The Declaration of Independence, Pocket Constitution.pdf · IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, ... Four score and seven

The Declaration ofIndependence,

the

Gettysburg Addressand the

Constitution of the United States of

America

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The Declaration ofIndependence,

the

Gettysburg Addressand the

Constitution of the United States of

America

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE..................................1

THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.................................................9

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...11

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA.......................................................................31

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THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen unitedStates of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessaryfor one people to dissolve the political bands which haveconnected them with another, and to assume among thepowers of the earth, the separate and equal station to whichthe Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, adecent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that theyshould declare the causes which impel them to the separa-tion.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are cre-ated equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with cer-tain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Libertyand the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights,Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their justpowers from the consent of the governed, —That wheneverany Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends,it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and toinstitute new Government, laying its foundation on suchprinciples and organizing its powers in such form, as to themshall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long estab-lished should not be changed for light and transient causes;

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and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind aremore disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than toright themselves by abolishing the forms to which they areaccustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpa-tions, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a designto reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, itis their duty, to throw off such Government, and to providenew Guards for their future security.—Such has been thepatient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now thenecessity which constrains them to alter their formerSystems of Government. The history of the present King ofGreat Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpa-tions, all having in direct object the establishment of anabsolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Factsbe submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome andnecessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediateand pressing importance, unless suspended in their opera-tion till his Assent should be obtained; and when so sus-pended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation oflarge districts of people, unless those people would relin-quish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a rightinestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual,uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their pub-lic Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into com-pliance with his measures.

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He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, foropposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights ofthe people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, tocause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers,incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People atlarge for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean timeexposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, andconvulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of theseStates; for that purpose obstructing the Laws forNaturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others toencourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditionsof new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusinghis Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for thetenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of theirsalaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hitherswarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out theirsubstance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armieswithout the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of andsuperior to the Civil power.

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He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdictionforeign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by ourlaws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretendedLegislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment forany Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitantsof these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretendedoffences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neigh-bouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary govern-ment, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at oncean example and fit instrument for introducing the sameabsolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuableLaws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of ourGovernments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring them-selves invested with power to legislate for us in all caseswhatsoever.

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He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out ofhis Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt ourtowns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreignMercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation andtyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & per-fidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, andtotally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on thehigh Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become theexecutioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall them-selves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and hasendeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, themerciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, isan undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and condi-tions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned forRedress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitionshave been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whosecharacter is thus marked by every act which may define aTyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittishbrethren. We have warned them from time to time ofattempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantablejurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circum-

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stances of our emigration and settlement here. We haveappealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and wehave conjured them by the ties of our common kindred todisavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably inter-rupt our connections and correspondence. They too havebeen deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. Wemust, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denouncesour Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest ofmankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States ofAmerica, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to theSupreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our inten-tions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good Peopleof these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That theseUnited Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free andIndependent States; that they are Absolved from allAllegiance to the British Crown, and that all political con-nection between them and the State of Great Britain, is andought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free andIndependent States, they have full Power to levy War, con-clude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and todo all other Acts and Things which Independent States mayof right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with afirm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, wemutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes andour sacred Honor.

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George WaltonNorth Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John PennSouth Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr.,Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

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Massachusetts: John HancockMaryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone,Charles Carroll of CarrolltonVirginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, ThomasJefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., FrancisLightfoot Lee, Carter BraxtonPennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, BenjaminFranklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith,George Taylor, James Wilson, George RossDelaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKeanNew York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, FrancisLewis, Lewis MorrisNew Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, FrancisHopkinson, John Hart, Abraham ClarkNew Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William WhippleMassachusetts: Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert TreatPaine, Elbridge GerryRhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William ElleryConnecticut: Roger Sherman, SamuelHuntington, William Williams, Oliver WolcottNew Hampshire: Matthew Thornton

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THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESSHAY DRAFT

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth,upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, anddedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether thatnation, or any nation, so conceived, and so dedicated, canlong endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of thatwar. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that thatnation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that weshould do this.

But in a larger sense we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow this ground. The brave men,living and dead, who struggled, here, have consecrated it farabove our poor power to add or detract. The world will littlenote, nor long remember, what we say here, but can neverforget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to bededicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thusfar, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that fromthese honored dead we take increased devotion to that causefor which they here gave the last full measure of devotion --that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not havedied in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a moreperfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,provide for the common defence, promote the generalWelfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselvesand our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitutionfor the United States of America.

Article. I.

Section. 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall bevested in a Congress of the United States, which shall con-sist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composedof Members chosen every second Year by the People of theseveral States, and the Electors in each State shall have theQualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerousBranch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not haveattained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Yearsa Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elect-ed, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned amongthe several States which may be included within this Union,

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according to their respective Numbers, which shall be deter-mined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons,including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, andexcluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.

1

The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years afterthe first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, andwithin every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner asthey shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shallnot exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shallhave at Least one Representative; and until such enumerationshall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled tochuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island andProvidence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six,New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one,Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, SouthCarolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from anyState, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs ofElection to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker andother Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be com-posed of two Senators from each State, chosen by theLegislature thereof,

2for six Years; and each Senator shall

have one Vote.

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1The part of this Clause relating to the mode of apportionment of representatives

among the several States has been affected by Section 2 of amendment XIV, andas to taxes on incomes without apportionment by amendment XVI.2This Clause has been affected by Clause 1 of amendment XVII.

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Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequenceof the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as maybe into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the firstClass shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year,of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, andof the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so thatone third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancieshappen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess ofthe Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may maketemporary Appointments until the next Meeting of theLegislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.

3

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained tothe Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of theUnited States, and who shall not, when elected, be anInhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President ofthe Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equallydivided.

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a Presidentpro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when heshall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeach-ments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oathor Affirmation. When the President of the United States istried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall beconvicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of theMembers present.

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3This Clause has been affected by Clause 2 of amendment XVIII.

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Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend furtherthan to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold andenjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the UnitedStates: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liableand subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment,according to Law.

Section. 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holdingElections for Senators and Representatives, shall be pre-scribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but theCongress may at any time by Law make or alter suchRegulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, andsuch Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,

4

unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section. 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections,Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and aMajority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business;but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and maybe authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members,in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each Housemay provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with theConcurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, andfrom time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as

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4This Clause has been affected by amendment XX.

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may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas andNays of the Members of either House on any question shall,at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on theJournal.

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, with-out the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than threedays, nor to any other Place than that in which the twoHouses shall be sitting.

Section. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive aCompensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law,and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.

5They shall

in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of thePeace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance atthe Session of their respective Houses, and in going to andreturning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate ineither House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time forwhich he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office underthe Authority of the United States, which shall have beencreated, or the Emoluments whereof shall have beenencreased during such time; and no Person holding anyOffice under the United States, shall be a Member of eitherHouse during his Continuance in Office.

Section. 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate inthe House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose orconcur with Amendments as on other Bills.

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5This Clause has been affected by amendment XXVII.

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Every Bill which shall have passed the House ofRepresentatives and the Senate, shall, before it become aLaw, be presented to the President of the United States; If heapprove he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with hisObjections to that House in which it shall have originated,who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, andproceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration twothirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall besent, together with the Objections, to the other House, bywhich it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved bytwo thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in allsuch Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined byyeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for andagainst the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each Houserespectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by thePresident within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shallhave been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in likeManner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by theirAdjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall notbe a Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrenceof the Senate and House of Representatives may benecessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed bytwo thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives,according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in theCase of a Bill.

Section. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and col-lect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts

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and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare ofthe United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shallbe uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

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

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniformLaws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the UnitedStates;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreignCoin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

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

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, bysecuring for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings andDiscoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on thehigh Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, andmake Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

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To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Moneyto 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 theland and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repelInvasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, theMilitia, and for governing such Part of them as may beemployed in the Service of the United States, reserving tothe States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, andthe Authority of training the Militia according to the disci-pline 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 ofCongress, become the Seat of the Government of the UnitedStates, and to exercise like Authority over all Places pur-chased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State inwhich the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needfulBuildings;—And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper forcarrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all otherPowers vested by this Constitution in the Government of theUnited States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

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Section. 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons asany of the States now existing shall think proper to admit,shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year onethousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may beimposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars foreach Person.

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be sus-pended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion thepublic 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 inProportion to the Census or Enumeration herein beforedirected to be taken.

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No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from anyState.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation ofCommerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over thoseof another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, beobliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but inConsequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regularStatement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures ofall public Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States:

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6This Clause has been affected by amendment XVI.

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And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust underthem, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept ofany present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind what-ever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Section. 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, orConfederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coinMoney; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold andsilver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill ofAttainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing theObligation 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 it’sinspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties andImposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be forthe Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all suchLaws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of theCongress.

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay anyDuty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time ofPeace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with anotherState, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actu-ally invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admitof delay.

Article. II.

Section. 1. The executive Power shall be vested in aPresident of the United States of America. He shall hold hisOffice during the Term of four Years, and, together with the

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Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, asfollows:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislaturethereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the wholeNumber of Senators and Representatives to which the Statemay be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator orRepresentative, or Person holding an Office of Trust orProfit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and voteby Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not bean Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And theyshall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of theNumber of Votes for each; which List they shall sign andcertify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Governmentof the United States, directed to the President of the Senate.The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of theSenate and House of Representatives, open all theCertificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. ThePerson having the greatest Number of Votes shall be thePresident, if such Number be a Majority of the wholeNumber of Electors appointed; and if there be more thanone who have such Majority, and have an equal Number ofVotes, then the House of Representatives shall immediatelychuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Personhave a Majority, then from the five highest on the List thesaid House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But inchusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, theRepresentation from each State having one Vote; A quorumfor this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Membersfrom two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all theStates shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after

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the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatestNumber of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President.But if there should remain two or more who have equalVotes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the VicePresident.

7

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing theElectors, 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 theUnited States, at the time of the Adoption of thisConstitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; nei-ther shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall nothave attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been four-teen Years a Resident within the United States.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or ofhis Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powersand Duties of the said Office,

8the Same shall devolve on the

Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide forthe Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, bothof the President and Vice President, declaring what Officershall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accord-ingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall beelected.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services,a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nordiminished during the Period for which he shall have been

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7This Clause has been superseded by amendment XII.

8This Clause has been affected by amendment XXV.

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elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any otherEmolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall takethe following Oath or Affirmation:—”I do solemnly swear(or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office ofPresident of the United States, and will to the best of myAbility, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of theUnited States.”

Section. 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief ofthe Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militiaof the several States, when called into the actual Service ofthe United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, ofthe principal Officer in each of the executive Departments,upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respectiveOffices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves andPardons for Offences against the United States, except inCases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent ofthe Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of theSenators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by andwith the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appointAmbassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges ofthe supreme Court, and all other Officers of the UnitedStates, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise pro-vided for, and which shall be established by Law: but theCongress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferi-or Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, inthe Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that

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”

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may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by grantingCommissions which shall expire at the End of their nextSession.

Section. 3. He shall from time to time give to the CongressInformation of the State of the Union, and recommend totheir Consideration such Measures as he shall judge neces-sary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions,convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case ofDisagreement between them, with Respect to the Time ofAdjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shallthink proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other publicMinisters; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully exe-cuted, and shall Commission all the Officers of the UnitedStates.

Section. 4. The President, Vice President and all civilOfficers of the United States, shall be removed from Officeon Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, orother high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article. III.

Section. 1. The judicial Power of the United States, shall bevested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts asthe Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shallhold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stat-ed Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, whichshall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section. 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, inLaw and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of

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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 admiral-ty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which theUnited States shall be a Party;—to Controversies between twoor more States;—between a State and Citizens of anotherState;

9—between Citizens of different States,—between

Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants ofdifferent States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof,and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministersand Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, thesupreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all theother Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall haveappellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with suchExceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congressshall make.

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment,shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the Statewhere the said Crimes shall have been committed; but whennot committed within any State, the Trial shall be at suchPlace or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section. 3. Treason against the United States, shall consistonly in levying War against them, or in adhering to theirEnemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall beconvicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of twoWitnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in openCourt.

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9This Clause has been affected by amendment XI.

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The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment ofTreason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruptionof Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Personattainted.

Article. IV.

Section. 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each Stateto the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings ofevery other State. And the Congress may by general Lawsprescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records andProceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section. 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to allPrivileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or otherCrime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in anotherState, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of theState from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed tothe State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under theLaws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequenceof any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from suchService or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of theParty to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

10

Section. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congressinto this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erectedwithin the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be

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10This Clause has been affected by amendment XIII.

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formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts ofStates, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the Statesconcerned as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make allneedful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory orother Property belonging to the United States; and nothingin this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice anyClaims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every Statein this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shallprotect each of them against Invasion; and on Application ofthe Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislaturecannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

Article. V.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shalldeem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to thisConstitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures oftwo thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention forproposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be validto all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, whenratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the severalStates, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the oneor the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by theCongress; Provided that no Amendment which may be madeprior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shallin any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the NinthSection of the first Article; and that no State, without itsConsent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in theSenate.

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Article. VI.

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, beforethe Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid againstthe United States under this Constitution, as under theConfederation.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States whichshall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, orwhich shall be made, under the Authority of the UnitedStates, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judgesin every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in theConstitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwith-standing.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and theMembers of the several State Legislatures, and all executiveand judicial Officers, both of the United States and of theseveral States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, tosupport this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever berequired as a Qualification to any Office or public Trustunder the United States.

Article. VII.

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall besufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution betweenthe States so ratifying the Same.

Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the Statespresent the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of ourLord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and ofthe Independence of the United States of America the

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Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribedour Names,

GO.WASHINGTON—Presidt. and deputy from Virginia

[Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.]

Delaware Geo: ReadGunning Bedford junJohn Dickinson Richard Bassett Jaco: Broom

Maryland James MCHenryDan of ST ThoS. Jenifer DanL Carroll.

Virginia John Blair—James Madison Jr.

North Carolina WM BlountRichD. Dobbs Spaight.Hu Williamson

South Carolina J. RutledgeCharles Cotesworth PinckneyCharles PinckneyPierce Butler.

Georgia William FewAbr Baldwin

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New Hampshire John LangdonNicholas Gilman

Massachusetts Nathaniel GorhamRufus King

Connecticut WM. SamL. JohnsonRoger Sherman

New York Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey Wil: LivingstonDavid Brearley.WM. Paterson. Jona: Dayton

Pennsylvania B FranklinThomas MifflinRobT MorrisGeo. ClymerThoS. FitzSimons Jared Ingersoll James Wilson. Gouv Morris

Attest William Jackson Secretary

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AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA11

Amendment I

(Ratified December 15, 1791)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment ofreligion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridg-ing the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of thepeople peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Govern-ment for a redress of grievances.

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11The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States (and two oth-

ers, one of which failed of ratification and the other which later became the 27thamendment) were proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the FirstCongress on September 25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by thefollowing States, and the notifications of ratification by the Governors thereofwere successively communicated by the President to Congress: New Jersey,November 20, 1789; Maryland, December 19, 1789; North Carolina, December22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New Hampshire, January 25, 1790;Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York, February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania,March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7, 1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; andVirginia, December 15, 1791.

Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791.

The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures of Massa-chusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939; and Connecticut, April 19,1939.

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Amendment II


A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of afree State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,shall not be infringed.

Amendment III


No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but ina manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV


The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches andseizures, 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 thepersons or things to be seized.

Amendment V


No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or other-wise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indict-

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ment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service intime of War or public danger; nor shall any person besubject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy oflife 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 shallprivate property be taken for public use, without just com-pensation.

Amendment VI


In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of theState and district wherein the crime shall have beencommitted, which district shall have been previously ascer-tained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause ofthe accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses againsthim; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses inhis favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for hisdefence.

Amendment VII


In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shallexceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be pre-served, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwisereexamined in any Court of the United States, than according tothe rules of the common law.

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Amendment VIII


Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive finesimposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX


The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shallnot be construed to deny or disparage others retained by thepeople.

Amendment X


The powers not delegated to the United States by theConstitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reservedto the States respectively, or to the people.

Amendment XI

(Ratified February 7, 1795)

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be con-strued to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced orprosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens ofanother State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any ForeignState.

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Amendment XII

(Ratified June 15, 1804)

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote byballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, atleast, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with them-selves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted foras President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for asVice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all per-sons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for asVice-President, and of the number of votes for each, whichlists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to theseat of the government of the United States, directed to thePresident 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 forPresident, shall be the President, if such number be a major-ity of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no per-son have such majority, then from the persons having thehighest numbers not exceeding three on the list of thosevoted for as President, the House of Representatives shallchoose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choos-ing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the rep-resentation from each state having one vote; a quorum forthis purpose shall consist of a member or members fromtwo-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shallbe necessary to a choice. [And if the House ofRepresentatives shall not choose a President whenever theright of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourthday of March next following, then the Vice-President shallact as President, as in case of the death or other constitu-

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tional disability of the President. —]12

The person having thegreatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be theVice-President, if such number be a majority of the wholenumber of Electors appointed, and if no person have amajority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, theSenate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for thepurpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number ofSenators, and a majority of the whole number shall be nec-essary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligibleto the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

Amendment XIII


Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, exceptas a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have beenduly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or anyplace subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this articleby appropriate legislation.

Amendment XIV

(Ratified July 9, 1868)

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the UnitedStates, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens ofthe United States and of the State wherein they reside. No

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12This sentence has been superseded by section 3 of amendment XX.

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State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge theprivileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; norshall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or proper-ty, without due process of law; nor deny to any person with-in its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among theseveral States according to their respective numbers, count-ing the whole number of persons in each State, excludingIndians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any electionfor the choice of electors for President and Vice-President ofthe United States, Representatives in Congress, theExecutive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members ofthe Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabi-tants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,

13and cit-

izens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except forparticipation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of repre-sentation therein shall be reduced in the proportion whichthe number of such male citizens shall bear to the wholenumber of male citizens twenty-one years of age in suchState.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative inCongress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or holdany office, civil or military, under the United States, or underany State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a mem-ber of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as amember of any State legislature, or as an executive or judi-cial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of theUnited States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebel-lion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies

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13See amendment XIX and section 1 of amendment XXVI.

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thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of eachHouse, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the UnitedStates, authorized by law, including debts incurred for pay-ment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressinginsurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neitherthe United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debtor obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellionagainst the United States, or any claim for the loss or eman-cipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations andclaims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, byappropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Amendment XV


Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to voteshall not be denied or abridged by the United States or byany State on account of race, color, or previous condition ofservitude—

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce thisarticle by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XVI


The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on

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incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportion-ment among the several States, and without regard to anycensus or enumeration.

Amendment XVII

(Ratified April 8, 1913)

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of twoSenators from each State, elected by the people thereof,for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. Theelectors in each State shall have the qualifications requisitefor electors of the most numerous branch of the Statelegislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State inthe Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issuewrits of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That thelegislature of any State may empower the executive thereofto make temporary appointments until the people fill thevacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect theelection or term of any Senator chosen before it becomesvalid as part of the Constitution.

Amendment XVIII

(Ratified January 16, 1919)14

Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article

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14Repealed by Amendment XXI, December 5, 1933

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the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicatingliquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exporta-tion thereof from the United States and all territory subjectto the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is herebyprohibited.

Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall haveconcurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate leg-islation.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shallhave been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution bythe legislatures of the several States, as provided in theConstitution, within seven years from the date of the sub-mission hereof to the States by the Congress.

Amendment XIX

(Ratified August 18, 1920)

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not bedenied or abridged by the United States or by any State onaccount of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro-priate legislation.

Amendment XX

(Ratified January 23, 1933)

Section 1. The terms of the President and the Vice Presidentshall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms

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of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day ofJanuary, of the years in which such terms would have endedif this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their suc-cessors shall then begin.

Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once inevery year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3dday of January, unless they shall by law appoint a differentday.

Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the termof the President, the President elect shall have died, the VicePresident elect shall become President. If a President shallnot have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginningof his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qual-ify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President untila President shall have qualified; and the Congress may bylaw provide for the case wherein neither a President electnor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shallthen act as President, or the manner in which one who is toact shall be selected, and such person shall act accordinglyuntil a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case ofthe death of any of the persons from whom the House ofRepresentatives may choose a President whenever the rightof choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case ofthe death of any of the persons from whom the Senate maychoose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shallhave devolved upon them.

Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th dayof October following the ratification of this article.

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Section 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shallhave been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution bythe legislatures of three-fourths of the several States withinseven years from the date of its submission.

Amendment XXI


Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to theConstitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State,Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery oruse therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the lawsthereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shallhave been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution byconventions in the several States, as provided in theConstitution, within seven years from the date of the sub-mission hereof to the States by the Congress.

Amendment XXII


Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of thePresident more than twice, and no person who has held theoffice of President, or acted as President, for more than twoyears of a term to which some other person was electedPresident shall be elected to the office of President morethan once. But this Article shall not apply to any person

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holding the office of President when this Article was pro-posed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person whomay be holding the office of President, or acting asPresident, during the term within which this Article becomesoperative from holding the office of President or acting asPresident during the remainder of such term.

Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shallhave been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution bythe legislatures of three-fourths of the several States withinseven years from the date of its submission to the States bythe Congress.

Amendment XXIII

(Ratified March 29, 1961)

Section 1. The District constituting the seat of Governmentof the United States shall appoint in such manner asCongress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equalto the whole number of Senators and Representatives inCongress 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 electorsappointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District andperform such duties as provided by the twelfth article ofamendment.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this

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article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XXIV

(Ratified January 23, 1964)

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to votein any primary or other election for President or VicePresident, for electors for President or Vice President, or forSenator or Representative in Congress, shall not be deniedor abridged by the United States or any State by reason offailure to pay poll tax or other tax.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce thisarticle by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XXV


Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from officeor of his death or resignation, the Vice President shallbecome President.

Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of theVice President, the President shall nominate a Vice Presidentwho shall take office upon confirmation by a majority voteof both Houses of Congress.

Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the Presidentpro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives his written declaration that he is unable to

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discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until hetransmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, suchpowers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice Presidentas Acting President.

Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority ofeither the principal officers of the executive departments orof such other body as Congress may by law provide, trans-mit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and theSpeaker of the House of Representatives their written decla-ration that the President is unable to discharge the powersand duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediate-ly assume the powers and duties of the office as ActingPresident.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President protempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives his written declaration that no inabilityexists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his officeunless the Vice President and a majority of either the princi-pal officers of the executive department or of such otherbody as Congress may by law provide, transmit within fourdays to the President pro tempore of the Senate and theSpeaker of the House of Representatives their written decla-ration that the President is unable to discharge the powersand duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide theissue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose ifnot in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days afterreceipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is notin session, within twenty-one days after Congress isrequired to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of bothHouses that the President is unable to discharge the powersand duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to

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discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, thePresident shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

Amendment XXVI

(Ratified July 1, 1971)

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who areeighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied orabridged by the United States or by any State on account ofage.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce thisarticle by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XXVII

(Originally Proposed September 25, 1789. Ratified May 7,1992)

No law, varying the compensation for the services of theSenators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an elec-tion of representatives shall have intervened

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The Declaration of Independence, Pocket Constitution.pdf · IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, ... Four score and seven