The Constitution of the United States of America


THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION









     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.



*Changed by section 1 of the Seventeenth Amendment.     

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.]* 

*Changed by section 2 of the Seventeenth Amendment.



     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.

* Changed by section 2 of the Twentieth Amendment.



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 becomes 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, 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 Govern-

ment 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.]*

* Superseded by the Twelfth Amendment.



     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 the 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.]*

* Modified by the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.



     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 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 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 Con-

troversies 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.]*

* Superseded by the Thirteenth Amendment.



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 it's 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.



     Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the

Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven

hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of

America the Twelfth In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

Gø Washington--Presid.t and deputy from Virginia



In Convention Monday September 17th 1787.



Present, The States of:



New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton from New York,

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,

South Carolina and Georgia.



     Resolved, That the preceeding Constitution be laid before the United

States in Congress assembled, and that it is the Opinion of this Convention,

that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen

in each State by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of its

Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification; and that each Convention

assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should give Notice thereof to the United

States in Congress assembled. 

     Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that as soon as the

Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the United

States in Congress assembled should fix a Day on which Electors should be

appointed by the States which shall have ratified the same, and a Day on which

the Electors should assemble to vote for the President, and the Time and Place

for commencing Proceedings under this Constitution.

     That after such Publication the Electors should be appointed, and the

Senators and Representatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the Day

fixed for the Election of the President, and should transmit their Votes

certified, signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the

Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and

Representatives should convene at the Time and Place assigned; that the

Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole Purpose of

receiving, opening and counting the Votes for President; and, that after he

shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the President, should, without

Delay, proceed to execute this Constitution.

By the unanimous Order of the Convention Gø WASHINGTON--Presid' W.

JACKSON Secretary.





AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA*



ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE SEVERAL STATES,

PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION.



* The first ten Amendments (Bill of Rights) was ratified effective

December 15, 1791.





Amendment I                    

     Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or

prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or

of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to

petition the Government for a redress of grievances.





Amendment II

     A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free

State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.





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 in a 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 and seizures, shall not be

violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by

Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and

the persons or things to be seized.





Amendment V

     No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous

crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases

arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service

in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same

offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in

any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life,

liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property

be taken for public use without just compensation.





Amendment VI

     In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a

speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district

wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been

previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of

the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have

compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the

assistance of counsel for his defence. 





Amendment VII

     In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed

twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact

tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United

States, than according to the rules of the common law.







Amendment VIII

     Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor

cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.





Amendment IX

     The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be

construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.





Amendment X

     The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor

prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to

the people.





Amendment XI (Ratified February 7, 1795)

     The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to     extend

to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the

United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any

Foreign State.





Amendment XII** (Ratified June 15, 1804)



     The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot

for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an

inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots

the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted

for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted

for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the

number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and

transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed

to the President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the

presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates

and the votes shall then be counted;--The person having the greatest number of

votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of

the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority,

then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the

list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall

choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President,

the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having

one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from

two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary

to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President

whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of

March next following, then the VicePresident shall act as President, as in the

case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President---]* The

person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the

Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors

appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers

on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the

purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a

majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person

constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to



that of Vice-President of the United States.

* Superseded by section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment.



Amendment XIII (Ratified December 6, 1865)



Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment

for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within

the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.



Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.





Amendment XIV (Ratified July 9, 1868)



Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to

the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State

wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall

abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor

shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due

process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal

protection of the laws.



Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States

according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in

each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any

election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the

United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial

officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to

any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and

citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for

participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation

therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male

citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of

age in such State.



Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress,

or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil

or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having

previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of

the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an

executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution

of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion

against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But

Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such

disability.



Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States,

authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and

bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall

not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall

assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or

rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or

emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims

shall be held illegal and void.



Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate

legislation, the provisions of this article.



Amendment XV (Ratified February 3, 1870)



Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be

denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race,

color, or previous condition of servitude.



Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.





Amendment XVI (Ratified February 3, 1913)



     The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from

whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and

without regard to any census or enumeration.





Amendment XVII (Ratified April 8, 1913)



     The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from

each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator

shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications

requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

     When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate,

the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill

such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the

executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the

vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

     This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or

term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the

Constitution.





Amendment XVIII (Ratified January 16, 1919; repealed by the Twenty-First 

               Amendment, December 5, 1933)



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

manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the

importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States

and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is



hereby prohibited.



Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to

enforce this article by appropriate legislation.



Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been

ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the

several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the

date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congess.



Amendment XIX (Ratified August 18, 1920)



     The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied

or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

     Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate

legislation.



Amendment XX (Ratified January 23, 1933)



Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on

the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon

on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if

this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall

then begin.



Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such

meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law

appoint a different day.



Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the

President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall

become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time

fixed for the begin-ning of his term, or if the President elect shall have

failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until

a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the

case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have

qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which

one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly

until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.



Section 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of

any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a

President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them,

and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may

choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon

them. 



Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October

following the ratification of this article. 



Section 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been

ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-

fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its

submission.



Amendment XXI (Ratified December 5, 1933.)



Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution 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 or use therein of intoxicating

liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.



Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been

ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several

States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of

the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.



Amendment XXII (Ratified February 27, 1951)



Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than

twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as

President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was

elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than

once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of

President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not

prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as

President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from

holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of

such term.



Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been

ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-

fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its

submission to the States by the Congress.





Amendment XXIII (atified March 29,)



Section 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United

States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: 

     A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole

number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would

be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous

State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they

shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice



President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the

District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of

amendment.



Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.





Amendment XXIV (Ratified January 23, 1964)



Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary

or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President

or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be

denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to

pay any poll tax or other tax.



Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.





Amendment XXV (Ratified February 1, 1967)



Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death

or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.



Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President,

the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon

confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress. 



Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of

the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written

declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his

office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary,

such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting

President.



Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal

officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by

law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the

Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the

President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice

President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as

Acting President.

     Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of

the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written

declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of

his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal

officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by

law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the

Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written

declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of

his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within

forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within

twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if

Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required

to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President

is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President

shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the

President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.



Amendment XXVI (Ratified July 1, 1971)



Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen

years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United

States or by any State on account of age.



Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.                      THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION









     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.



*Changed by section 1 of the Seventeenth Amendment.     

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.]* 

*Changed by section 2 of the Seventeenth Amendment.



     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.

* Changed by section 2 of the Twentieth Amendment.



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 becomes 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, 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 Govern-

ment 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.]*

* Superseded by the Twelfth Amendment.



     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 the 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.]*

* Modified by the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.



     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 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 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 Con-

troversies 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.]*

* Superseded by the Thirteenth Amendment.



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 it's 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.



     Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the

Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven

hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of

America the Twelfth In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

Gø Washington--Presid.t and deputy from Virginia



In Convention Monday September 17th 1787.



Present, The States of:



New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton from New York,

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,

South Carolina and Georgia.



     Resolved, That the preceeding Constitution be laid before the United

States in Congress assembled, and that it is the Opinion of this Convention,

that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen

in each State by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of its

Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification; and that each Convention

assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should give Notice thereof to the United

States in Congress assembled. 

     Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that as soon as the

Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the United

States in Congress assembled should fix a Day on which Electors should be

appointed by the States which shall have ratified the same, and a Day on which

the Electors should assemble to vote for the President, and the Time and Place

for commencing Proceedings under this Constitution.

     That after such Publication the Electors should be appointed, and the

Senators and Representatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the Day

fixed for the Election of the President, and should transmit their Votes

certified, signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the

Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and

Representatives should convene at the Time and Place assigned; that the

Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole Purpose of

receiving, opening and counting the Votes for President; and, that after he

shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the President, should, without

Delay, proceed to execute this Constitution.

By the unanimous Order of the Convention Gø WASHINGTON--Presid' W.

JACKSON Secretary.





AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA*



ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE SEVERAL STATES,

PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION.



* The first ten Amendments (Bill of Rights) was ratified effective

December 15, 1791.





Amendment I                    

     Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or

prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or

of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to

petition the Government for a redress of grievances.





Amendment II

     A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free

State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.





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 in a 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 and seizures, shall not be

violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by

Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and

the persons or things to be seized.





Amendment V

     No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous

crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases

arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service

in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same

offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in

any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life,

liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property

be taken for public use without just compensation.





Amendment VI

     In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a

speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district

wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been

previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of

the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have

compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the

assistance of counsel for his defence. 





Amendment VII

     In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed

twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact

tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United

States, than according to the rules of the common law.







Amendment VIII

     Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor

cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.





Amendment IX

     The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be

construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.





Amendment X

     The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor

prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to

the people.





Amendment XI (Ratified February 7, 1795)

     The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to     extend

to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the

United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any

Foreign State.





Amendment XII** (Ratified June 15, 1804)



     The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot

for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an

inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots

the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted

for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted

for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the

number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and

transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed

to the President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the

presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates

and the votes shall then be counted;--The person having the greatest number of

votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of

the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority,

then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the

list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall

choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President,

the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having

one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from

two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary

to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President

whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of

March next following, then the VicePresident shall act as President, as in the

case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President---]* The

person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the

Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors

appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers

on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the

purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a

majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person

constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to

that of Vice-President of the United States.

* Superseded by section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment.



Amendment XIII (Ratified December 6, 1865)



Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment

for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within

the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.



Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.





Amendment XIV (Ratified July 9, 1868)



Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to

the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State

wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall

abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor

shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due

process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal

protection of the laws.



Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States

according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in

each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any

election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the

United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial

officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to

any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and

citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for

participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation

therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male

citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of

age in such State.



Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress,

or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil

or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having

previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of

the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an

executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution

of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion

against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But

Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such

disability.



Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States,

authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and

bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall

not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall

assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or

rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or

emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims

shall be held illegal and void.



Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate

legislation, the provisions of this article.



Amendment XV (Ratified February 3, 1870)



Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be

denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race,

color, or previous condition of servitude.



Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.





Amendment XVI (Ratified February 3, 1913)



     The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from

whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and

without regard to any census or enumeration.





Amendment XVII (Ratified April 8, 1913)



     The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from

each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator

shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications

requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

     When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate,

the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill

such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the

executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the

vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

     This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or

term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the

Constitution.





Amendment XVIII (Ratified January 16, 1919; repealed by the Twenty-First 

               Amendment, December 5, 1933)



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

manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the

importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States

and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is

hereby prohibited.



Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to

enforce this article by appropriate legislation.



Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been

ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the

several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the

date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congess.



Amendment XIX (Ratified August 18, 1920)



     The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied

or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

     Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate

legislation.



Amendment XX (Ratified January 23, 1933)



Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on

the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon

on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if

this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall

then begin.



Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such

meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law

appoint a different day.



Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the

President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall

become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time

fixed for the begin-ning of his term, or if the President elect shall have

failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until

a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the

case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have

qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which

one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly

until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.



Section 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of

any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a

President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them,

and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may

choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon

them. 



Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October

following the ratification of this article. 



Section 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been

ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-

fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its

submission.



Amendment XXI (Ratified December 5, 1933.)



Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution 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 or use therein of intoxicating

liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.



Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been

ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several

States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of

the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.



Amendment XXII (Ratified February 27, 1951)



Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than

twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as

President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was

elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than

once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of

President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not

prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as

President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from

holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of

such term.



Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been

ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-

fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its

submission to the States by the Congress.





Amendment XXIII (atified March 29,)



Section 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United

States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: 

     A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole

number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would

be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous

State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they

shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice

President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the

District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of

amendment.



Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.





Amendment XXIV (Ratified January 23, 1964)



Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary

or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President

or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be

denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to

pay any poll tax or other tax.



Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.





Amendment XXV (Ratified February 1, 1967)



Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death

or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.



Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President,

the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon

confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress. 



Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of

the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written

declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his

office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary,

such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting

President.



Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal

officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by

law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the

Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the

President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice

President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as

Acting President.

     Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of

the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written

declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of

his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal

officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by

law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the

Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written

declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of

his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within

forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within

twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if

Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required

to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President

is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President

shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the

President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.



Amendment XXVI (Ratified July 1, 1971)



Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen

years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United

States or by any State on account of age.



Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.
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