constitution-words-only.txt

We the People of the United States in Order to form a more perfect Union establish Justice insure domestic Tranquility provide for the common defence promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Article I

Section 1

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

Section 2

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 Persons 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 chuse three Massachusetts eight Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one Connecticut five New-York six New Jersey four Pennsylvania eight Delaware one Maryland six Virginia ten North 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 chuse their Speaker and other Officers and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment

Section 3

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 chuse their other Officers and also a President pro tempore in the Absence of the Vice President or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States

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

Section 4

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 chusing 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

Section 5

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

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour 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

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 encreased during such time and no Person holding any Office under the United States shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office

Section 7

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 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

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes Duties Imposts and Excises to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States but all Duties Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States

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 Offences 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

Section 9

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation not exceeding ten dollars for each Person

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 herein before 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

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 it's inspection Laws and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts laid by any State on Imports or Exports shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress

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 II

Section 1

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years and 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

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 chuse 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 chuse the President But in chusing 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 chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing 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

Section 2

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and of the Militia of the several States when called into the actual Service of the United States he may require the Opinion in writing of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States except in Cases of Impeachment

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

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient he may on extraordinary Occasions convene both Houses or either of them and in Case of Disagreement between them with Respect to the Time of Adjournment he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States

Section 4

The President Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for and Conviction of Treason Bribery or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors

Article III

Section 1

The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish The Judges both of the supreme and inferior Courts shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour and shall at stated Times receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office

Section 2

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases in Law and Equity arising under this Constitution the Laws of the United States and Treaties made or which shall be made under their Authority to all Cases affecting Ambassadors other public Ministers and Consuls to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party to Controversies between two or more States  between a State and Citizens of another State between Citizens of different States between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States and between a State or the Citizens thereof and foreign States Citizens or Subjects

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors other public Ministers and Consuls and those in which a State shall be Party the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction In all the other Cases before mentioned the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction both as to Law and Fact with such Exceptions and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make

The Trial of all Crimes except in Cases of Impeachment shall be by Jury and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed but when not committed within any State the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed

Section 3

Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them or in adhering to their Enemies giving them Aid and Comfort No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act or on Confession in open Court

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted

Article IV

Section 1

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts Records and judicial Proceedings of every other State And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts Records and Proceedings shall be proved and the Effect thereof

Section 2

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 Labour in one State under the Laws thereof escaping into another shall in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein be discharged from such Service or Labour but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due

Section 3

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

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States or of any particular State

Section 4

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government and shall protect each of them against Invasion and on Application of the Legislature or of the Executive when the Legislature cannot be convened against domestic Violence

Article V

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

Article VI

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

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same

The Word the being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page the Word Thirty being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page The Words is tried being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word the being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page

Attest William Jackson Secretary

done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independance of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names