positions are not herein otherwise marked out, which will be put forward by law: but the congress may by law give to the president alone the power to give positions to such lesser Officers, as they think right, in the Courts of law, or in the Heads of Departments.

• The president will have power to fill up all positions that may become empty during the time the senate is out, by giving positions to officers which will end after their next meeting.

  Section 3 - Relation to Congress

  He will from time to time give to the congress news of the condition of the union, and suggest they think about doing that which he will believe is needed 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 will think proper; he will take in Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he will take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and will Commission all the Officers of the united states.

  Section 4 - Taken from Office

  The president, vice president and all civil Officers of the united states, will be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

  Part 3. - Jurisdiction

  Section 1 - Judicial powers

  The judicial Power of the united states, will be given to one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and get started. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, will hold their Offices during good Behavior, and will, at stated Times, get a Compensation for their Services which will not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

  Section 2 - Jury Hearing, Original Jurisdiction

  (The judicial Power will extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the united states, and Treaties made, or which will 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 will 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 its citizens, and foreign states, Citizens or Subjects.) (This section in parentheses is modified by the 11th Amendment.)

  In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a state will be Party, the supreme Court will have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court will have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress will make.

  The hearing of all Crimes, but not in Cases of Impeachment, will be by Jury; and such hearing will be held in the state where the said Crimes will have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the hearing will be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

  Section 3 - Treason

  Treason against the united states, will consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person will be convicted of Treason if not on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

  The Congress will have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason will work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture but during the Life of the Person attainted.

  Part 4. - The States

  Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others

  Full Faith and Credit will 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 will be proved, and the their effect.

  Section 2 - State citizens, Extradition

  The Citizens of each state will be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the different states.

  A Person charged in any state with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who will flee from Justice, and be found in another state, will 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 its laws, 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.) (This clause in parentheses is superseded by the 13th Amendment.)

  Section 3 - New States

  New states may be let into this united society by the Congress; 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 - Republican government

  The united states shall guarantee to every state in this united society 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.

  Part 5. - Amendment

  The Congress, whenever 2/3 of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments (changes) to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of 2/3 of the individual 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 approved by the Legislatures of three fourths of the individual states, or by Conventions in three fourths of them, as the one or the other Mode of approval may be proposed by the Congress; on condition that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any way affect the first and fourth Clauses in the 9th Section of the first Article; and that no state, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the senate.

  Part 6. - Highest Law

  All Debts contracted and Engagements taken part in, 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 its pursuance; 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 those from the individual state Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the united states and of the individual 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 responsibility for others under the united states.

  Part 7. - Approval

  The approval of the Conventions of nine states, shall be enough for getting this Constitution started between the states that give their approval.

  Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the states present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the united states of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names.

  Go Washington - President 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

  Pensylvania - 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 Tho 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

  Attest: William Jackson, Secretary

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The Amendments

  The following are the Amendments to the Constitution. The first ten Amendments collectively are commonly known as the Bill of Rights.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Approved 12/15/1791.

  Congress shall make no law about making a religion official, or prohibiting the free exercise of religion; 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 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Approved 12/15/1791.

  Because a trained military under good direction is necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear military weapons, shall not be infringed.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers. Approved 12/15/1791.

  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 4 - Search and Seizure. Approved 12/15/1791.

  The right of the people to be safe from having their persons, houses, papers, and effects seen or taken without reason, will not be broken, and no Warrants shall be given out, 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 5 - Hearing and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Approved 12/15/1791.

  No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, if not on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, but for cases arising in the land or naval forces, or among the people trained for military, 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 6 - Right to Speedy Hearing, Confrontation of Witnesses. Approved 12/15/1791.

  In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public hearing, 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.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 7 - Hearing by Jury in Civil Cases. Approved 12/15/1791.

  In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of hearing by jury shall be kept safe, and no fact given a hearing by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the united states, than in the way of the rules of the common law.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Approved 12/15/1791.

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

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution. Approved 12/15/1791.

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

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Approved 12/15/1791.

  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.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 11 - Judicial Limits. Approved 2/7/1795.

  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.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 12 - Choosing the President, Vice-President. Approved 6/15/1804.

  The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for the president and vice-president, one of whom, at least, shall not be living in the same state as 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 make clear as true, and send locked to the seat of the government of the united states, directed to the president of the senate;

  The president of the senate shall, while the senate and house of representatives are present, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be numbered;

  The person having the greatest number of votes for president, shall be the president, if such number be a majority of all of the electors given the position; 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 the president right away, by ballot. 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 one or more from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the house of representatives shall not choose a president whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the vice-president shall act as president, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the president.

  The person having the greatest number of votes as vice-president, shall be the vice-president, if such number be a majority of all the electors given the position, 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 all of the senators, and a majority of all of the number shall be necessary for a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president shall be eligible to that of vice-president of the united states.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished. Approved 12/6/1865.

  1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, but 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.

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

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights. Approved 7/9/1868.

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

  2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the individual states in relation to their respective numbers, counting all of the persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for the president and vice-president of the united states, representatives in the congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or those from their legislature, 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, but 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 all of the male citizens who are twenty-one years old in such state.

  3. No person shall be a senator or representative in the 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 part of the congress, or as an officer of the united states, or as a part of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the united states, shall have taken part in war or rebellion against them, or given aid or comfort to the their enemies. But the congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability.

  4. The validity of the public debt of the united states, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing war from within 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 war 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.

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

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote. Approved 2/3/1870.

  1. The right of citizens of the united states to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the united states or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

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

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 16 - Status of Income Tax Clarified. Approved 2/3/1913.

  The congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the individual states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote. Approved 4/8/1913.

  The senate of the united states shall be composed of two senators from each state, elected by the its people, 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 give out law orders of election to fill such vacancies: on condition that the legislature of any state may empower its executive to give temporary positions 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.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 18 - Liquor Abolished. Approved 1/16/1919. Repealed by Amendment 21, 12/5/1933.

  1. After one year from the approval of this article, it is hereby prohibited to manufacture, sell, or transport intoxicating liquors within, take into, or take out from the united states and all territory subject to its jurisdiction, for beverage purposes.

  2. The Congress and the individual states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

  3. This article shall be inoperative if it shall not approval as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the individual states, in agreement with the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the congress.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage. Approved 8/18/1920.

  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.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms. Approved 1/23/1933.

  1. The terms of the president and vice president shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of senators and representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been approved; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

  2. The congress will get together at least once every year, and such meeting will begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, if they do not by law make it on a different day.

  3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the president, the president elect shall have died, the vice president elect shall become president. If a president shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the president elect shall have failed to qualify, then the vice president elect shall act as president until a president shall have qualified; and the congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a president elect nor a vice president elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as president, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act as such until a president or vice president shall have qualified.

  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.

  5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October after this article is approved .

  6. This article shall be inoperative if it shall not have been approved as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the individual states within seven years from the date of its submission.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 21 - Amendment 18 Repealed. Approved 12/5/1933.

  1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the united states is hereby repealed.

  2. It is hereby prohibited to take intoxicating liquors across or into any state, territory, or possession of the united states for delivery or use therein in violation of its laws.

  3. The article shall be inoperative if it shall not have been approved as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the individual states, in agreement with the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the congress.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 22 - Presidential Term Limits. Approved 2/27/1951.

  1. No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice, and no person who has held the office of president, or acted as president, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected president shall be elected to the office of the president more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person in the office of president, when this article was proposed by the congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be in the office of president, or acting as president, during the term within which this article becomes operative from being in the office of president or acting as president during the remainder of such term.

  2. This article shall be inoperative if it shall not have been approved as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the individual states within seven years from the date of its submission to the states by the congress.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 23 - Presidential Vote for District of Columbia. Approved 3/29/1961.

  1. The district constituting the seat of government of the united states shall, in a way that the congress may direct: give position to a number of electors of president and vice president equal to all of the 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 given the position by the states, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of president and vice president, to be electors given their position by a state; and they shall meet in the district and perform such duties in agreement with the twelfth article of amendment.

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

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 24 - Poll Tax Barred. Approved 1/23/1964.

  1. The right of citizens of the united states to vote in any primary or other election for president or vice president, for electors for president or vice president, or for senator or representative in congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the united states or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

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

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 25 - Presidential Disability and Succession. Approved 2/10/1967.

  1. In case of the removal of the president from office or of his death or resignation, the vice president shall become president.

  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.

  3. Whenever the president sends 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 sends a written declaration to the contrary to them, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the vice president as acting president.

  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, send 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 assume the powers and duties of the office as acting president, right away.

  Thereafter, when the president sends 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 if the vice president and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as the congress may by law provide, does not send 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 make a decision on the question, 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 the congress is not in session, within twenty one days after the congress is required to assemble, determines by 2/3 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.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 26 - Voting Age Set to 18 Years. Approved 7/1/1971.

  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.

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

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 27 - Limiting Congressional Pay Increases. Approved 5/7/1992.

  No law, varying the compensation for the services of the senators and representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.