Wiki_QA__##

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
Title: Digital Pocket Constitution

Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/files/digital-pocket-constitution|digital-pocket-constitution]]

Login Required to view? No

Attached File: Digital_COSA_PocketUSConstitution_COSA2022.pdf

This Digital Pocket Constitution features the United States Constitution with a special foreword by Mark Meckler. It also includes all of the Amendments and the Declaration of Independence

Created: 2020-09-01 12:21:52

Updated: 2025-01-01 19:00:00

Published: 2020-08-31 23:00:00

Converted: 2025-04-14T19:57:59.718350550


----



{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto001.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
     The  

 Constitution 

**OF THE**

**UNITED STATES**

**OF**

**AMERICA**

**WITH THE**

**AMENDMENTS**

**AND THE**

**DECLARATION**

**OF**

**INDEPENDENCE**




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto002.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
//**“The basis of our political systems is the **//

//**right of the people to make and to alter \\
their constitutions of government. But the **//

//**Constitution which at any time exists, till **//

//**changed by an explicit and authentic act \\
of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory **//

//**upon all. The very idea of the power and the \\
right of the people to establish government \\
presupposes the duty of every individual to \\
obey the established government.”**//

//** — President George Washington,\\
     Farewell Address, 1796**//




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto003.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**3**

     

**FOREWARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5**

**ARTICLE V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6**

**THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE . . . . . . 7**

**THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES . . .15**

**PREAMBLE**

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

**ARTICLE I **Legislative Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

**  ARTICLE II **Executive Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26\\
**  ARTICLE III **Judicial Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30\\
**  ARTICLE IV **The States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

**ARTICLE V  **Processes for Amending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

**  ARTICLE VI **Establishment as Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

**ARTICLE VII **Ratification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

     Table 

          of

     Contents




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto004.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**THE AMENDMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37**

**I**

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press (...). . . . . . . . . 38

**II**

Right to Keep & Bear Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

**III**

Restricts Quartering of Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

**IV**

Prohibits Unreasonable Search & Seizure (...) . . . . 38

**V**

Indictment, Eminent Domain, 

 

  Due Process (...) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

**VI**

Trial by Jury, Right to Confront Accuser (...) . . . . . 39

**VII**

Right to Jury Trial in Civil Lawsuits . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

**VIII**

Prohibits Cruel & Unusual Punishment (...). . . . . . 40

**IX**

States’ Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

**X**

Limits to Federal Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

**XI**

States’ Sovereign Immunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

**XII**

Revisions to Vice President Election . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

**XIII**

Abolishment of Slavery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

**XIV**

Due Process Clause, Equal Protection Clause(...) . 42

**XV**

Prohibits Denying the Right to Vote by Race. . . . . . 44

**XVI**

Permits Congress to Levy an Income Tax  . . . . . . . 44

**XVII**

Direct Election of Senators by Popular Vote . . . . . . 44

**XVIII**

Prohibition of Alcohol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

**XVIX**

Prohibits Denying the Right to Vote by Sex. . . . . . . 46

**XX**

Changes Dates for President, Vice President, 

 

  and Congressional Terms (...) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

**XXI**

Repeals 18th Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

**XXII**

Presidential Term Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

**XXIII**

District of Columbia Granted Electors. . . . . . . . . . 49

**XXIV**

Prohibits Denying Voting Rights Due 

 

  to Non-Payment of Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

**XXV**

Presidential Succession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

**XXVI**

Voting Rights to Citizens 18 Years or Older. . . . . . . 51

**XXVII**

Congressional Salary Adjustments Timeframe . . . . 51

**CONVENTION OF STATES**

**PETITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53**

**4**




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto005.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
Foreward

**IN 1787, OUR FOREFATHERS **crafted 

a document which set forth a revolution-

ary structure of a government, inspired by 

God, and informed by history. Inspired by the 

Declaration of Independence, it further solid-

ifies  the  universal  and  unchanging  principles 

the United States was founded upon.

Across world history, the average constitution 

survives just 17 years. Now over 232 years old, 

the United States Constitution has stood the 

test  of  time.  It  remains  an  unwavering  testa-

ment to the divine wisdom bestowed upon our 

Founding Fathers, principles that have created 

a nation of unmatched prosperity, liberty, and 

freedom for all.

We  at  Convention  of  States  hope  you  will 

carry  this  booklet  with  you  and  reference  it 

often. We hope you’ll pay special attention to 

Article V.  Because  today,  these  foundational 

documents  and  principles  are  at  risk.  The 

Founders  entrusted  us  with  Article  V  as  a 

safeguard  to  protect  our  liberties  from  an 

overreaching federal government.

May  we  have  the  courage  to  use  it  and 

boldly  preserve  this  great  nation  for  future 

generations. And may God continue to bless 

these United States of America.

**MARK MECKLER**

//Co-Founder and President, Convention of States Action //

**5**




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto006.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**6**

 Article  V

**OF THE**

**U.S. CONSTITUTION**

**ARTICLE  V  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  **of  the 

United States reads as follows:

//“The  Congress,  whenever  two  thirds  of  both  Houses //

//shall  deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose  Amendments //

//to  this  Constitution,  or,  **on  the  Application  of **//

//**the Legislatures of two thirds of the several **//

//**States, shall call a Convention for proposing **//

//**Amendments,  which,  in  either  Case,  shall **//

//**be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part **//

//**of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified  by  the **//

//**Legislatures  of  three  fourths  of  the  several **//

//**States,  **or  by  Conventions  in  three  fourths  thereof, //

//as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be //

//proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment //

//which  may  be  made  prior  to the Year  One  thousand //

//eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the //

//first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first //

//Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be //

//deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.”//

The history of Article V from the 1787 Convention: “On 

September  15,  as  the  Convention  was  reviewing  the 

revision s made by the Committee of Style, George Mason 

expressed opposition to the provisions limiting the power 

to  propose  amendments  to  Congress.  According  to  the 

Convention records, Mason thought that ‘no Amendment 

of the proper kind would ever be obtained by the people, 

if the Government should become oppressive, as he verily 

believed  would  be  the  case.’  In  response,  Gouverneur 

Morris and Elbridge Gerry made a motion to amend the 

article to reintroduce language requiring that a convention 

be  called  when  two-thirds  of  the  States  applied  for  an 

amendment.”  [30  Harvard  Journal  of  Law  and  Public 

Policy 1005, 1007 (2007)]

Thank God that the Founders were wise enough to give 

us  the  second  clause  of  Article  V.  Their  decision  was 

unanimous.  The  Framers  had  very  little  debate  about 

this—and they debated almost everything—because they 

knew human nature and they had experienced the heavy 

hand of a tyrannical government. They foresaw a time in 

the  future when  such  a  mechanism would  be  necessary.

Now is that time.




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto007.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**7**

            The

Declaration 

  of  Independence    

**IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776**




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto008.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**8**

**The unanimous Declaration of the **

**thirteen united States of America, **

**When in the course** of human 

events, it becomes necessary 

for one people to dissolve the 

political bands which have connected them 

with another, and to assume among the 

powers of the earth, the separate and equal 

station to which the Laws of Nature and of 

Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect 

to the opinions of mankind requires that they 

should declare the causes which impel them 

to the separation .

We hold these truths to be self-evident, 

that all men are created equal, that they 

are endowed by their Creator with certain 

unalienable Rights, that among these are 

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness .—

That to secure these rights, Governments are 

instituted among Men, deriving their just 

powers from the consent of the governed,—

That whenever any Form of Government 

becomes destructive of these ends, it is the 

Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, 

and to institute new Government, laying its 

foundation on such principles and organizing 

its powers in such form, as to them shall 

seem most likely to effect their Safety and 

Happiness . Prudence, indeed, will dictate 

that Governments long established should 

not be changed for light and transient 

causes; and accordingly all experience hath 

shewn, that mankind are more disposed 

to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to 

right themselves by abolishing the forms to 

which they are accustomed . But when a long 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto009.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**9**

train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing 

invariably the same Object evinces a design 

to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it 

is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such 

Government, and to provide new Guards for 

their future security .—Such has been the 

patient sufferance of these Colonies; and 

such is now the necessity which constrains 

them to alter their former Systems of 

Government . The history of the present 

King of Great Britain is a history of repeated 

injuries and usurpations, all having in direct 

object the establishment of an absolute 

Tyranny over these States . To prove this, let 

Facts be submitted to a candid world .

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most 

wholesome and necessary for the public good .

He has forbidden his Governors to pass 

Laws of immediate and pressing importance, 

unless suspended in their operation till his 

Assent should be obtained; and when so 

suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend 

to them .

He has refused to pass other Laws for the 

accommodation of large districts of people, 

unless those people would relinquish the 

right of Representation in the Legislature, a 

right inestimable to them and formidable to 

tyrants only .

He has called together legislative bodies at 

places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant 

from the depository of their public Records, 

for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into 

compliance with his measures .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto010.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**10**

He has dissolved Representative Houses 

repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness 

his invasions on the rights of the people .

He has refused for a long time, after such 

dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; 

whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of 

Annihilation, have returned to the People at 

large for their exercise; the State remaining in 

the mean time exposed to all the dangers of 

invasion from without, and convulsions within .

He has endeavoured to prevent the 

population of these States; for that purpose 

obstructing the Laws for Naturalization 

of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to 

encourage their migrations hither, and raising 

the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands .

He has obstructed the Administration of 

Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for 

establishing Judiciary powers .

He has made Judges dependent on his Will 

alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the 

amount and payment of their salaries .

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, 

and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass 

our people, and eat out their substance .

He has kept among us, in times of peace, 

Standing Armies without the Consent of our 

legislatures .

He has affected to render the Military 

independent of and superior to the Civil power .

He has combined with others to subject us 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto011.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**11**

to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, 

and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his 

Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed 

troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from 

punishment for any Murders which they should 

commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of 

the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our 

Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the 

benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried 

for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English 

Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing 

therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging 

its Boundaries so as to render it at once an 

example and fit instrument for introducing the 

same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our 

most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally 

the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and 

declaring themselves invested with power to 

legislate for us in all cases whatsoever .

He has abdicated Government here, by 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto012.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**12**

declaring us out of his Protection and waging 

War against us .

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our 

Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the 

lives of our people .

He is at this time transporting large 

Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat 

the works of death, desolation and tyranny, 

already begun with circumstances of Cruelty 

& perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most 

barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the 

Head of a civilized nation .

He has constrained our fellow Citizens 

taken Captive on the high Seas to bear 

Arms against their Country, to become the 

executioners of their friends and Brethren, or 

to fall themselves by their Hands .

He has excited domestic insurrections 

amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on 

the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless 

Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, 

is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, 

sexes and conditions .

In every stage of these Oppressions We have 

Petitioned for Redress in the most humble 

terms: Our repeated Petitions have been 

answered only by repeated injury . A Prince 

whose character is thus marked by every act 

which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the 

ruler of a free people .

Nor have We been wanting in attentions 

to our Brittish brethren . We have warned 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto013.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**13**

them from time to time of attempts by 

their legislature to extend an unwarrantable 

jurisdiction over us . We have reminded them 

of the circumstances of our emigration and 

settlement here . We have appealed to their 

native justice and magnanimity, and we have 

conjured them by the ties of our common 

kindred to disavow these usurpations, 

which, would inevitably interrupt our 

connections and correspondence . They 

too have been deaf to the voice of justice 

and of consanguinity . We must, therefore, 

acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces 

our Separation, and hold them, as we hold 

the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in 

Peace Friends .

We, therefore, the Representatives of 

the united States of America, in General 

Congress, Assembled, appealing to the 

Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude 

of our intentions, do, in the Name, and 

by Authority of the good People of these 

Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 

That these United Colonies are, and of 

Right ought to be Free and Independent 

States; that they are Absolved from all 

Allegiance to the British Crown, and that 

all political connection between them and 

the State of Great Britain, is and ought to 

be totally dissolved; and that as Free and 

Independent States, they have full Power 

to levy War, conclude Peace, contract 

Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all 

other Acts and Things which Independent 

States may of right do . And for the support 

of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on 

the protection of divine Providence, we 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto014.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**14**

**GEORGIA\\
**Button Gwinnett\\
Lyman Hall\\
George Walton

**NORTH CAROLINA\\
**William Hooper\\
Joseph Hewes\\
John Penn

**SOUTH CAROLINA\\
**Edward Rutledge\\
Thomas Heyward, Jr.\\
Thomas Lynch, Jr.\\
Arthur Middleton

**MASSACHUSETTS\\
**John Hancock

**MARYLAND\\
**Samuel Chase\\
William Paca\\
Thomas Stone\\
Charles Carroll of Carrollton

**VIRGINIA\\
**George Wythe\\
Richard Henry Lee\\
Thomas Jefferson\\
Benjamin Harrison\\
Thomas Nelson, Jr.\\
Francis Lightfoot Lee\\
Carter Braxton

**PENNSYLVANIA\\
**Robert Morris\\
Benjamin Rush\\
Benjamin Franklin\\
John Morton\\
George Clymer\\
James Smith\\
George Taylor\\
James Wilson\\
George Ross

**DELAWARE\\
**Caesar Rodney\\
George Read\\
Thomas McKean

**NEW YORK\\
**William Floyd\\
Philip Livingston\\
Francis Lewis\\
Lewis Morris

**NEW JERSEY\\
**Richard Stockton\\
John Witherspoon\\
Francis Hopkinson\\
John Hart\\
Abraham Clark

**NEW HAMPSHIRE\\
**Josiah Bartlett\\
William Whipple

**MASSACHUSETTS\\
**Samuel Adams\\
John Adams\\
Robert Treat Paine\\
Elbridge Gerry

**RHODE ISLAND\\
**Stephen Hopkins\\
William Ellery

**CONNECTICUT\\
**Roger Sherman\\
Samuel Huntington\\
William Williams\\
Oliver Wolcott

**NEW HAMPSHIRE\\
**Matthew Thornton

mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our 

Fortunes and our sacred Honor.




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto015.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**15**

            

The

  

 Constitution 

**OF THE**

**UNITED STATES**

**OF**

**AMERICA**




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto016.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**16**

**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: Congress**

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**

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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto017.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**17**

free Persons, including those bound to Service 

for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not 

taxed, three fifths of all other Persons .]1 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**

The Senate of the United States shall be 

composed of two Senators from each State, 

[chosen by the Legislature thereof,]2 for six 

Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote .

Immediately after they shall be assembled in 

1 . Changed by Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment . \\
2 . Changed by the Seventeenth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto018.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**18**

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 .]3

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 .

3 . Changed by the Seventeenth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto019.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**19**

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: Elections**

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,]4 unless they shall 

by Law appoint a different Day .

**Section 5: Powers and Duties of Congress**

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 .

4 . Changed by Section 2 of the Twentieth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto020.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**20**

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: Rights and **

**Disabilities of Members**

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 .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto021.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**21**

**Section 7: Legislative Process**

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in 

the House of Representatives; but the Senate 

may propose or concur with Amendments as 

on other Bills .

Every Bill which shall have passed the 

House of Representatives and the Senate, 

shall, before it become a Law, be presented 

to the President of the United States; If he 

approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall 

return it, with his Objections to that House 

in which it shall have originated, who shall 

enter the Objections at large on their Journal, 

and proceed to reconsider it . If after such 

Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall 

agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together 

with the Objections, to the other House, by 

which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and 

if approved by two thirds of that House, it 

shall become a Law . But in all such Cases the 

Votes of both Houses shall be determined by 

Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons 

voting for and against the Bill shall be entered 

on the Journal of each House respectively . If 

any Bill shall not be returned by the President 

within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it 

shall have been presented to him, the Same 

shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had 

signed it, unless the Congress by their 

Adjournment prevent its Return, in which 

Case it shall not be a Law .

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which 

the Concurrence of the Senate and House of 

Representatives may be necessary (except on a 

question of Adjournment) shall be presented to 

the President of the United States; and before 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto022.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**22**

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: Powers of Congress**

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 a 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 counter-

feiting 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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto023.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**23**

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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto024.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**24**

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: Powers Denied Congress**

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 .5

5 . See Sixteenth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto025.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**25**

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: Powers Denied to the States**

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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto026.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**26**

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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto027.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**27**

shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, 

and of the Number of Votes for each; which 

List they shall sign and certify, and transmit 

sealed to the Seat of the Government of the 

United States, directed to the President of 

the Senate . The President of the Senate shall, 

in the Presence of the Senate and House of 

Representatives, open all the Certificates, and 

the Votes shall then be counted . The Person 

having the greatest Number of Votes shall be 

the President, if such Number be a Majority 

of the whole Number of Electors appointed; 

and if there be more than one who have 

such Majority, and have an equal Number 

of Votes, then the House of Representatives 

shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of 

them for President; and if no Person have a 

Majority, then from the five highest on the 

List the said House shall in like Manner 

chuse the President . But in chusing the 

President, the Votes shall be taken by States, 

the Representation from each State having 

one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall 

consist of a Member or Members from two 

thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the 

States shall be necessary to a Choice . In every 

Case, after the Choice of the President, the 

Person having the greatest Number of Votes 

of the Electors shall be the Vice President . 

But if there should remain two or more who 

have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from 

them by Ballot the Vice President .]6

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 .

6 . Changed by the Twelfth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto028.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**28**

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a 

Citizen of the United States, at the time of the 

Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible 

to the Office of President; neither shall any 

person be eligible to that Office who shall not 

have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, 

and been fourteen Years a Resident within the 

United States .

[In Case of the Removal of the President 

from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or 

Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties 

of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on 

the Vice President, and the Congress may by 

Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, 

Resignation or Inability, both of the President 

and Vice President, declaring what Officer 

shall then act as President, and such Officer 

shall act accordingly, until the Disability be 

removed, or a President shall be elected .]7

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 .”

7 . Changed by the Twenty-Fifth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto029.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**29**

**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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto030.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**30**

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 Constitu-

tion, the Laws of the United States, and Trea-

ties made, or which shall be made, under their 

Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto031.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**31**

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;—]8 between Citizens of differ-

ent 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 .]9

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 .

8 . Changed by the Eleventh Amendment .\\
9 . Changed by the Eleventh Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto032.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**32**

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 judi-

cial Proceedings of every other State . And 

the Congress may by general Laws pre-

scribe the Manner in which such Acts, Re-

cords 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 .]10

10 . Changed by the Thirteenth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto033.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**33**

**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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto034.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**34**

in three fourths thereof, as the one or 

the other Mode of Ratification may be 

proposed by the Congress; Provided that no 

Amendment which may be made prior to 

the Year One thousand eight hundred and 

eight shall in any Manner affect the first 

and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of 

the first Article; and that no State, without 

its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal 

Suffrage in the Senate .

**article Vi**

All Debts contracted and Engagements 

entered into, before the Adoption of this 

Constitution, shall be as valid against the 

United States under this Constitution, as 

under the Confederation .

This Constitution, and the Laws of the 

United States which shall be made in 

Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, 

or which shall be made, under the Authority 

of the United States, shall be the supreme 

Law of the Land; and the Judges in every 

State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in 

the Constitution or Laws of any State to the 

Contrary notwithstanding .

The Senators and Representatives before 

mentioned, and the Members of the several 

State Legislatures, and all executive and 

judicial Officers, both of the United States 

and of the several States, shall be bound 

by Oath or Affirmation, to support this 

Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever 

be required as a Qualification to any Office 

or public Trust under the United States .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto035.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**35**

**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,

**go . washington—presidt: **

**and**

** deputy From Virginia**

 Attest William Jackson Secretary

**new hampshire\\
**John Langdon \\
Nicholas Gilman

**massachusetts\\
**Nathaniel Gorham \\
Rufus King

**connecticut\\
**Wm . Saml . Johnson \\
Roger Sherman

**new yorK\\
**Alexander Hamilton

**new Jersey\\
**Wil: Livingston \\
David Brearley \\
Wm . Paterson \\
Jona: Dayton

**pennsylVania\\
**B Franklin \\
Thomas Mifflin \\
Robt Morris \\
Geo . Clymer \\
Thos . FitzSimons \\
Jared Ingersoll \\
James Wilson \\
Gouv Morris




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto036.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
//**“Since the general civilization of **//

//**mankind, I believe there are more \\
instances of the abridgment of the \\
freedom of the people by gradual **//

//**and silent encroachments of those **//

//**in power, than by violent and **//

//**sudden usurpations.”**//

//**                                        — James Madison**//




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto037.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**37**

                

The

  

 Amendments

**TO THE**

**CONSTITUTION**

**OF THE**

**UNITED STATES OF AMERICA**




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto038.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**38**

//**The first ten amendments to the **//

//**Constitution—the Bill of Rights**//

//**—were 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.




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto039.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**39**

**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 

reexamined in any Court of the United 

States, than according to the rules of the 

common law .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto040.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**40**

**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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto041.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**41**

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 Vice-President shall act as President, as 

in case of the death or other constitutional 

disability of the President .]1—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 

1 . Superseded by Section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto042.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**42**

no person constitutionally ineligible to the 

office of President shall be eligible to that of 

Vice-President of the United States .

**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, 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto043.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**43**

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,2 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 

2 . Changed by Section 1 of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto044.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**44**

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 the 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 the 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 .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto045.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**45**

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 Amendment XXI**//

**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 Congress .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto046.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**46**

**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 the 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 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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto047.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**47**

case wherein neither a President elect nor a 

Vice President 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 .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto048.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**48**

**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 President more than once . But this 

Article shall not apply to any person holding 

the office of President when this Article 

was proposed by 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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto049.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**49**

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**

//**Ratified March 29, 1961**//

**Section 1**

The District constituting the seat of 

Government of the United States shall appoint 

in such manner as 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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto050.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**50**

the United States or any State by reason of failure 

to pay poll tax or other tax .

**Section 2**

The Congress shall have power to enforce this 

article by appropriate legislation .

**Amendment XXV**

//**Ratified February 10, 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 




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto051.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**51**

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 .




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto052.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**52**

**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.

**Amendment XXVII**

//**Ratified May 7, 1992**//

No  law,  varying  the  compensation  for  the 

services  of  the  Senators  and  Representatives, 

shall  take  effect,  until  an  election  of 

representatives shall have intervened.




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto053.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
//**“Only a Convention of **//

//**States will give us effective **//

//**solutions to the abuse of \\
power in Washington, D.C. **//

//**It is our moral obligation to **//

//**protect liberty for ourselves \\
and our posterity.” **//

//** — Michael Farris,**//

//**Convention of States **//

//**Co-Founder**//

//**“This is about more than **//

//**elections. Elections cannot \\
and will not solve the \\
problems of a broken system. **//

//**The only solution big enough **//

//**to fix our nation’s problems \\
is a Convention of States for **//

//**proposing constitutional **//

//**amendments to rein in **//

//**federal tyranny.” **//

//** — Mark Meckler,**//

//**Convention of States **//

//**President & Co-Founder**//




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto054.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**Sign the Petition**

**Donate Today!**

**Learn More**

QR  for 

Petition

QR for 

Donation

QR  for 

Website

**NONE OF OUR WORK **would be possible 

without the help and support of every American \\
citizen who has chosen freedom over government 

intrusion  and  to  preserve  our  precious  liberties. Your \\
support, at this critical time, will allow us to achieve our \\
goal of permanently limiting government overreach.

**ConventionOf States.com**




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto055.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
//**“By the fifth article of the **//

//**plan... We may safely rely on \\
the disposition of the State \\
legislatures to erect barriers \\
against the encroachments of \\
the national authority.” **//

//** — Alexander Hamilton,\\
     Federalist No. 85**//




{{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_10616_pdfto056.png?nolink&351x702 |background image}}
**ConventionOf States.com**




====== Document Outline ======

  * [[files_10616_pdfto.html#2|COSA_Store_PocketUSConstitution_COSA2022_Cover]]


----