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\centerline{\seventeenpointroman CONSTITUTION OF THE}
\centerline{\seventeenpointroman UNITED STATES OF AMERICA}
\centerline{adopted by Congress: 17 September 1787}
\centerline{put into effect: 4 March 1789}

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

{\bf Article I}

{\bf Section 1}\quad All legislative Powers herein granted shall be¨
vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a¨
Senate and a House of Representatives.

{\bf Section 2}\quad 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. \it [Representative 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.]\rm\footnote*{Changed by Section 2 of Amendment XIV (1868).}¨
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.

{\bf Section 3.} The Senate of the United States shall be composed of¨
two Senators from each State, {\it [chosen by the legislature¨
thereof,]}\footnote*{Changed by Section 1 of Amendment XVII (1913).}¨
for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote. Immediately after¨
they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they¨
shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of¨
the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of¨
the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth¨
Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so¨
that one-third may be chosen every second Year \it [; 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]\rm\footnote\dag{Changed by Clause 2 of¨
Amendment XVII (1913). } 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, 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. Judgement 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.

{\bf 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 Place of Chusing Senators.¨
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such¨
Meeting shall {\it [be on the first Monday in¨
December,]}\footnote*{Changed by Section 2 of Amendment XX (1933). }¨
unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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 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.

{\bf Section 7. } All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the¨
House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with¨
Amendments as on other Bills. Every Bill which shall have passed the¨
House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a¨
Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve¨
he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections¨
to that House in which it shall have Originated, who shall enter the¨
Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If¨
after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to¨
pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the¨
other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if¨
approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in¨
all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas¨
and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill¨
shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any¨
Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays¨
excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be¨
a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by¨
their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a¨
Law.\footnote*{A presidential 'pocket veto' occurs when a bill is not¨
returned before Congress adjourns.} Every Order, Resolution, or Vote¨
to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representative 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. 

{\bf 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 Defense and general Welfare of the United¨
States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform¨
throughout the United States; To borrow money on the credit of the¨
United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among¨
the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an¨
uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of¨
Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the¨
Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights¨
and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the¨
Securities and current Coin of the United States; To establish Post¨
Offices and post Roads; To promote the Progress of Science and useful¨
Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the¨
exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; To¨
constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; To define and¨
punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences¨
against the Law of Nations; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque¨
and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To¨
raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use¨
shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a¨
Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and¨
naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the¨
Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.; To¨
provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for¨
governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the¨
United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment¨
of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according¨
to the discipline prescribed by Congress; To exercise exclusive¨
Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding¨
ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the¨
acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the¨
United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places¨
purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the¨
Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, 
dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;-- And To make all Laws which¨
shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the¨
foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by the Constitution in¨
the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer¨
thereof.

{\bf 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.\footnote*{But see¨
Amendment XVI (1913).} 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.

{\bf 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 its inspection Laws; and the net Produce of¨
all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall¨
be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; 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.

{\bf Article II}

{\bf 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\footnote*{The¨
Constitution does not require direct popular election of presidential¨
electors, but all of the states mandated it by the mid-19th century.},¨
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. \it¨
[The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by¨
Ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an¨
Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a¨
List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for¨
each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to¨
the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the¨
President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the¨
Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the¨
Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having¨
the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be¨
a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be¨
more than one who have such Majority, and have am 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.]\rm\footnote*{Superseded by Amendment XII¨
(1804).} The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors,¨
and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be¨
the same throughout the United States. No Person except a natural born¨
Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the¨
Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of¨
President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who¨
shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been¨
fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. \it [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.]\rm\footnote\dag{This clause has been affected by¨
Amendment XXV (1967).} The President shall, at stated Times, receive¨
for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor¨
diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and¨
he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the¨
United States, or any of them. Before he enter on the Execution of his¨
Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--``I do¨
solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office¨
of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability,¨
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.''

{\bf Section 2}. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army¨
and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several¨
States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he¨
may require the Opinion in writing, of the principal Officer in each¨
of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties¨
of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant¨
Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except¨
in Cases of Impeachment. He shall have Power, by and with the Advice¨
and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds of¨
the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with¨
the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other¨
public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all¨
other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein¨
otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the¨
Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as¨
they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in¨
the Heads of Departments. The President shall have Power to fill up¨
all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by¨
granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next¨
Session.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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. 

{\bf Article III}

{\bf Section 1}. The judicial Power of the United States, shall be¨
vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the¨
Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both¨
of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during¨
good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services,¨
a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance¨
in Office.

{\bf Section 2. } The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law¨
and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United¨
States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their¨
Authority; --to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public¨
Ministers and Consuls; --to all Cases of admiralty and maritime¨
Jurisdiction; --to Controversies to which the United States shall be a¨
Party; --to Controversies between two or more States; --between a¨
State and Citizens of another State; --between Citizens of different¨
States; --between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under¨
Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens¨
thereof, and foreign States, Citizens, or Subjects. In all Cases¨
affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those¨
in which a State shall be a 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.

{\bf 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\footnote*{To ``work Corruption of Blood'' means to¨
make the family of the convicted share his guilt.}, or Forfeiture¨
except during the Life of the person Attainted.

{\bf Article IV\par}

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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. \it¨
[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.]\rm \footnote*{Superseded by Amendment XIII¨
(1865).}

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf Article V}

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both House shall deem it¨
necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the¨
Application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States,¨
shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either¨
Case, shall be valid, to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this¨
Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of¨
the several States, or by Conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the¨
one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress:¨
Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One¨
thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first¨
and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that¨
no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage¨
in the Senate.

{\bf Article VI\par}

 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.

{\bf 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.

\newpage

\centerline{\seventeenpointroman The Amendments}
\centerline{\seventeenpointroman to the Constitution}
\centerline{Ratified 1791-1971}

{\smc ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE¨
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE¨
LEGISLATURES OF THE SEVERAL STATES, PURSUANT TO THE 5th ARTICLE OF THE¨
ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION}\footnote*{Amendment XXI was not ratified by¨
state legislatures, but by state conventions summoned by Congress.¨
This version of the Constitution lacks the so-called 'preamble' to the¨
Bill of Rights (essentially a letter of transmittal from Congress to¨
the states); most scholars believe it, and the letters of transmittal¨
prefacing the other 16 amendments, unnecessarily lengthens the text of¨
the Constitution.}.
(The first 10 Amendments were ratified 15 December 1791, and from what¨
is known as the '{\bf Bill of Rights}'.)

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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 reexamined in any Court of¨
the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

{\bf AMENDMENT VIII}

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor¨
cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.

{\bf AMENDMENT IX}

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be¨
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

{\bf AMENDMENT X}

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor¨
prohibited to it by the States, are reserved to the States¨
respectively, or to the people.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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 the 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 a majority, then from the persons having¨
the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for¨
as President, the House of Representative shall choose immediately, by¨
ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall¨
be taken by states, the representations 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. \it [And if the House of Representatives¨
shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall¨
devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then¨
the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or¨
other constitutional disability of the¨
President.--]\rm\footnote*{Superseded by Section 3 of Amendment XX¨
(1933).} 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, 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.

{\bf AMENDMENT XIII }(ratified December 6, 1865)\footnote*{Amendments¨
XIII, XIV, and XV, known as the Reconstruction Amendments, were¨
intended to guarantee the rights of slaves emancipated during the¨
Civil War.}

{\bf 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.

{\bf Section 2}. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by¨
appropriate legislation.

{\bf AMENDMENT XIV }(ratified July 9, 1868)

{\bf 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¨
any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

{\bf 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\footnote\dag{Changed by Section 1 of Amendment XXVI (1971).}, 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf Section 5}. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by¨
appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

{\bf AMENDMENT XV }(ratified February 3, 1870)

{\bf 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

{\bf Section 2}. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article¨
by appropriate legislation.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf AMENDMENT XVIII} (ratified January 16, 1919) [

{\bf\it Section 1}\it . 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. [\rm

{\bf\it Section 2.}\it The Congress and the several States shall have¨
concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate 
legislation.¨
[\rm

{\bf\it Section 3.}\it 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 of the date of the submission hereof to the States¨
by Congress.]\rm\footnote*{Prohibition, ratified during wartime, was¨
repealed by Section 1 of Amendment XXI (1933).}

{\bf 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.

{\bf AMENDMENT XX} (ratified January 23, 1933)

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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 beginning of his term, or if¨
the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice¨
President elect shall act as President until a President shall have¨
qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein¨
neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have¨
qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in¨
which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act¨
accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

{\bf 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.

{\bf Section 5.} Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of¨
October following the ratification of this article.

{\bf Section 6.} This article shall be inoperative unless it shall¨
have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by 
three-fourths of the several States within seven Years from the date¨
of its submission.

{\bf AMENDMENT XXI }(ratified December 5, 1933)

{\bf Section 1.} The eighteenth article of amendment to the¨
Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf AMENDMENT XXII} (ratified February 27, 1951)\footnote*{This¨
amendment was added after Franklin D. Roosevelt won four consecutive¨
presidential elections.}

{\bf 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¨
prevent any person holding the office of President when this Article¨
was proposed by the Congress, and shall not apply to 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf AMENDMENT XXIII }(ratified March 29, 1961)

{\bf 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 Representative 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.

{\bf Section 2}. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article¨
by appropriate legislation.

{\bf AMENDMENT XXIV} (ratified January 24, 1964)

{\bf 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.

{\bf Section 2.} The Congress shall have power to enforce this article¨
by appropriate legislation.

{\bf AMENDMENT XXV }(ratified February 10, 1967)

{\bf Section 1}. In case of the removal of the President from office¨
or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become¨
President.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf 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.

{\bf AMENDMENT XXVI} (ratified July 1, 1971)

{\bf 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.

{\bf Section 2}. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this¨
article by appropriate legislation.

\medskip
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The text of the Constitution and amendments was checked against the¨
text in The Wilson Quarterly, Spring 1987 (vol.~XI, No.~2),¨
pp.~136-153, and the notes derived from those provided there. Part of¨
footnote 12 was derived from a note in the Summer 1987 issue (vol. XI,¨
No.~3), p.~173.

While there is no official version of the Constitution, this text¨
reproduces that used by both the Supreme Court and the National¨
Archives. 

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This text file generated by {\bf Bill Kelsey, Theographic Associates,¨
Cambridge, MA}

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Text file mangled, munged, warped and typeset in \TeX\ by
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