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data/books/US-Constitution.txt

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+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 1
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.  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.
+
+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 Offenses 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, Dockyards,
+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 2
+
+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 encreased 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 Offenses 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 THREE
+
+Section 1.  The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested
+in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may
+from time to time ordain and establish.  The Judges, both of the supreme
+and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good behavior,
+and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation,
+which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
+
+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 FOUR
+
+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 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.
+
+
+Section 3.  New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union;
+but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction
+of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two
+or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the
+Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
+
+The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules
+and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging
+to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so
+construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States,
+or of any particular State.
+
+Section 4.  The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union
+a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against
+Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive
+(when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
+
+
+ARTICLE FIVE
+
+The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary,
+shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of
+the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention
+for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents
+and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures
+of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths
+thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by
+the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the
+Year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect
+the first and fourth Clauses in the ninth Section of the first Article;
+and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of it's
+equal Suffrage in the Senate.
+
+ARTICLE SIX
+
+All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption
+of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States
+under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
+
+This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made
+in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made,
+under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme
+Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby,
+any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary
+notwithstanding.
+
+The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the
+several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers,
+both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound
+by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious
+Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust
+under the United States
+
+ARTICLE SEVEN
+
+The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the
+Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.