2008 Revised Code of Washington Constitution of the United States of America
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Constitution of the United States of America
DIGEST
Preamble
Article I Legislative
Sections
1. Legislative powers.
2. House of representatives, how constituted, power
of impeachment.
3. The senate, how constituted, impeachment trials.
4. Election of senators and representatives.
5. Quorum, journals, meetings, adjournments.
6. Compensation, privileges, disabilities.
7. Procedure in passing bills and resolutions.
8. Powers of congress.
9. Limitations upon powers of congress.
10. Restrictions upon powers of states.
Article II Executive
Sections
1. Executive power, election, qualifications of the
president.
2. Powers of the president.
3. Powers and duties of the president.
4. Impeachment.
Article III Judicial
Sections
1. Judicial power, tenure of office.
2. Jurisdiction.
3. Treason, proof and punishment.
Article IV
Sections
1.
2.
3.
4.
Faith and credit among states.
Privileges and immunities, fugitives.
Admission of new states.
Guarantee of republican government.
Article V Amendment of the Constitution
Article VI Debts, supremacy, oath
Article VII Ratification and establishment
Amendments:
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
(2008 Ed.)
Freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press.
Right to keep and bear arms.
Quartering of soldiers.
Security from unwarrantable search and seizure.
Rights of accused in criminal proceedings.
Right to speedy trial, witnesses, etc.
Trial by jury in civil cases.
Bails, fines, punishments.
Reservation of rights of the people.
Powers reserved to states or people.
11. Restriction of judicial powers.
12. Election of president and vice president.
13. Sections
1. Abolition of slavery.
2. Power to enforce this article.
14. Sections
1. Citizenship rights not to be abridged by
states.
2. Apportionment of representatives in congress.
3. Persons disqualified from holding office.
4. What public debts are valid.
5. Power to enforce this article.
15. Sections
1. Negro suffrage.
2. Power to enforce this article.
16. Authorizing income taxes.
17. Popular election of senators.
18. Sections
1. National liquor prohibition.
2. Power to enforce this article.
3. Ratification within seven years.
19. Woman suffrage.
20. Sections
1. Terms of office.
2. Time of convening congress.
3. Death of president elect.
4. Election of the president.
21. Sections
1. National liquor prohibition repealed.
2. Transportation of liquor into "dry" states.
22. Sections
1. Terms of office of president.
2. When operative.
23. Sections
1. Granting representation in the electoral college to the District of Columbia.
2. Legislation.
24. Sections
1. Failure to pay tax shall not deny right to vote
for federal offices.
2. Legislation.
25. Sections
1. Succession to the presidency.
2. Succession to the vice presidency.
3. President’s declaration of inability to discharge powers and duties of office.
4. Determination that president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of office.
26. Sections
1. Extending the right to vote to citizens eighteen years of age or older.
2. Legislation.
27. Compensation of members of Congress.
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Article I Section 1
Constitution of the United States of America
The Constitution
of the
United States
of America
Preamble
We the people of the United States, in order to form a
more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.
Article I
SECTION 1 LEGISLATIVE POWERS. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a congress of
the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of
representatives.
Article I Section 1
SECTION 2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
HOW CONSTITUTED, POWER OF IMPEACHMENT.
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.
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.
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 person.*
The actual enumeration 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 one for 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
choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New
Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six,
Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and
Georgia three.
When vacancies happen in the representation from any
state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.
The house of representatives shall choose their speaker
and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
Article I Section 2
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*Note: Modified by Amendment XIV, Section 2.
SECTION 3 THE SENATE, HOW CONSTITUTED, IMPEACHMENT TRIALS. The senate of the
United States shall be composed of two senators from each
state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each
senator shall have one vote.
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
the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the
third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third
may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by
resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature
of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary
appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which
shall then fill such vacancies.*
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.
The vice president of the United States shall be president
of the senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally
divided.
The senate shall choose 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.
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.
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.
Article I Section 3
*Note: Provisions changed by Amendment XVII.
SECTION 4 ELECTION OF SENATORS AND
REPRESENTATIVES. 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 choosing senators.
The congress shall assemble at least once in every year,
and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,
unless they shall by law appoint a different day.*
Article I Section 4
*Note: Provision changed by Amendment XX, Section 2.
SECTION 5 QUORUM, JOURNALS, MEETINGS, ADJOURNMENTS. 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
Article I Section 5
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Constitution of the United States of America
members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each
house may provide.
Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings,
punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the
concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.
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 of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.
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 COMPENSATION, PRIVILEGES,
DISABILITIES. The senators and representatives shall
receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained
by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.
They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of
the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at
the session of their respective houses, and in going to and
returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in
either house, they shall not be questioned in any other place.
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 increased
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.
Article I Section 6
SECTION 7 PROCEDURE IN PASSING BILLS
AND RESOLUTIONS. 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.
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.
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
Article I Section 7
(2008 Ed.)
Article I Section 9
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 POWERS OF CONGRESS. The congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties,
imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the
common defense and general welfare of the United States;
but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among
the several states, and with the Indian tribes;
To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the
United States;
To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign
coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;
To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the
securities and current coin of the United States;
To establish post offices and post roads;
To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by
securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;
To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court;
To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on
the high seas, and of fences against the law of nations;
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and
make rules concerning captures on land and water;
To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of
money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;
To provide and maintain a navy;
To make rules for the government and regulation of the
land and naval forces;
To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the
laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the
militia, and for governing such part of them as may be
employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the
states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the
authority of training the militia according to the discipline
prescribed by congress;
To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever,
over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by
cession of particular states, and the acceptance of congress,
become the seat of the government of the United States, and
to exercise like authority over 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
To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for
carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other
powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the
United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
Article I Section 8
SECTION 9 LIMITATIONS UPON POWERS OF
CONGRESS. 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
Article I Section 9
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Article I Section 10
Constitution of the United States of America
be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for
each person.
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.
No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.
No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless in
proportion to the census or enumeration hereinbefore
directed to be taken.
No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any
state.
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.
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.
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 RESTRICTIONS UPON POWERS
OF STATES. 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.
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 its 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 control of the congress.
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.
Article I Section 10
Article II
SECTION 1 EXECUTIVE POWER, ELECTION,
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT. The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States
of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four
years, and, together with the vice president, chosen for the
same term, be elected, as follows
Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the
whole number of senators and representatives to which the
state may be entitled in the congress: but no senator or representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under
the United States, shall be appointed an elector.
Article I Section 1
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The electors shall meet in their respective states, and
vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not
be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. And they
shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each; which list they shall sign and certify,
and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the
United States, directed to the president of the senate. The
president of the senate shall, in the presence of the senate and
house of representatives, open all the certificates, and the
votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest
number of votes shall be the president, if such number be a
majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if
there be more than one who have such majority, and have an
equal number of votes, then the house of representatives shall
immediately choose by ballot one of them for president; and
if no person have a majority, then from the five highest on the
list the said house shall in like manner choose the president.
But in choosing the president, the votes shall be taken by
states, the representation from each state having one vote; a
quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the
states shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the
choice of the president, the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors shall be the vice president. But if
there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the
senate shall choose from them by ballot the vice president.*
The congress may determine the time of choosing the
electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes;
which day shall be the same throughout the United States.
No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of
the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of president; neither shall
any person be eligible to that office who shall not have
attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen
years a resident within the United States.
In case of the removal of the president from office, or of
his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers
and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the
vice president, and the congress may by law provide for the
case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the
president and vice president, declaring what officer shall then
act as president, and such officer shall act accordingly, until
the disability be removed, or a president shall be elected.
The president shall, at stated times, receive for his services, a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor
diminished during the period for which he shall have been
elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other
emolument from the United States, or any of them.
Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall
take the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear
(or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of president
of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United
States."
*Note: Provisions superseded by Amendment XII.
SECTION 2 POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT.
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
Article I Section 2
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Constitution of the United States of America
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.
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.
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 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE
PRESIDENT. 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.
Article I Section 3
SECTION 4 IMPEACHMENT. 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.
Article I Section 4
Article IV Section 3
ferent states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and
foreign states, citizens or subjects.*
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.
*Note: Clause changed by Amendment XI.
Article III Section 3
SECTION 3 TREASON, PROOF AND PUNISHMENT. 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.
Article IV
Article IV Section 1
SECTION 1 FAITH AND CREDIT AMONG
STATES. 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.
Article IV Section 2
Article III
SECTION 1 JUDICIAL POWER, TENURE OF
OFFICE. 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.
Article III Section 1
SECTION 2 JURISDICTION. 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 difArticle III Section 2
(2008 Ed.)
SECTION 2 PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES,
FUGITIVES. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to
all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.
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.
Article IV Section 3
SECTION 3 ADMISSION OF NEW STATES.
New states may be admitted by the congress into this union;
but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of
the congress.
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Article IV Section 4
Constitution of the United States of America
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 GUARANTEE OF REPUBLICAN
GOVERNMENT. 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.
Article IV Section 4
Article V
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION. 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
its equal suffrage in the senate.
of the independence of the United States of America the
twelfth.* In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed
our names,
GEO. WASHINGTON, President
and Deputy from Virginia
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
*Note: The Constitution was submitted on September 17, 1787, by the
Constitutional Convention, was ratified by the conventions of several states
at various dates up to May 29, 1790, and became effective on March 4, 1789.
Article VI
DEBTS, SUPREMACY, OATH. 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 VII
RATIFICATION AND ESTABLISHMENT. 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
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Delaware
Geo. Read
Gunning Bedford, Jr.
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
Amendments
to the
Constitution
of the
United States
1791-1992
Amendment I
AMENDMENT I
FREEDOM OF RELIGION, OF SPEECH, AND OF
THE PRESS. Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
AMENDMENT II
RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the
right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be
infringed.
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Constitution of the United States of America
Amendment III
AMENDMENT III
QUARTERING OF SOLDIERS. No soldier shall, in
time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent
of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
AMENDMENT IV
SECURITY FROM UNWARRANTABLE SEARCH
AND SEIZURE. The right of the people to be secure in their
persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants
shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be
searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
AMENDMENT V
RIGHTS OF ACCUSED IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. No person shall be held to answer for a capital,
or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land
or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in
time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject
for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or
limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
AMENDMENT VI
RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL, WITNESSES, ETC.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right
to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state
and district wherein the crime shall have been committed,
which district shall have been previously ascertained by law,
and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation;
to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to
have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
AMENDMENT VII
TRIAL BY JURY IN CIVIL CASES. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty
dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no
fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any
court of the United States, than according to the rules of the
common law.
Amendment VIII
AMENDMENT VIII
BAILS, FINES, PUNISHMENTS. Excessive bail
shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
AMENDMENT IX
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall
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Amendment XII
not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the
people.
Amendment X
AMENDMENT X
POWERS RESERVED TO STATES OR PEOPLE.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the
states respectively, or to the people.*
*Note: The first ten amendments were all proposed by congress on
September 25, 1789, and were ratified and adoption certified on December
15, 1791.
Amendment XI
AMENDMENT XI
RESTRICTION OF JUDICIAL POWERS. The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to
extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted
against one of the United States by citizens of another state,
or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on March 4, 1794, and declared ratified
on January 8, 1798.
Amendment XII
AMENDMENT XII
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT. The electors shall meet in their respective states, and
vote by ballot for president and vice president, one of whom,
at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as
president, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as vice
president, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons
voted for as president, and of all persons voted for as vice
president, and of the number of votes for each, which lists
they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of
the government of the United States, directed to the president
of the senate; the president of the senate shall, in the presence
of the senate and house of representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; the person having
the greatest number of votes for president, shall be the president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of
electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then
from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding
three on the list of those voted for as president, the house of
representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the president. But in choosing the president, the votes shall be taken
by states, the representation from each state having one vote;
a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the
states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the house of representatives shall not choose a president whenever the right
of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of
March next following, then the vice president shall act as
president, as in the case of the death or other constitutional
disability of the president. The person having the greatest
number of votes as vice president, shall be the vice president,
if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors
appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the
two highest numbers on the list, the senate shall choose the
vice president; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of
two-thirds of the whole number of senators, and a majority of
the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no per[Vol. 0 RCW—page 7]
Amendment XIII
Constitution of the United States of America
son constitutionally ineligible to the office of president shall
be eligible to that of vice president of the United States.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on December 9, 1803; declared ratified
on September 25, 1804; supplemented by Amendment XX.
Amendment XIII
AMENDMENT XIII
§ 1 ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. Neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist
within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
§ 2 POWER TO ENFORCE THIS ARTICLE. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on January 31, 1865; declared ratified on
December 18, 1865.
Amendment XIV
AMENDMENT XIV
§ 1 CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS NOT TO BE
ABRIDGED BY STATES. All persons born or naturalized
in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they
reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United
States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty,
or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
§ 4 WHAT PUBLIC DEBTS ARE VALID. The
validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by
law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and
bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion,
shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any
state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in
aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or
any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all
such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and
void.
§ 5 POWER TO ENFORCE THIS ARTICLE. The
congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on June 13, 1866; declared ratified on
July 28, 1868.
Amendment XV
§ 1 NEGRO SUFFRAGE. The right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
§ 2 POWER TO ENFORCE THIS ARTICLE. The
congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on February 26, 1869; declared ratified
on March 30, 1870.
Amendment XVI
§ 2 APPORTIONMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES
IN CONGRESS. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state,
excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at
any election for the choice of electors for president and vice
president of the United States, representatives in congress,
the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members
of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridges, except for
participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the
number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number
of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state.
§ 3 PERSONS DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING
OFFICE. No person shall be a senator or representative in
congress, or elector of president and vice president, or hold
any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under
any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member
of congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial
officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United
States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against
the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But
congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove
such disability.
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AMENDMENT XV
AMENDMENT XVI
AUTHORIZING INCOME TAXES. The congress
shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from
whatever source derived, without apportionment among the
several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on July 12, 1909; declared ratified on
February 25, 1913.
Amendment XVII
AMENDMENT XVII
POPULAR ELECTION OF SENATORS. The senate
of the United States shall be composed of two senators from
each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and
each senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state
shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most
numerous branch of the state legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any state
in the senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue
writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the
legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to
make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the
election or term of any senator chosen before it becomes
valid as part of the Constitution.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on May 13, 1912; declared ratified on
May 31, 1913.
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Constitution of the United States of America
Amendment XVIII
AMENDMENT XVIII
§ 1 NATIONAL LIQUOR PROHIBITION. After
one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture,
sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the
importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the
United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction
thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
§ 2 POWER TO ENFORCE THIS ARTICLE. The
congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to
enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
§ 3 RATIFICATION WITHIN SEVEN YEARS.
This article shall be inoperative until it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures
of the several states, as provided in the Constitution, within
seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the
states by the congress.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on December 18, 1917; declared ratified
on January 29, 1919. Repealed by Amendment XXI.
Amendment XIX
AMENDMENT XIX
WOMAN SUFFRAGE. The right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any state on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on June 4, 1919; declared ratified on
August 26, 1920.
Amendment XX
AMENDMENT XX
§ 1 TERMS OF OFFICE. The terms of the president
and vice president shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of senators and representatives at noon on
the 3rd day of January, of the years in which such terms
would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the
terms of their successors shall then begin.
§ 2 TIME OF CONVENING CONGRESS. The congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such
meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless
they shall by law appoint a different day.
§ 3 DEATH OF PRESIDENT ELECT. If, at the time
fixed for the beginning of the term of the president, the president elect shall have died, the vice president elect shall
become president. If a president shall not have been chosen
before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the
president elect shall have failed to qualify, then the vice president elect shall act as president until a president shall have
qualified; and the congress may by law provide for the case
wherein neither a president elect nor a vice president elect
shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as president, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be
selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a president or vice president shall have qualified.
§ 4 ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT. The congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of
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Amendment XXII
the persons from whom the house of representatives may
choose a president whenever the right of choice shall have
devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of
the persons from whom the senate may choose a vice president whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon
them.
§ 5 Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of
October following the ratification of this article.
§ 6 This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have
been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven
years from the date of its submission.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on March 2, 1932; declared ratified on
February 6, 1933.
Amendment XXI
AMENDMENT XXI
§
1 NATIONAL
LIQUOR
PROHIBITION
REPEALED. The eighteenth article of amendment to the
Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
§ 2 TRANSPORTATION OF LIQUOR INTO
"DRY" STATES. The transportation or importation into
any states, territory, or possession of the United States for
delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of
the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
§ 3 This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have
been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several states, as provided in the Constitution,
within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to
the states by the congress.*
*Note: Proposed by congress on February 20, 1933; declared ratified
on December 5, 1933.
Amendment XXII
AMENDMENT XXII
§ 1 TERMS OF OFFICE OF PRESIDENT. No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than
twice, and no person who held the office of president, or
acted as president, for more than two years of a term to which
some other person was elected president, shall be elected to
the office of president more than once. But this article shall
not apply to any person holding the office of president when
this article was proposed by the congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of president,
or acting as president, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of president or
acting as president during the remainder of such term.
§ 2 WHEN OPERATIVE. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several
states within seven years from the date of its submission to
the states by the congress.*
*Note: The certificate of adoption of the 22nd Amendment, dated
March 1, 1951, was published in the Federal Register of March 3, 1951.
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Amendment XXIII
Amendment XXIII
Constitution of the United States of America
AMENDMENT XXIII
§ 1 GRANTING REPRESENTATION IN THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the
Congress may direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice President
equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in
Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a
State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they
shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they
shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State;
and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as
provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
§ 2 LEGISLATION. The Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.*
*Note: The certificate of adoption of the 23rd Amendment, dated April
3, 1961, is published in Vol. 26 Federal Register, page 2808.
Amendment XXIV
AMENDMENT XXIV
§ 1 FAILURE TO PAY TAX SHALL NOT DENY
RIGHT TO VOTE FOR FEDERAL OFFICES. The right
of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other
election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in
Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or
other tax.
§ 2 LEGISLATION. The Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.*
*Note: The certificate of adoption of the 24th Amendment dated February 4, 1964, is published in Vol. 29 Federal Register, page 1715.
Amendment XXV
AMENDMENT XXV
§ 1 SUCCESSION TO THE PRESIDENCY. In case
of the removal of the President from office or of his death or
resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
§ 2 SUCCESSION TO THE VICE PRESIDENCY.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall
take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both
Houses of Congress.
§ 3 PRESIDENT’S DECLARATION OF INABILITY TO DISCHARGE POWERS AND DUTIES OF
OFFICE. Whenever the President transmits to the President
pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to
discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he
transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such
powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President
as Acting President.
DUTIES OF OFFICE. Whenever the Vice President and a
majority of either the principal officers of the executive
departments or of such other body as Congress may by law
provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written
declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting
President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President
pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that no inability
exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office
unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body
as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to
the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives their written declaration that
the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of
his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue,
assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in
session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt
of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to
assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that
the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of
his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the
same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall
resume the powers and duties of his office.*
*Note: The certificate of adoption of the 25th Amendment dated February 23, 1967, is published in Vol. 32 Federal Register, page 3287.
Amendment XXVI
AMENDMENT XXVI
§ 1 EXTENDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO CITIZENS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. The
right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years
of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on account of age.
§ 2 LEGISLATION. The Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.*
*Note: The certificate of adoption of the 26th Amendment dated July
5, 1971, is published in Vol. 36, No. 130, Federal Register, page 12726.
Amendment XXVII
AMENDMENT XXVII
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. No law, varying the compensation for the services
of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an
election of Representatives shall have intervened.*
*Note: The certification of adoption of the 27th Amendment dated
May 18, 1992, is published in Vol. 57, No. 97, Federal Register, page 21187.
§ 4 DETERMINATION THAT PRESIDENT IS
UNABLE TO DISCHARGE THE POWERS AND
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