accommodation of large districts of people, un-most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally less those people would relinquish the right of the forms of our governments; representation in the legislature; a right inesti- For suspending our own legislatures, and mable to them, and formidable to tyrants only. declaring themselves invested with power to He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing. with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; where legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection, and waging war against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the work of death, desolation, and tyranny, already be by the legislative powers, incapable of annihi. gun, with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy lation, have returned to the people at large for scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized their exercise; the State remaining, in the nation. mean time, exposed to all the dangers of inva- He has constrained our fellow citizens, taken sion from without, and convulsions within. bear population captive on the high seas, to arms against He has endeavored to prevent the their country, to become the executioners of of these States; for that purpose, obstructing their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refus- by their hand. ing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands. He has obstructed the administration of jus He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian tice, by refusing his assent to laws for estab- savages, whose known rule of warfare is an lishing judiciary powers. He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of new offices, to harass and sent hither swarms of officers standing armies, without the consent of our le- undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions. In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. We have reminded them of the cir Nor have we been wanting in attentions to He has affected to render the military inde-our British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legislapendent of, and superior to, the civil power. He has combined, with others, to subject us ture, to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and over us. unacknowledged by our laws; giving his as-cumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice sent to their acts of pretended legislation: For quartering large bodies of armed troops and magnanimity, and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disaFor protecting them, by a mock trial, from vow these usurpations, which would inevitapunishment, for any murders which they should bly interrupt our connexions and correspon among us; dence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice commit on the inhabitants of these States; For cutting off our trade with all parts of of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which deFor imposing taxes on us without our con-nounces our separation, and hold them, as we the world; sent; For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury; For transporting us beyond the seas to be tried for pretended offences; hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends. We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge For abolishing the free system of English of the World for the rectitude of our intenlaws in a neighboring Province, establishing tions, do, in the name, and by the authority, of therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging the good people of these Colonies, soleninly its boundaries, so as to render it at once an ex- publish and declare, That these United Colample and fit instrument for introducing the onies are, and of right ought to be, FREE same absolute rule into these Colonies; AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they For taking away our charters, abolishing our are absolved from all allegiance to the British wwwwwwwwww crown, and that all political connexion between acts and things which independent States them and the State of Great Britain, is, and may of right do. And, for the support of this Bought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as Declaration, with a firm reliance on the proFree and Independent States, they have full tection of Divine Providence, we mutually power to levy war, conclude peace, contract al- pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and liances, establish commerce, and to do all other our sacred honor. The foregoing Declaration was, by order of Congress, engrossed, and signed by the following members: JOHN HANCOCK. WE, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure 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 of the United States of America : ARTICLE L.-CONGRESS. 1. ALL Legislative Powers herein granted shall be SECTION II.-House of Representatives. 1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. Qualification of Members-Apportionment. 2. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. presentative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New-Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. 4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election. 5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. SECTION III.-Senate. 1. The Senate of the United State shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legis. lature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall 3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be appor. ded within this Union, according to their respective 2. Immediately after they shall be assembled in connumbers, which shall be determined by adding to the sequence of the first Election, they shall be diviwhole number of free persons, including those bound des as equally as may be into three classes. The seats to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual expiration of the second year, of the second class at enumeration shall be made within three years after the the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one third within every subsequent term of ten years, in such may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies manner as they shall by law direct. The number of happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty of the Legislature of any State, the Executive there. thousand, but each State shall have at least one Re- of may make temporary appointments, until the next wwwwwwwwwwwww vacancies. come a meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it be. law, be presented to the President of the Uni3. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have ted States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not, he attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine shall return it, with his objections, to that House in years a citizen of the United States, and who shall which it shall have originated, who shall enter the obnot, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for jections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconwhich he shall be chosen. sider it. If, after such recons deration, two-thirds of 4. The Vice-President of the United States shall that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, be President of the Searte, but shall have no vote un- together with the objections, to the other House, by less they be equally divided. which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approv5. The Senate shall choose their own own officers, ed by two-thirds of that House, it shall become a law. and also a President protempore, in the alasence of the But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shalt be Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the President of the United States. persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered. 6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all on the journal of each House respectively. If any, bill impeachments; when sitting for that purpose, they shall not be returned by the President within ten days shall be on onth or affirmation. When the President [Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall to him, the same shalt be a law, in like manner as if he preside; and no person shall be convicted without had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournthe concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. ment prevent its return, in which case it shall not 7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not ex. be a law. trust tend farther than to removal from office, and disqua- to law. 1 SECTION IV.-Election of Members. 3. Every crder, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary. (except on a question of adjourn. ment,) shall be presented to the Pres dent of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. 1. The times, places and manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter 1. The Congress shall have power to lay and col such regalations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a dif. ferent day. SECTION V.-Powers of each Hoase. 1. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, re urns and qual fications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business: but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attend. ance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties, as each House may provide. 2. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. SECTION VIII.-Powers of Congress. lect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States: but all dut es, imposts and excises, shall be uniform throughout the United States. 2. To borrow money on the credit of the United States; 3. To regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes: 4. To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States: 5. To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures; 6 To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States; 7. To establish post offices and post roads; 8. To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and n 3. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceed. ings, and from time to time publish the same, except ventors the exclusive right to their respective writings such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy: and discoveries; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House 9. To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme on any question shail, at the desire of one-fifth of those Court; present, be entered on the journal. 4. Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. 10. To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law offnations; 11. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; 12. To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; SECTION VI.-Compensation, Privileges, &c. 1. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they repel invasions; shall not he questioned in any other place. 13. To provide and maintain a navy: 15. To prov de for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and 16. To provide for organizing, arming and disciplin 2. No Senator or Representative shall, during the ing the militia, and for govern ng such part of them time for which he was elected, be appointed to any as may be employed in the service of the Un ted States, civil office under the authority of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the appointment of which shall have been created or the emoluments the officers and the authority of training the militia whereof shall have been increased during such time; according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; and no person holding any office under the United States shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office. 17. 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 by Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, SECTION VII.-Bills and Resolutions, &c. 1. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose, or concur with amendments, as on other bills, 2. Every bill wnich shall have passed the House of dock yards, and other needful buildings:-And, wwwwww B 18. To make all laws which shall be necessary and ed, to the seat of the government of the United States, proper for carrying into execution the foregoing pow-directed to the President of the Senate; the President ers, and all powers vested by this Constitution in the of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and government of the United States, or in any department House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and or officer thereof. SECTION IX.-Prohibitions and Privileges. the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, of such number be a majority of the whole 1. The migration or importation of such persons as number of Electors appointed; and if no person have any of the States now existing shall think proper to such majority, then from the persons having the highadmit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior est numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but voted for as President, the House of Representatives a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President.exceeding ten dollars for each person. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken 2. The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus shall by States, the representation from each State having not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or one vote: a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a invasion the public safety may require it. member or members from two-thirds of the States, and 3. No bill of ttainder or ex post facto law shall a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a be passed. 4. No capitation, or other direct tax shall be laid, choose a President whenever the right of choice shall unless in proportion to the census or enumeration devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March herein before directed to be taken. 5. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. 6. No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over those of another; nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. next following, then the Vice President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disabil ty of the President. 4. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice President, shall be the V ce President; of such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the 1st, the Senate shall 7. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but choose the Vice President; a quorum for the purpose in consequence of appropriation ma de by law; and a shall consist of two thirds of the whole number of regular statement and account of the receipts and Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall expenditures of all public monsey shall be published be necessary to a cho ce. from time to time. 5. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the of 8. No title of nobility shall be granted by the United fice of President, shall be eligible to that of Vice Presi. States; and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. SECTION X.-State Restrictions, &c. dent. 6. The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes, which day shall be the same throughout the United States. 7. No person, except a natural born citizen, or a citi. zen of the Un ted States at the time of the adoption 1. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or of this Const tut on, shall be elig ble to the office of confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; President; neither shall any person be eligible to that coin money; emit bills of credit; make any thing but office who shall not have attained to the age of thirts. gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass five years, and been fourteen years a resident within any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impair- the United States. ing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of 8. In case of removal of the President from office, or nobility. of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and dut es of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by 2. No State shall, without the consent of the Con gress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, volve on except what may be absolutely necessary for execu-law provide for the case of removal, death, resig. ting its inspection laws; and the nett produce of all nation or inability both of the President and Vice Presduties and imposts, laid by any State on imports and ident, declaring what officer shalt then act as Presi. exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of the dent, and such officer shall act accordingly, until United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the disability be removed, or a President shall be the revision and control of the Congress. elected. 3. No State shall, without the consent of Congress, 9. The Pres dent shall, at stated times, receive for lay any duty on tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war his services a compensation, wh ch shall neither be inin time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact creased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive with. rang in that period any other emolument from the United States or any of them. the execution of his office, with another State, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. ARTICLE II.-PRESIDENT. SECTION 1.-Election for President. 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, toge ther with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected as follows: 10. Before he enters on "I do solemnly swear, (or affirm,) that I will faith. fully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." SECTION II.-Powers of the President. 2. Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, 1. The President shall be commander-in-chief of equal to the whole nurober of Senators and Represen. the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the tatives to which the State may be entitled in the Con- milit a of the several States, when called into the acgress; but no Senator or Representative, or person tual service of the United States; he may require the holding an office of trust or profit under the United opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of States, shall be appointed an Elector. the Executive departments, upon any subject relat ng 3. The Electors shall meet their respective States to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall and vote by ballot for the President and Vice President, have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offen. one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of ces against the United States, except in cases of imthe same State with themselves: they shall name in peachment. מו their ballots the person voted for as President, and 2. He shall have power, by and with the advice in d stinct ballots the person voted for as Vice Pres and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provi. ident, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons ded two-thirds of the Senators present concur; and he voted for as as President, and of all persons voted for as shall nominate, and by and with the advice and con. Vice President, and of the number of votes for each, sent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit, seal public ministers and consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided every other State. And the Congress may by general for, and which shall be established by law; but the laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records Congress may by law vest the appointment of such and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect inferior officers as they think proper in the President thereof. alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of depart. ments. 3. The President shall have power to fill up all va. cancies that may happen during the recess of the Sen. ate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their nex session. SECTION III.-Duties of the President. 1. He shall from time to time give to the Congress SECTION II.-Privilege of Citizens. 1. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States. 2. A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall, on demand of the Executive authority of the State from which he fled, be information of the state of the Union, and recommend delivered up, to be removed to the State having juto their consideration such measures as he shall judge risdiction of the crime. necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary 3. No person held to service or labor in one State unoccasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, der the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in and, in case of disagreement between them, with consequence of any law or regulation therein, be disrespect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn charged from such service or labor, but shall be delivthem to such time as he shall think proper: he shali ered up on claim of the party to whom such service receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he or labor may be due. shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States. SECTION IV.-Impeachment of Officers. ARTICLE II.-JUDICIARY. 1. The Judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. SECTION III, -New States. 1. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of the Congress. 2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular State. SECTION IV.-State Governments-Republican. 1. The United States shall guaranty to every State in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execu tive, (when the Legislature cannot be convened,) against domestic violence. ARTICLE V.-AMENDMENTS. SECTION II.-Judicial Powers-Civil-Criminal. 1. The judicial power shall extend to all cases in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and the treaties made, or 1. The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses which shall be made under their authority; to all cases shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and con- this Constitution, or, on the application of the Legis. suls; to all cases of admiralty and maritune jurisdic-latures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a tion; to controversies to which the United States Convention for proposing amendraents, which in either shall be a party; to controversies between two or more case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part States-between a State and citizens of another State of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures -between citizens of different States-between cit of three-fourths of the several States, or by Conven. zens of the same State claiming lands under grants of tions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other different States-and between a State, or the citizens mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress: thereof, and foreign States, citizens or subjects. provided that no amendment which may be made 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and ministers and consuls, and those in which a State shall eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original ju clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and risdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, that no State, without its consent, shall be deprived of the Supreme Court shall have appellate juris fiction, its equal suffrage in the Senate. both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations, as the Congress shall make. 3. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the State where the said crimes shall have been com mitted; but when not committed within any State, the trial shull he at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed. SECTION III.-Treason. 1. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. 2. The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of trenson shal work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attained. ARTICLE IV. STATE RIGHTS. SECTION 1.-Restitution and Privileges. ARTICLE VI.-DEBTS. 1. All deb's contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constution, as under the confederation. 2. This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. both 3. The Senators and Representatives before mention. ed, and the members of the several State Legisla tures, and all executive and judic al officers of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to to support this Consti. tution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. ARTICLE VII.-RATIFICATION. 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each State) 1. The ratification of the conventions of nine States, |