2 THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
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7 We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect
8 Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
9 common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings
10 of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish
11 this Constitution for the United States of America.
17 All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of
18 the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of
23 Clause 1: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members
24 chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the
25 Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for
26 Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
28 Clause 2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have
29 attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a
30 Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an
31 Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
33 Clause 3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among
34 the several States which may be included within this Union, according
35 to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to
36 the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for
37 a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all
38 other Persons. (See Note 2) The actual Enumeration shall be made
39 within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the
40 United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such
41 Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives
42 shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall
43 have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be
44 made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three,
45 Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one,
46 Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight,
47 Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South
48 Carolina five, and Georgia three.
50 Clause 4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State,
51 the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill
54 Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and
55 other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
59 Clause 1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two
60 Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, (See Note
61 3) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
63 Clause 2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of
64 the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into
65 three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be
66 vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at
67 the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the
68 Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every
69 second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise,
70 during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive
71 thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the
72 Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies. (See Note 4)
74 Clause 3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to
75 the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United
76 States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that
77 State for which he shall be chosen.
79 Clause 4: The Vice President of the United States shall be President
80 of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
82 Clause 5: The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a
83 President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when
84 he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
86 Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all
87 Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or
88 Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the
89 Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without
90 the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
92 Clause 7: Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further
93 than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy
94 any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the
95 Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to
96 Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
100 Clause 1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for
101 Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the
102 Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or
103 alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
105 Clause 2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and
106 such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, (See Note 5)
107 unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
111 Clause 1: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and
112 Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall
113 constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn
114 from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of
115 absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House
118 Clause 2: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,
119 punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence
120 of two thirds, expel a Member.
122 Clause 3: Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from
123 time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their
124 Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of
125 either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of
126 those Present, be entered on the Journal.
128 Clause 4: Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall,
129 without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days,
130 nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be
135 Clause 1: The Senators and Representatives shall receive a
136 Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid
137 out of the Treasury of the United States. (See Note 6) They shall in
138 all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace,
139 beprivileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of
140 their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same;
141 and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be
142 questioned in any other Place.
144 Clause 2: No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for
145 which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the
146 Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the
147 Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no
148 Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member
149 of either House during his Continuance in Office.
153 Clause 1: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House
154 of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with
155 Amendments as on other Bills.
157 Clause 2: Every Bill which shall have passed the House of
158 Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be
159 presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he
160 shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to
161 that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the
162 Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If
163 after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to
164 pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the
165 other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if
166 approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in
167 all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
168 and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill
169 shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any
170 Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays
171 excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be
172 a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by
173 their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a
176 Clause 3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of
177 the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a
178 question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the
179 United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be
180 approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two
181 thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the
182 Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
186 Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes,
187 Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the
188 common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all
189 Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United
192 Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
194 Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the
195 several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
197 Clause 4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform
198 Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
200 Clause 5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign
201 Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
203 Clause 6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the
204 Securities and current Coin of the United States;
206 Clause 7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
208 Clause 8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by
209 securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive
210 Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
212 Clause 9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
214 Clause 10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the
215 high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
217 Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and
218 make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
220 Clause 12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money
221 to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
223 Clause 13: To provide and maintain a Navy;
225 Clause 14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land
228 Clause 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the
229 Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
231 Clause 16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the
232 Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the
233 Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively,
234 the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the
235 Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
237 Clause 17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever,
238 over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, byCession
239 of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat
240 of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority
241 over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the
242 State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,
243 Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
245 Clause 18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for
246 carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers
247 vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or
248 in any Department or Officer thereof.
252 Clause 1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the
253 States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be
254 prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight
255 hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such
256 Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
258 Clause 2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be
259 suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public
260 Safety may require it.
262 Clause 3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
264 Clause 4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in
265 Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be
268 Clause 5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any
271 Clause 6: No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce
272 or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall
273 Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or
274 pay Duties in another.
276 Clause 7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in
277 Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and
278 Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be
279 published from time to time.
281 Clause 8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States:
282 And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall,
283 without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument,
284 Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or
289 Clause 1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or
290 Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit
291 Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in
292 Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or
293 Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of
296 Clause 2: No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any
297 Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely
298 necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of
299 all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall
300 be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws
301 shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
303 Clause 3: No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any
304 Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter
305 into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign
306 Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent
307 Danger as will not admit of delay.
313 Clause 1: The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the
314 United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of
315 four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same
316 Term, be elected, as follows
318 Clause 2: Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature
319 thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of
320 Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the
321 Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an
322 Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed
325 Clause 3: The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote
326 by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an
327 Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a
328 List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for
329 each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to
330 the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the
331 President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the
332 Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the
333 Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having
334 the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be
335 a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be
336 more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of
337 Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by
338 Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority,
339 then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like
340 Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes
341 shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having
342 one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or
343 Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the
344 States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice
345 of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of
346 the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain
347 two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by
348 Ballot the Vice President. (See Note 8)
350 Clause 4: The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors,
351 and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be
352 the same throughout the United States.
354 Clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the
355 United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
356 be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be
357 eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of
358 thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the
361 Clause 6: In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of
362 his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and
363 Duties of the said Office, (See Note 9) the Same shall devolve on the
364 VicePresident, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of
365 Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and
366 Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President,
367 and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be
368 removed, or a President shall be elected.
370 Clause 7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his
371 Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor
372 diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and
373 he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the
374 United States, or any of them.
376 Clause 8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall
377 take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or
378 affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the
379 United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect
380 and defend the Constitution of the United States."
384 Clause 1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and
385 Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States,
386 when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may
387 require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of
388 the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of
389 their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves
390 and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of
393 Clause 2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of
394 the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators
395 present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and
396 Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public
397 Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other
398 Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein
399 otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the
400 Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as
401 they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in
402 the Heads of Departments.
404 Clause 3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that
405 may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions
406 which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
410 He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the
411 State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures
412 as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary
413 Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of
414 Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he
415 may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall
416 receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care
417 that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the
418 Officers of the United States.
422 The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United
423 States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and
424 Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and
431 The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one
432 supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from
433 time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and
434 inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and
435 shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation,
436 which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
440 Clause 1: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and
441 Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United
442 States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their
443 Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers
444 and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to
445 Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to
446 Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and
447 Citizens of another State; (See Note 10)--between Citizens of
448 different States, --between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands
449 under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens
450 thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
452 Clause 2: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers
453 and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme
454 Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before
455 mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both
456 as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations
457 as the Congress shall make.
459 Clause 3: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment,
460 shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the
461 said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within
462 any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress
463 may by Law have directed.
467 Clause 1: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in
468 levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them
469 Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the
470 Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in
473 Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of
474 Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood,
475 or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
481 Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts,
482 Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the
483 Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts,
484 Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
488 Clause 1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all
489 Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
491 Clause 2: A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other
492 Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State,
493 shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he
494 fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction
497 Clause 3: No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the
498 Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law
499 or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but
500 shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or
501 Labour may be due. (See Note 11)
505 Clause 1: New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union;
506 but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of
507 any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or
508 more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the
509 Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
511 Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all
512 needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other
513 Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this
514 Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the
515 United States, or of any particular State.
519 The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a
520 Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against
521 Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive
522 (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
526 The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it
527 necessary, shall propose [1]Amendments to this Constitution, or, on
528 the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several
529 States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in
530 either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of
531 this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths
532 of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as
533 the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the
534 Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the
535 Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect
536 the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first
537 Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of
538 its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
542 Clause 1: All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before
543 the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the
544 United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
546 Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which
547 shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which
548 shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the
549 supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound
550 thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the
551 Contrary notwithstanding.
553 Clause 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the
554 Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and
555 judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several
556 States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this
557 Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a
558 Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
562 The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be
563 sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the
564 States so ratifying the Same.
566 done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the
567 Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand
568 seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United
569 States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto
570 subscribed our Names,
572 GO WASHINGTON--Presidt. and deputy from Virginia
574 [Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.]
587 Dan of ST ThoS. Jenifer
598 RichD. Dobbs Spaight.
604 Charles 1ACotesworth Pinckney
649 Attest William Jackson Secretary
653 Note 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed copy
654 signed by Gen. Washington and the deputies from 12 States. The small
655 superior figures preceding the paragraphs designate Clauses, and were
656 not in the original and have no reference to footnotes.
658 The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on
659 September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified by the several
660 States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7, 1787;
661 Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787;
662 Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts,
663 February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23,
664 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788.
666 Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788.
668 The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia, June 25, 1788;
669 New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21, 1789; Rhode
670 Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont, January 10, 1791.
672 In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommending an
673 alteration in the Articles of Confederation, but no action was taken
674 on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to proceed in the
675 matter. In January 1786, the Legislature of Virginia passed a
676 resolution providing for the appointment of five commissioners, who,
677 or any three of them, should meet such commissioners as might be
678 appointed in the other States of the Union, at a time and place to be
679 agreed upon, to take into consideration the trade of the United
680 States; to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial
681 regulations may be necessary to their common interest and their
682 permanent harmony; and to report to the several States such an act,
683 relative to this great object, as, when ratified by them, will enable
684 the United States in Congress effectually to provide for the same. The
685 Virginia commissioners, after some correspondence, fixed the first
686 Monday in September as the time, and the city of Annapolis as the
687 place for the meeting, but only four other States were represented,
688 viz: Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; the
689 commissioners appointed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North
690 Carolina, and Rhode Island failed to attend. Under the circumstances
691 of so partial a representation, the commissioners present agreed upon
692 a report, (drawn by Mr. Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their
693 unanimous conviction that it might essentially tend to advance the
694 interests of the Union if the States by which they were respectively
695 delegated would concur, and use their endeavors to procure the
696 concurrence of the other States, in the appointment of commissioners
697 to meet at Philadelphia on the Second Monday of May following, to take
698 into consideration the situation of the United States; to devise such
699 further provisions as should appear to them necessary to render the
700 Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of
701 the Union; and to report such an act for that purpose to the United
702 States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to by them and afterwards
703 confirmed by the Legislatures of every State, would effectually
704 provide for the same.
706 Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a resolution in favor
707 of a convention, and the Legislatures of those States which had not
708 already done so (with the exception of Rhode Island) promptly
709 appointed delegates. On the 25th of May, seven States having convened,
710 George Washington, of Virginia, was unanimously elected President, and
711 the consideration of the proposed constitution was commenced. On the
712 17th of September, 1787, the Constitution as engrossed and agreed upon
713 was signed by all the members present, except Mr. Gerry of
714 Massachusetts, and Messrs. Mason and Randolph, of Virginia. The
715 president of the convention transmitted it to Congress, with a
716 resolution stating how the proposed Federal Government should be put
717 in operation, and an explanatory letter. Congress, on the 28th of
718 September, 1787, directed the Constitution so framed, with the
719 resolutions and letter concerning the same, to "be transmitted to the
720 several Legislatures in order to be submitted to a convention of
721 delegates chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity to
722 the resolves of the convention."
724 On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed for commencing
725 the operations of Government under the new Constitution, it had been
726 ratified by the conventions chosen in each State to consider it, as
727 follows: Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787;
728 New Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut,
729 January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28,
730 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788;
731 Virginia, June 25, 1788; and New York, July 26, 1788.
733 The President informed Congress, on the 28th of January, 1790, that
734 North Carolina had ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789; and he
735 informed Congress on the 1st of June, 1790, that Rhode Island had
736 ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790. Vermont, in convention,
737 ratified the Constitution January 10, 1791, and was, by an act of
738 Congress approved February 18, 1791, "received and admitted into this
739 Union as a new and entire member of the United States."
741 Note 2: The part of this Clause relating to the mode of apportionment
742 of representatives among the several States has been affected by
743 Section 2 of amendment XIV, and as to taxes on incomes without
744 apportionment by amendment XVI.
746 Note 3: This Clause has been affected by Clause 1 of amendment XVII.
748 Note 4: This Clause has been affected by Clause 2 of amendment XVIII.
750 Note 5: This Clause has been affected by amendment XX.
752 Note 6: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXVII.
754 Note 7: This Clause has been affected by amendment XVI.
756 Note 8: This Clause has been superseded by amendment XII.
758 Note 9: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXV.
760 Note 10: This Clause has been affected by amendment XI.
762 Note 11: This Clause has been affected by amendment XIII.
764 Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United
765 States (and two others, one of which failed of ratification and the
766 other which later became the 27th amendment) were proposed to the
767 legislatures of the several States by the First Congress on September
768 25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by the following
769 States, and the notifications of ratification by the Governors thereof
770 were successively communicated by the President to Congress: New
771 Jersey, November 20, 1789; Maryland, December 19, 1789; North
772 Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New
773 Hampshire, January 25, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York,
774 February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7,
775 1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; and Virginia, December 15, 1791.
777 Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791.
779 The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures of
780 Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939; and
781 Connecticut, April 19, 1939.
783 Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of amendment had
784 numbers assigned to them at the time of ratification.
786 Note 14: This sentence has been superseded by section 3 of amendment
789 Note 15: See amendment XIX and section 1 of amendment XXVI.
791 Note 16: Repealed by section 1 of amendment XXI.
795 1. http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html