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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The United States' Constitution
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by Founding Fathers
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*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
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Title: The United States' Constitution
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Author: Founding Fathers
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Release Date: December, 1975 [EBook #5]
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[This file was first posted on August 19, 2003]
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[Most recently updated: August 19, 2003]
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Edition: 11
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Language: English
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Character set encoding: US-ASCII
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE UNITED STATES' CONSTITUTION ***
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The following edition of The Consitution of the United States of America
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has been based on many hours of study of a variety of editions, and will
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include certain variant spellings, punctuation, and captialization as we
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have been able to reasonable ascertain belonged to the orginal. In case
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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1787
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We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,
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establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,
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promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
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and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
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United States of America.
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Article 1
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Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a
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Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and
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House of Representatives.
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Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members
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chosen every second Year by the People of the several States,
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and the electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite
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for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature.
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No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the
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Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a citizen of the United States,
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and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which
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he shall be chosen.
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Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among
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the several States which may be included within this Union,
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according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined
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by adding to the whole number of free Persons, including those
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bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed,
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three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made
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within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the
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United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years,
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in such Manner as they shall by law Direct. The number of
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Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand,
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but each State shall have at least one Representative;
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and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire
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shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island
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and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six,
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New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six,
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Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
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When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive
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Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
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The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers;
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and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
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Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of
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two Senators from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof,
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for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
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Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election,
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they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of
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the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the expiration of the
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second Year, of the second Class at the expiration of the fourth Year,
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and of the third Class at the expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third
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may be chosen every second Year; and if vacancies happen by Resignation,
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or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any State,
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the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the
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next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
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No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of
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thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States,
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and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State
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for which he shall be chosen.
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The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate,
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but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
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The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President
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pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall
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exercise the Office of President of the United States.
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The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments.
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When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation.
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When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice
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shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence
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of two thirds of the Members present.
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Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal
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from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor,
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Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall
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nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and
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Punishment, according to Law.
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Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and
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Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof;
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but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations,
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except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
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The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year,
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and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,
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unless they shall by law appoint a different Day.
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Section 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections,
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Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a
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Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business;
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but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day,
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and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members,
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in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
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Each house may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,
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punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the
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Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.
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Each house shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings,
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and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may
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in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the
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Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of
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one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
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Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the
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Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to
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any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
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Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation
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for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury
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of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and
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Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance
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at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning
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from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House,
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they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
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No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected,
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be appointed to any civil Office under the authority of the United States,
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which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been
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increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the
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United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance
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in Office.
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Section 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the
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House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with
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Amendments as on other Bills.
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Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and
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the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the
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President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it,
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but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House
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in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections
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at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it.
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If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that house
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shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent,
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together with the Objections, to the other House, by which
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it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds
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of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such Cases
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the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays,
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and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be
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entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill
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shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted)
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after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law,
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in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their
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Adjournment prevent its Return, in which case it shall not be a Law.
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Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate
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and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question
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of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States;
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and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him,
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or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of
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the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules
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and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
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Section 8. The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties,
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Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence
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and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises
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shall be uniform throughout the United States;
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To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
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To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States,
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and with the Indian Tribes;
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To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws
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on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
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To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin,
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and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
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To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities
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and current Coin of the United States;
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To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
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To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing
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for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right
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to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
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To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
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To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas,
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and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
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To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal,
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and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
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To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use
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shall be for a longer term than two Years;
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To provide and maintain a Navy;
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To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
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To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union,
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suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
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To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for
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governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the
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United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment
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of the Officers, and the Authority of training the militia according
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to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
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To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever,
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over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may,
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by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress,
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become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to
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exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent
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of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be,
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for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, Dockyards,
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and other needful Buildings;--And
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To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying
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into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested
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by this Constitution in the Government of the United States,
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or in any Department or Officer thereof.
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Section 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any
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of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not
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be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight
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hundred and eight, but a Tax or Duty may be imposed on such Importation,
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not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
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The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless
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when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
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No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
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No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion
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to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
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No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
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No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue
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to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to,
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or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
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No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence
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of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account
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of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be
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published from time to time.
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No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States;
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and no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall,
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without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument,
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Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince,
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or foreign State.
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Section 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or
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Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money;
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emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender
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in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law,
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or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
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No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties
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on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing
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it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts,
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laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury
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of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision
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and Controul of the Congress.
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No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of
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Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any
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Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or
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engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger
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as will not admit of delay.
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ARTICLE 2
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Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President
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of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during
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the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President
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chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:
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Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct,
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a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives
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to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or
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Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under
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the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
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The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot
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for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not lie an Inhabitant of
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the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of
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all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each;
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which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to
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the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the
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President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall,
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in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives,
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open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted.
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The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President,
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if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed;
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and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal
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Number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately
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chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have
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a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House
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shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President,
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the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State
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having one Vote; a Quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member
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or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the
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States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice
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of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of
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the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain
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two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them
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by Ballot the Vice President.
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The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors,
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and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day
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shall be the same throughout the United States.
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No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States,
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at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to
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the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that
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Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years,
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and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
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In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death,
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Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the
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said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the
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Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation
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or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what
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Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly,
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until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
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The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services,
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a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during
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the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive
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within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
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Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the
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following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that
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I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States,
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and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the
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Constitution of the United States."
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Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army
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and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States,
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when called into the actual Service of the United States;
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he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer
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in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to
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the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power
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to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States,
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except in Cases of impeachment.
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He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the
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Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators
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present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice
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and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public
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Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other
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Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein
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otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law:
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but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers,
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as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law,
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or in the Heads of Departments.
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The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen
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during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall
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expire at the End of their next session.
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Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress
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Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their
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Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;
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he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either
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of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to
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the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall
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think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers;
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he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall
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Commission all the Officers of the United States.
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|
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Section 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the
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United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for,
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and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
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|
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ARTICLE THREE
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Section 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.
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|
|
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Section 2. 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;--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.
|
|
|
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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 have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact,
|
|
with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
|
|
|
|
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. 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.
|
|
|
|
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.
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ARTICLE FOUR
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Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall 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 shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
|
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|
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|
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Section 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all
|
|
Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
|
|
|
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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.
|
|
|
|
No person held to Service or Labor 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 Labor, But shall be delivered up on Claim
|
|
of the Party to whom such Service or Labor may be due.
|
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|
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|
|
Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union;
|
|
but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction
|
|
of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two
|
|
or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the
|
|
Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
|
|
|
|
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules
|
|
and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging
|
|
to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so
|
|
construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States,
|
|
or of any particular State.
|
|
|
|
Section 4. 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.
|
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|
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|
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ARTICLE FIVE
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|
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The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary,
|
|
shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of
|
|
the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention
|
|
for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents
|
|
and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when 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 shall in any Manner affect
|
|
the first and fourth Clauses in the ninth Section of the first Article;
|
|
and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of it's
|
|
equal Suffrage in the Senate.
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE SIX
|
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|
|
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption
|
|
of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States
|
|
under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
|
|
|
|
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made
|
|
in 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,
|
|
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 all executive and judicial Officers,
|
|
both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound
|
|
by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious
|
|
Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust
|
|
under the United States
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE SEVEN
|
|
|
|
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the
|
|
Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
|
|
|
|
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present
|
|
the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one
|
|
thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the Independence of the
|
|
United States of America the Twelfth In Witness whereof We have
|
|
hereunto subscribed our Names,
|
|
|
|
Go. WASHINGTON--
|
|
Presid. and deputy from Virginia
|
|
|
|
New Hampshire
|
|
|
|
John Langdon
|
|
Nicholas Gilman
|
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|
|
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
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
Rich'd Dobbs Spaight
|
|
Hu Williamson
|
|
|
|
South Carolina
|
|
|
|
J. Rutledge
|
|
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
|
|
Charles Pinckney
|
|
Pierce Butler
|
|
|
|
Georgia
|
|
|
|
William Few
|
|
Abr Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attest:
|
|
William Jackson, Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE UNITED STATES' CONSTITUTION ***
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