The Constitution of The United States We The People
The Constitution of The United States We The People
The Constitution of The United States We The People
(Preamble)
Section 2
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.
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.
3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall
be apportioned among the several States which may be
included within this Union, according to their respective
Numbers, which shall be determined by adding 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 all other Persons.2 The
actualEnumeration shall be made within three Years after
the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States,
and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such
Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of
Representatives shall not exceed onefor every thirty
Thousand, but each State shall have at
Least one Representative; and until
such enumeration shall be made, the State of
New Hampshire shall be entitled to 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 Carolinafive,
South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from
any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall
issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their
Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole
Power of Impeachment.
Section 3
1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed
of two Senators from each State, chosen by the
Legislature thereof,3 forsix Years; and each Senator shall
have one Vote.
2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in
Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided
as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the
Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the
Expiration of the second Year, of thesecond Class at the
Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at
the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be
chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by
Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the
Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may
make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of
the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.4
3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have
attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years
a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when
elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall
be chosen.
4: The Vice President of the United States shall be
President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless
they be equally divided.
5: The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a
President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice
President, or when he shall exercise the Office of
President of the United States.
6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try
all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they
shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of
the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside:
And no Person shall be convicted without
the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
7: Judgment in Cases of impeachment shall not extend
further than to removal from Office, and disqualification
to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit
under the United States: but the Party convicted shall
nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial,
Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Section 4
1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for
Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in
each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress
may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations,
except as to the Places of chusingSenators.
2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every
Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in
December,5 unless they shall by Law appoint a different
Day.
Section 5
1: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections,
Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a
Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do
Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day
to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance
of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such
Penalties as each House may provide.
2: Each House may determine the Rules of its
Proceedings, punish its Members for
disorderly Behaviour, and, with
theConcurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
3: Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings,
and from time to time publish the same, excepting such
Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the
Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any
question shall, at the Desire ofone fifth of those Present,
be entered on the Journal.
4: Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall,
without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more
than three days, nor to any other Place than that in
which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6
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.6 They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony
and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest
during their Attendance at the Session of their respective
Houses, and in going to and returning from the same;
and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall
not be questioned in any other Place.
2: No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time
for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office
under the Authority of the United States, which shall
have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall
have been encreased during such time; and no Person
holding any Office under the United States, shall be a
Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section 7
1: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the
House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose
or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
2: Every Bill which shall have passed the House of
Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become
a Law, be presented to the President of the United
States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall
return it, with his Objections to that House in which it
shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at
large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If
after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall
agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the
Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise
be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that
House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the
Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and
Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and
against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each
House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by
the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it
shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a
Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the
Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in
which Case it shall not be a Law.
3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which
the Concurrence of the Senate and House of
Representatives may be necessary (except on a question
of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of
the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect,
shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him,
shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House
of Representatives, according to the Rules and
Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8
1: The Congress shall 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
all Duties, 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 an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and
uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout
the United States;
5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of
foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and
Measures;
6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the
Securities and current Coin of the United States;
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 Inventors
the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and
Discoveries;
9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies
committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the
Law of Nations;
11: To declare War, grant Letters of
Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning
Captures on Land and Water;
12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of
Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term
than two Years;
13: To provide and maintain a Navy;
14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of
the land and naval Forces;
15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the
Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel
Invasions;
16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining,
the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may
be employed in the Service of the United States,
reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of
the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia
according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases
whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles
square) as may, byCession of particular States, and the
Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the
Government of the United States, and to exercise like
Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the
Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for
the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards,
and other needful Buildings;—And
18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and
proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers,
and all other Powersvested by this Constitution in the
Government of the United States, or in any Department
or Officer thereof.
Section 9
1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any
of the States now existing shall think proper to admit,
shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year
one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax
or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not
exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not
be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or
Invasion the public Safety may require it.
3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be
passed.
4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless
in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before
directed to be taken.7
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.
7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in
Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a
regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and
Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from
time to time.
8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United
States: And no Person holding any Office 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 10
1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or
Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal;
coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but
gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass
any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing
the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
2: No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress,
lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except
what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's
inspection Laws: and the net Produce of
all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or
Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the
United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the
Revision and Controul of the Congress.
3: No State shall, 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 actually invaded, or in
such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
Section 2
1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the
Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of
the several States, when called into the actual Service of
the United States; he may require the Opinion, in
writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive
Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of
their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant
Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United
States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and
Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two
thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall
nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of
the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public
Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and
all other Officers of the United States, whose
Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and
which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may
by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as
they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of
Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies
that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by
granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of
their next Session.
Section 3
He shall from time to time give to the Congress
Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to
their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge
necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary
Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and
in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to
the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such
Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive
Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take
Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall
Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Section 4
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the
United States, shall be removed from Office
on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Section 2
1: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law
and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of
the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be
made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting
Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all
Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to
Controversies to which the United States shall be a
Party;—to Controversies between two or more States;—
between a State and Citizens of another State;10 —
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.
2: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public
Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall
be Party, the supreme Court shall have
original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before
mentioned, the supreme Court shall
haveappellateJurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with
such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the
Congress shall make.
3: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases
of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be
held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been
committed; but when not committed within any State,
the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress
may by Law have directed.
Section 3
1: Treason against the United States, shall consist only
in levying War against them, or in adhering to their
Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall
be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony
of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession
in open Court.
2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the
Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall
work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the
Life of the Person attainted.
Section 2
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 delivered
up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the
Crime.
3: No Person held to Service or Labour in one State,
under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in
Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be
discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be
delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service
or Labour may be due.11
Section 3
1: New States may be admitted by the Congress into this
Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected
within theJurisdiction 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 to Prejudice any Claims of the United
States, or of any particular State.
Section 4
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this
Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall
protect each of them against Invasion; and on
Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when
the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic
Violence.
Delaware
Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom
Maryland
James McHenry
Dan of St Thos. Jenifer
Danl Carroll.
Virginia
John Blair—
James Madison Jr.
North Carolina
Wm Blount
Richd. Dobbs Spaight.
Hu Williamson
South Carolina
J. Rutledge
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler.
Georgia
William Few
Abr Baldwin
New Hampshire
John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King
Connecticut
Wm. Saml. Johnson
Roger Sherman
New York
Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey
Wil. Livingston
David Brearley.
Wm. Paterson.
Jona: Dayton
Pennsylvania
B Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
Robt Morris
Geo. Clymer
Thos. FitzSimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson.
Gouv Morris
Letter of Transmittal
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In Convention. Monday September 17th 1787.
Present
The States of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Mr. Hamilton from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia.
Resolved, That the preceeding Constitution be laid
before the United States in Congress assembled, and
that it is the Opinion of this Convention, that it should
afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates,
chosen in each State by the People thereof, under the
Recommendation of its Legislature, for their Assent and
Ratification; and that each Convention assenting to, and
ratifying the Same, should give Notice thereof to the
United States in Congress assembled. Resolved, That it
is the Opinion of this Convention, that as soon as the
Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this
Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled
should fix a Day on which Electors should be appointed
by the States which shall have ratified the same, and a
Day on which the Electors should assemble to vote for
the President, and the Time and Place for commencing
Proceedings under this Constitution.
That after such Publication the Electors should be
appointed, and the Senators and Representatives
elected: That the Electors should meet on the Day fixed
for the Election of the President, and should transmit
their Votes certified, signed, sealed and directed, as the
Constitution requires, to the Secretary of the United
States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and
Representatives should convene at the Time and Place
assigned; that the Senators should appoint a President
of the Senate, for the sole Purpose of receiving, opening
and counting the Votes for President; and, that after he
shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the
President, should, without Delay, proceed to execute this
Constitution.
-
Article the first. .... After the first enumeration required
by the first Article of the Constitution, there shall be one
Representative for every thirty thousand, until the
number shall amount to one hundred, after which, the
proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there
shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor
less than one Representative for every forty thousand
persons, until the number of Representatives shall
amount to two hundred, after which the proportion shall
be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less
than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one
Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
-
Article the second. .... No law, varying the
compensation for the services of the Senators and
Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of
Representatives shall have intervened. see Amendment XXVII
NOTES
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Dates
skip to Spellings up to Notes
Spellings
skip to Vocabulary up to Dates
Some words now have different spellings:
behaviour
- behavior
chuse
- choose
chusing
- choosing
controul
- control
defence
- defense
encreased
- increased
erazure
- erasure
labour
- labor
offences
- offenses
Punctuation, hyphenation and grammar usage have also
changed.
Vocabulary
skip to Sources up to Spellings
Also check the Government Printing Office's Ben's Guide
for Kids
3d
- 3rd (third)
abridged
- shortened
adjourn
- suspend proceedings to another time
adjournment
- suspending proceedings to another time
appellate
- appeal (review decision)
appropriation
- authorize spending
apportioned
- distributed
apportionment
- distributing
attainted
- disgrace
Bill of Attainder
- legislative act pronouncing guilt without trial
capitation
- poll tax
cession
- grant
comity
- courteous recognition of laws and institutions of
another (state)
commenced
- started
concur
- agree
concurrant
- at the same time
concurrence
- agreement
concurring
- in agreement
construed
- interpreted
Corruption of Blood
- punishment of person and heirs
counsel
- lawyer
declaratory
- explaining law or right
democracy
- this word is not in these documents directly, but “We
the people” and “Republican Form of Government” are
- most people say our form of government is a “Federal
Democratic Republic”
devolved
- passed on or delegated to another
disparage
- belittle
duties
- job
duties
- charge (like a tax)
duty
- job
duty
- charge (like a tax)
Duty of Tonnage
- charge by weight
emolument
- power and/or pay
emoluments
- power and/or pay
engrossed
- final draft
enumeration
- count or list
ex post facto
- (latin) after the fact
excises
- internal taxes
Habeas Corpus
- a writ in court for release of unlawful restraint
- (latin) produce body [of evidence]
imminent
- about to occur - do not confuse with eminent or
immanent
impeachment
- formal accusation of wrongdoing
impeachments
- formal accusations of wrongdoing
imposts
- taxes or duties, that are imposed
indictment
- formal charges
jurisdiction
- right to control
Letters of Marque
- (grant right of piracy) - document issued by a nation
allowing a private citizen to seize citizens or goods of
another nation
magazines
- ammunition storerooms
ordain
- order
prescribed
- establish a rule
privileged
- rights given a group
pro tempore
- temporary - (latin) for a time
posterity
- descendants
quartered
- housed
quartering
- housing
quorum
- minimum valid number of people
redress
- correct a wrong
repassed
- passed again
reprisal
- retaliation
republican
- representative and officers elected by citizens and
responsible to them
suffrage
- vote
- voting
tranquility
- peace
treason
- betrayal of country
vessels
- ships
vested
- given the right
viz.
- abbreviation for (latin) videlicet - namely (and when
read aloud spoken as namely) from: The Columbia
Guide to Standard American English
welfare
- well-being
writ
- order
writs
- orders
How to read Roman numerals:
Accessibility
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This is a privately owned page and not required to meet any
guidelines, however:
An attempt has been made to provide additional accessibility to
this important document.
Basic web standards are used. In addition it has been checked
for U.S. Section 508 compliance with Cynthia Saystm Portal
Some of the challenges that may still be present are:
Index
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Subject Index
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Select first letter of
subject: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Judiciary
o inferior courts - Article I Section 8 Clause
9; Article III Section 1
o judicial review - Article III Section 2 Clause 2
o jurisdiction - Article III Section 2 Section 2
o nomination & confirmation of judges - Article II
Section 2 Clause 2
o Supreme Court - Article III Section 1
o terms of office & compensation - Article III
Section 1
Jury trials - Article III Section 2 Clause 3; Amendment
VI; Amendment VII
to top of Subject Index
L
Taxing power
o in general - Article I Section 7 Clause 1; Article I
Section 8 Clause 1
o direct taxes prohibited - Article I Section 9
Clause 4
o income taxes permitted - Amendment XVI
Territories - Article IV Section 3 Clause 2
Titles of nobility - Article I Section 9 Clause 8
Treason - Article III Section 3
Treaty(ies) - Article I Section 10 Clause 1; Article II
Section 2 Clause 2; Article III Section 2 Clause 1; Article
VI Clause 2
Trial - Article I Section 3 Clause 6-7; Article III Section
2 Clause 3; Amendment VI; Amendment VII
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V
Ratifications
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The Constitution
The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the
States on September 17, 1787, and was subsequently
ratified by the several States, on the following dates:
Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania,
December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787;
Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788;
Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28,
1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire,
June 21, 1788.
Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788.
The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia,
June 25, 1788; New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina,
November 21, 1789; Rhode Island, May 29, 1790; and
Vermont, January 10, 1791.
In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report
recommending an alteration in the Articles of
Confederation, but no action was taken on it, and it was
left to the State Legislatures to proceed in the matter. In
January 1786, the Legislature of Virginia passed a
resolution providing for the appointment
of five commissioners, who, or any three of them, should
meet such commissioners as might be appointed in the
other States of the Union, at a time and place to be
agreed upon, to take into consideration the trade of the
United States; to consider how far a uniform system in
their commercial regulations may be necessary to their
common interest and their permanent harmony; and to
report to the several States such an act, relative to this
great object, as, when ratified by them, will enable the
United States in Congress effectually to provide for the
same. The Virginia commissioners, after some
correspondence, fixed the first Monday in September as
the time, and the city of Annapolis as the place for the
meeting, but only four other States were
represented, viz: Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania; the commissioners appointed by
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and
Rhode Island failed to attend. Under the circumstances
of so partial a representation, the commissioners present
agreed upon a report, (drawn by Mr. Hamilton, of New
York,) expressing their unanimous conviction that it
might essentially tend to advance the interests of the
Union if the States by which they were respectively
delegated would concur, and use their endeavors to
procure the concurrenceof the other States, in the
appointment of commissioners to meet at Philadelphia on
the Second Monday of May following, to take into
consideration the situation of the United States; to
devise such further provisions as should appear to them
necessary to render the Constitution of the Federal
Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union;
and to report such an act for that purpose to the United
States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to by
them and afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of
every State, would effectually provide for the same.
Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a
resolution in favor of a convention, and the Legislatures
of those States which had not already done so (with the
exception of Rhode Island) promptly appointed
delegates. On the 25th of May, sevenStates having
convened, George Washington, of Virginia, was
unanimously elected President, and the consideration of
the proposed constitution was commenced. On the 17th
of September, 1787, the Constitution as engrossed and
agreed upon was signed by all the members present,
except Mr. Gerry of Massachusetts, and Messrs. Mason
and Randolph, of Virginia. The president of the
convention transmitted it to Congress, with a resolution
stating how the proposed Federal Government should be
put in operation, and an explanatory letter. Congress, on
the 28th of September, 1787, directed the Constitution
so framed, with the resolutions and letter concerning the
same, to “be transmitted to the several Legislatures in
order to be submitted to a convention of delegates
chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity
to the resolves of the convention.”
On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed
for commencing the operations of Government under the
new Constitution, it had been ratified by the conventions
chosen in each State to consider it, as follows:
Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania,
December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787;
Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788;
Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28,
1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire,
June 21, 1788; Virginia, June 25, 1788; and New York,
July 26, 1788.
The President informed Congress, on the 28th of
January, 1790, that North Carolina had ratified the
Constitution November 21, 1789; and he informed
Congress on the 1st of June, 1790, that Rhode Island
had ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790. Vermont, in
convention, ratified the Constitution January 10, 1791,
and was, by an act of Congress approved February 18,
1791, “received and admitted into this Union as a new
and entire member of the United States”. Constitution
[Article XI]
The eleventh amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by theThird Congress, on the 4th of March
1794; and was declared in a message from the President
to Congress, dated the 8th of January, 1798, to have
been ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the
States. The dates of ratification were: NewYork, March
27, 1794; Rhode Island, March 31, 1794; Connecticut,
May 8, 1794; New Hampshire, June 16, 1794;
Massachusetts, June 26, 1794; Vermont, between
October 9, 1794 and November 9, 1794; Virginia,
November 18, 1794; Georgia, November 29, 1794;
Kentucky, December 7, 1794; Maryland, December 26,
1794; Delaware, January 23, 1795; North Carolina,
February 7, 1795.
Ratification was completed on February 7, 1795.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by
South Carolina on December 4, 1797. New Jersey and
Pennsylvania did not take action on the
amendment. amendment 11
[Article XII]
The twelfth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several
States by theEighth Congress, on the 9th of December,
1803, in lieu of the original third paragraph of
the first section of the second article; and was declared
in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the
25th of September, 1804, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of 13 of the 17 States. The dates of
ratification were: North Carolina, December 21, 1803;
Maryland, December 24, 1803; Kentucky, December 27,
1803; Ohio, December 30, 1803; Pennsylvania,
January 5, 1804; Vermont, January 30, 1804; Virginia,
February 3, 1804; New York, February 10, 1804;
New Jersey, February 22, 1804; Rhode Island, March 12,
1804; South Carolina, May 15, 1804; Georgia, May 19,
1804; New Hampshire, June 15, 1804.
Ratification was completed on June 15, 1804.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Tennessee,
July 27, 1804.
The amendment was rejected by Delaware, January 18,
1804; Massachusetts, February 3, 1804; Connecticut, at
its session begun May 10, 1804. amendment 12
Article XIII
The thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by theThirty-eighth Congress, on the 31st
day of January, 1865, and was declared, in a
proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 18th of
December, 1865, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of twenty-seven of the thirty-six States. The
dates of ratification were: Illinois, February 1, 1865;
Rhode Island, February 2, 1865; Michigan, February 2,
1865; Maryland, February 3, 1865; New York,
February 3, 1865; Pennsylvania, February 3, 1865;
West Virginia, February 3, 1865; Missouri, February 6,
1865; Maine, February 7, 1865; Kansas, February 7,
1865; Massachusetts, February 7, 1865; Virginia,
February 9, 1865; Ohio, February 10, 1865; Indiana,
February 13, 1865; Nevada, February 16, 1865;
Louisiana, February 17, 1865; Minnesota, February 23,
1865; Wisconsin, February 24, 1865; Vermont, March 9,
1865; Tennessee, April 7, 1865; Arkansas, April 14,
1865; Connecticut, May 4, 1865; New Hampshire, July 1,
1865; South Carolina, November 13, 1865; Alabama,
December 2, 1865; North Carolina, December 4, 1865;
Georgia, December 6, 1865.
Ratification was completed on December 6, 1865.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Oregon,
December 8, 1865; California, December 19, 1865;
Florida, December 28, 1865 (Florida again ratified on
June 9, 1868, upon its adoption of a new constitution);
Iowa, January 15, 1866; New Jersey, January 23, 1866
(after having rejected the amendment on March 16,
1865); Texas, February 18, 1870; Delaware,
February 12, 1901 (after having rejected the amendment
on February 8, 1865); Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after
having rejected it on February 24, 1865).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Mississippi, December 4, 1865. amendment 13
Article XIV
The fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by theThirty-ninth Congress, on the 13th
of June, 1866. It was declared, in a certificate of the
Secretary of State dated July 28, 1868 to have been
ratified by the legislatures of 28 of the 37 States. The
dates of ratification were: Connecticut, June 25, 1866;
New Hampshire, July 6, 1866; Tennessee, July 19, 1866;
New Jersey, September 11, 1866 (subsequently the
legislature rescinded its ratification, and on March 24,
1868, readopted its resolution of rescission over the
Governor's veto, and on Nov. 12, 1980, expressed
support for the amendment); Oregon, September 19,
1866 (and rescinded its ratification on October 15,
1868); Vermont, October 30, 1866; Ohio, January 4,
1867 (and rescinded its ratification on January 15,
1868); New York, January 10, 1867; Kansas,
January 11, 1867; Illinois, January 15, 1867; West
Virginia, January 16, 1867; Michigan, January 16, 1867;
Minnesota, January 16, 1867; Maine, January 19, 1867;
Nevada, January 22, 1867; Indiana, January 23, 1867;
Missouri, January 25, 1867; Rhode Island, February 7,
1867; Wisconsin, February 7, 1867; Pennsylvania,
February 12, 1867; Massachusetts, March 20, 1867;
Nebraska, June 15, 1867; Iowa, March 16, 1868;
Arkansas, April 6, 1868; Florida, June 9, 1868;
North Carolina, July 4, 1868 (after having rejected it on
December 14, 1866); Louisiana, July 9, 1868 (after
having rejected it on February 6, 1867); South Carolina,
July 9, 1868 (after having rejected it on December 20,
1866).
Ratification was completed on July 9, 1868.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Alabama,
July 13, 1868; Georgia, July 21, 1868 (after having
rejected it on November 9, 1866); Virginia, October 8,
1869 (after having rejected it on January 9, 1867);
Mississippi, January 17, 1870; Texas, February 18, 1870
(after having rejected it on October 27, 1866);
Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having rejected it on
February 8, 1867); Maryland, April 4, 1959 (after having
rejected it on March 23, 1867); California, May 6, 1959;
Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on
January 8, 1867). amendment 14
Article XV
The fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by theFortieth Congress, on the 26th of
February, 1869, and was declared, in a proclamation of
the Secretary of State, dated March 30, 1870, to have
been ratified by the legislatures of twenty-nine of
the thirty-seven States. The dates of ratification were:
Nevada, March 1, 1869; West Virginia, March 3, 1869;
Illinois, March 5, 1869; Louisiana, March 5, 1869; North
Carolina, March 5, 1869; Michigan, March 8, 1869;
Wisconsin, March 9, 1869; Maine, March 11, 1869;
Massachusetts, March 12, 1869; Arkansas, March 15,
1869; South Carolina, March 15, 1869; Pennsylvania,
March 25, 1869; New York, April 14, 1869 (and the
legislature of the same State passed a resolution
January 5, 1870, to withdraw its consent to it, which
action it rescinded on March 30, 1970); Indiana, May 14,
1869; Connecticut, May 19, 1869; Florida, June 14,
1869; New Hampshire, July 1, 1869; Virginia, October 8,
1869; Vermont, October 20, 1869; Missouri, January 7,
1870; Minnesota, January 13, 1870; Mississippi,
January 17, 1870; Rhode Island, January 18, 1870;
Kansas, January 19, 1870; Ohio, January 27, 1870 (after
having rejected it on April 30, 1869); Georgia,
February 2, 1870; Iowa, February 3, 1870.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1870, unless
the withdrawal of ratification by New York was effective;
in which event ratification was completed on
February 17, 1870, when Nebraska ratified.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Texas,
February 18, 1870; New Jersey, February 15, 1871
(after having rejected it on February 7, 1870); Delaware,
February 12, 1901 (after having rejected it on March 18,
1869); Oregon, February 24, 1959; California, April 3,
1962 (after having rejected it on January 28, 1870);
Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on
March 12, 1869).
The amendment was approved by the Governor of
Maryland, May 7, 1973; Maryland having previously
rejected it on February 26, 1870.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Tennessee, November 16, 1869. amendment 15
Article XVI
The sixteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by theSixty-first Congress on the 12th of
July, 1909, and was declared, in a proclamation of the
Secretary of State, dated the 25th of February, 1913, to
have been ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The dates of
ratification were: Alabama, August 10, 1909; Kentucky,
February 8, 1910; South Carolina, February 19, 1910;
Illinois, March 1, 1910; Mississippi, March 7, 1910;
Oklahoma, March 10, 1910; Maryland, April 8, 1910;
Georgia, August 3, 1910; Texas, August 16, 1910; Ohio,
January 19, 1911; Idaho, January 20, 1911; Oregon,
January 23, 1911; Washington, January 26, 1911;
Montana, January 30, 1911; Indiana, January 30, 1911;
California, January 31, 1911; Nevada, January 31, 1911;
South Dakota, February 3, 1911; Nebraska, February 9,
1911; North Carolina, February 11, 1911; Colorado,
February 15, 1911; North Dakota, February 17, 1911;
Kansas, February 18, 1911; Michigan, February 23,
1911; Iowa, February 24, 1911; Missouri, March 16,
1911; Maine, March 31, 1911; Tennessee, April 7, 1911;
Arkansas, April 22, 1911 (after having rejected it
earlier); Wisconsin, May 26, 1911; New York, July 12,
1911; Arizona, April 6, 1912; Minnesota, June 11, 1912;
Louisiana, June 28, 1912; West Virginia, January 31,
1913; New Mexico, February 3, 1913.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by
Massachusetts, March 4, 1913; New Hampshire,
March 7, 1913 (after having rejected it on March 2,
1911).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and
Utah. amendment 16
[Article XVII]
The seventeenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Sixty-second Congress on the 13th
of May, 1912, and was declared, in a proclamation of the
Secretary of State, dated the 31st of May, 1913, to have
been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States.
The dates of ratification were: Massachusetts, May 22,
1912; Arizona, June 3, 1912; Minnesota, June 10, 1912;
New York, January 15, 1913; Kansas, January 17, 1913;
Oregon, January 23, 1913; North Carolina, January 25,
1913; California, January 28, 1913; Michigan,
January 28, 1913; Iowa, January 30, 1913; Montana,
January 30, 1913; Idaho, January 31, 1913;
West Virginia, February 4, 1913; Colorado, February 5,
1913; Nevada, February 6, 1913; Texas, February 7,
1913; Washington, February 7, 1913; Wyoming,
February 8, 1913; Arkansas, February 11, 1913; Maine,
February 11, 1913; Illinois, February 13, 1913;
North Dakota, February 14, 1913; Wisconsin,
February 18, 1913; Indiana, February 19, 1913;
New Hampshire, February 19, 1913; Vermont,
February 19, 1913; South Dakota, February 19, 1913;
Oklahoma, February 24, 1913; Ohio, February 25, 1913;
Missouri, March 7, 1913; New Mexico, March 13, 1913;
Nebraska, March 14, 1913; New Jersey, March 17, 1913;
Tennessee, April 1, 1913; Pennsylvania, April 2, 1913;
Connecticut, April 8, 1913.
Ratification was completed on April 8, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Louisiana,
June 11, 1914.
The amendment was rejected by Utah (and not
subsequently ratified) on February 26, 1913. amendment 17
Article [XVIII]16
The eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by theSixty-fifth Congress, on the 18th of
December, 1917, and was declared, in a proclamation of
the Secretary of State, dated the 29th of January, 1919,
to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48
States. The dates of ratification were: Mississippi,
January 8, 1918; Virginia, January 11, 1918; Kentucky,
January 14, 1918; North Dakota, January 25, 1918;
South Carolina, January 29, 1918; Maryland,
February 13, 1918; Montana, February 19, 1918; Texas,
March 4, 1918; Delaware, March 18, 1918;
South Dakota, March 20, 1918; Massachusetts, April 2,
1918; Arizona, May 24, 1918; Georgia, June 26, 1918;
Louisiana, August 3, 1918; Florida, December 3, 1918;
Michigan, January 2, 1919; Ohio, January 7, 1919;
Oklahoma, January 7, 1919; Idaho, January 8, 1919;
Maine, January 8, 1919; West Virginia, January 9, 1919;
California, January 13, 1919; Tennessee, January 13,
1919; Washington, January 13, 1919; Arkansas,
January 14, 1919; Kansas, January 14, 1919; Alabama,
January 15, 1919; Colorado, January 15, 1919; Iowa,
January 15, 1919; New Hampshire, January 15, 1919;
Oregon, January 15, 1919; Nebraska, January 16, 1919;
North Carolina, January 16, 1919; Utah, January 16,
1919; Missouri, January 16, 1919; Wyoming,
January 16, 1919.
Ratification was completed on January 16, 1919. See
Dillon v. Gloss, 256 U.S. 368, 376 (1921).
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Minnesota
on January 17, 1919; Wisconsin, January 17, 1919; New
Mexico, January 20, 1919; Nevada, January 21, 1919;
New York, January 29, 1919; Vermont, January 29,
1919; Pennsylvania, February 25, 1919; Connecticut,
May 6, 1919; and New Jersey, March 9, 1922.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Rhode Island. amendment 18
Article [XX]
The twentieth amendment to the Constitution was
proposed to the legislatures of the several states by
the Seventy-SecondCongress, on the 2d day of March,
1932, and was declared, in a proclamation by the
Secretary of State, dated on the 6th day of February,
1933, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of
the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Virginia,
March 4, 1932; New York, March 11, 1932; Mississippi,
March 16, 1932; Arkansas, March 17, 1932; Kentucky,
March 17, 1932; New Jersey, March 21, 1932;
South Carolina, March 25, 1932; Michigan, March 31,
1932; Maine, April 1, 1932; Rhode Island, April 14,
1932; Illinois, April 21, 1932; Louisiana, June 22, 1932;
West Virginia, July 30, 1932; Pennsylvania, August 11,
1932; Indiana, August 15, 1932; Texas, September 7,
1932; Alabama, September 13, 1932; California,
January 4, 1933; North Carolina, January 5, 1933;
North Dakota, January 9, 1933; Minnesota, January 12,
1933; Arizona, January 13, 1933; Montana, January 13,
1933; Nebraska, January 13, 1933; Oklahoma,
January 13, 1933; Kansas, January 16, 1933; Oregon,
January 16, 1933; Delaware, January 19, 1933;
Washington, January 19, 1933; Wyoming, January 19,
1933; Iowa, January 20, 1933; South Dakota,
January 20, 1933; Tennessee, January 20, 1933; Idaho,
January 21, 1933; New Mexico, January 21, 1933;
Georgia, January 23, 1933; Missouri, January 23, 1933;
Ohio, January 23, 1933; Utah, January 23, 1933.
Ratification was completed on January 23, 1933.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by
Massachusetts on January 24, 1933; Wisconsin,
January 24, 1933; Colorado, January 24, 1933; Nevada,
January 26, 1933; Connecticut, January 27, 1933;
New Hampshire, January 31, 1933; Vermont,
February 2, 1933; Maryland, March 24, 1933; Florida,
April 26, 1933. amendment 20
Article [XXI]
The twenty-first amendment to the Constitution was
proposed to the several states by the Seventy-
Second Congress, on the 20th day of February, 1933,
and was declared, in a proclamation by the Secretary of
State, dated on the 5th day of December, 1933, to have
been ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The dates of
ratification were: Michigan, April 10, 1933; Wisconsin,
April 25, 1933; Rhode Island, May 8, 1933; Wyoming,
May 25, 1933; New Jersey, June 1, 1933; Delaware,
June 24, 1933; Indiana, June 26, 1933; Massachusetts,
June 26, 1933; New York, June 27, 1933; Illinois,
July 10, 1933; Iowa, July amendment 21
Amendment XXII