The Constitution for the United States of America

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure

domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the

Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the

United States of America.

Article. I.

Section. 1.

Al legislative Powers herein granted shal be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shal

consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section. 2.

The House of Representatives shal be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of

the several States, and the Electors in each State shal have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the

most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shal be a Representative who shal not have attained to the age of twenty five Years, and

been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shal not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of

that State in which he shal be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shal be apportioned among the several States which may be included

within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shal be determined by adding to the

whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding

Indians not taxed, three fifths of al other Persons. The actual Enumeration shal 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 shal by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shal not exceed

one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shal have at Least one Representative; and until such

enumeration shal be made, the State of New Hampshire shal be entitled to chuse 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 vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shal

issue Writs of Election to fil such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shal chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shal have the sole Power

of Impeachment.

Section. 3.

The Senate of the United States shal be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the

Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shal have one Vote.

Immediately after they shal be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shal be divided as

equal y as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shal be vacated at the

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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

shal then fil such Vacancies.

No Person shal be a Senator who shal not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years

a Citizen of the United States, and who shal not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which

he shal be chosen.

The Vice President of the United States shal be President of the Senate but shal have no Vote, unless

they be equal y divided.

The Senate shal chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice

President, or when he shal exercise the Office of President of the United States.

The Senate shal have the sole Power to try al Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shal

be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shal

preside: And no Person shal be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members

present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shal 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 shal nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment,

according to Law.

Section. 4.

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shal be prescribed

in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such

Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

The Congress shal assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shal be on the first Monday in

December, unless they shal by Law appoint a different Day.

Section. 5.

Each House shal be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a

Majority of each shal constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smal er Number may adjourn from day

to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under

such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour,

and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shal keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting

such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either

House on any question shal , at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

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Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shal , without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more

than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shal be sitting.

Section. 6.

The Senators and Representatives shal receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by

Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shal in al 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 shal not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shal , during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil

Office under the Authority of the United States, which shal have been created, or the Emoluments

whereof shal have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United

States, shal be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Section. 7.

Al Bil s for raising Revenue shal originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose

or concur with amendments as on other Bil s.

Every Bil which shal have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shal , before it become a

law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shal sign it, but if not he shal

return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shal have originated, who shal enter the

Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two

thirds of that House shal agree to pass the Bil , it shal be sent, together with the Objections, to the

other House, by which it shal likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it

shal become a Law. But in al such Cases the Votes of both Houses shal be determined by Yeas and

Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bil shal be entered on the Journal of

each House respectively. If any Bil shal not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays

excepted) after it shal have been presented to him, the Same shal 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 shal not be a

Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives

may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shal be presented to the President of the

United States; and before the Same shal take Effect, shal be approved by him, or being disapproved by

him, shal be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules

and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bil .

Section. 8.

The Congress shal have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and

provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but al Duties, Imposts and

Excises shal be uniform throughout the United States;

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To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies

throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and

Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and

Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of

Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and

Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shal be for a longer Term than

two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for cal ing forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel

Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as

may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the

Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline

prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in al 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 al Places purchased by the Consent

of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shal be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals,

dock-Yards and other needful Buildings;—And

To make al Laws which shal be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers

and al other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any

Department or Officer thereof.

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Section. 9.

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shal think proper to

admit, shal not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight,

but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shal not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebel ion or

Invasion the public Safety may require it.

No Bil of Attainder or ex post facto Law shal be passed.

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shal be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration

herein before directed to be taken.

No Tax or Duty shal be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shal be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over

those of another: nor shal Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear or pay Duties

in another.

No Money shal 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 al public Money shal be published

from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shal be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or

Trust under them, shal , without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office,

or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.

Section. 10.

No State shal enter into any Treaty, Al iance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal;

coin Money; emit Bil s of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts;

pass any Bil of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any

Title of Nobility.

No State shal , without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports,

except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of al

Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shal be for the Use of the Treasury of the

United States; and al such Laws shal be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.

No State shal , without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in

time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or

engage in War, unless actual y invaded, or in such imminent Danger as wil not admit of delay.

Article. II.

Section. 1.

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The executive Power shal be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shal hold his

Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be

elected, as follows:

Each State shal appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors,

equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the

Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the

United States, shal be appointed an Elector.

The Electors shal meet in their respective States, and vote by Bal ot for two Persons, of whom one at

least shal not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shal make a List of al the

Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shal 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 shal , in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives,

open al the Certificates, and the Votes shal then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of

Votes shal 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 shal immediately chuse by Bal ot one of them for President; and if no Person

have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shal in like Manner chuse the

President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shal be taken by States, the Representatives from

each State having one Vote; a quorum for this Purpose shal consist of a Member or Members from two

thirds of the States, and a Majority of al the States shal 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 shal be the

Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shal chuse

from them by Bal ot the Vice President.

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shal give their

Votes; which Day shal be the same throughout the United States.

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of

this Constitution, shal be eligible to the Office of President; neither shal any person be eligible to that

Office who shal not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident

within the United States.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge

the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shal 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 shal then act as President, and such Officer shal act accordingly,

until the Disability be removed, or a President shal be elected.

The President shal , at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shal neither be

encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shal have been elected, and he shal not

receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shal take the following Oath or Affirmation:—“I do

solemnly swear (or affirm) that I wil faithful y execute the Office of President of the United States, and

wil to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

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Section. 2.

The President shal be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia

of the several States, when cal ed 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 shal have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons

for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shal 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 shal nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of

the Senate, shal appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme

Court, and al other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise

provided for, and which shal be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment

of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the

Heads of Departments.

The President shal have Power to fil up al Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate,

by granting Commissions which shal expire at the End of their next Session.

Section. 3.

He shal from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend

to their Consideration such Measures as he shal 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 shal think

proper; he shal receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shal take Care that the Laws be

faithful y executed, and shal Commission al the Officers of the United States.

Section. 4.

The President, Vice President and al Civil Officers of the United States, shal be removed from Office on

Impeachment for and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article. III.

Section. 1.

The judicial Power of the United States, shal 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, shal hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shal , at stated Times, receive for their

Services, a Compensation, which shal not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section. 2.

The judicial Power shal extend to al Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws

of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shal be made, under their Authority;—to al Cases

affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls;—to al Cases of admiralty and maritime

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Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States shal be a Party;—to Controversies between

two or more States;—between a State and Citizens of another State;—between Citizens of different

States;—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and

between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

In al Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shal

be Party, the supreme Court shal have original Jurisdiction. In al the other Cases before mentioned, the

supreme Court shal have appel ate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and

under such Regulations as the Congress shal make.

The Trial of al Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shal be by Jury; and such Trial shal be held in

the State where the said Crimes shal have been committed; but when not committed within any State,

the Trial shal be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section. 3.

Treason against the United States, shal consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their

Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shal be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony

of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shal have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shal

work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Article. IV.

Section. 1.

Ful Faith and Credit shal 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 shal be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section. 2.

The Citizens of each State shal be entitled to al Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several

States.

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shal flee from Justice, and be

found in another State, shal on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be

delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shal , in

Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shal be

delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

Section. 3.

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shal be formed or

erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or

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more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as wel

as of the Congress.

The Congress shal have Power to dispose of and make al needful Rules and Regulations respecting the

Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shal be so

construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section. 4.

The United States shal guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and

shal protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive

(when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

Article. V.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shal deem it necessary, shal propose Amendments

to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shal cal

a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shal be valid to al Intents and

Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several

States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be

proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One

thousand eight hundred and eight shal in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth

Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shal be deprived of its equal Suffrage

in the Senate.

Article. VI.

Al Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shal be as

valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shal be made in Pursuance thereof; and al

Treaties made, or which shal be made, under the Authority of the United States, shal be the supreme

Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shal be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or

Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures,

and al executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shal be bound

by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shal ever be required as a

Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Article. VII.

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shal be sufficient for the Establishment of this

Constitution between the States so ratifying the same.

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The Word, "the," being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, The Word

"Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words "is tried"

being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word "the"

being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.

Attest Wil iam Jackson Secretary

done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September

in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independance of the

United States of America the Twelfth In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

Go. Washington—Presidt.

and deputy from Virginia

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