|
The Founders' Constitution (5 Volume Set)
Edited by Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner
Amendments to
the Constitution of the United States of America
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND
RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURES OF THE SEVERAL STATES,
PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF THE ORIGINAL
CONSTITUTION (See
Note 12)
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.
Article [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.
Article [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.
Article [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.
Article [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.
Article [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.
Article [VII.]
In Suits at common law, where the value in
controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of
trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a
jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the
United States, than according to the rules of the common
law.
Article [VIII.]
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive
fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted.
Article [IX.]
The enumeration in the
Constitution, of
certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the people.
Article [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.
[Article XI.]
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The eleventh amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Third Congress, on the 4th of
March 1794; and was declared in a message from the
President to Congress, dated the 8th of January, 1798,
to have been ratified by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the States. The dates of ratification
were: New York, March 27, 1794; Rhode Island, March 31,
1794; Connecticut, May 8, 1794; New Hampshire, June 16,
1794; Massachusetts, June 26, 1794; Vermont, between
October 9, 1794 and November 9, 1794; Virginia, November
18, 1794; Georgia, November 29, 1794; Kentucky, December
7, 1794; Maryland, December 26, 1794; Delaware, January
23, 1795; North Carolina, February 7, 1795.
Ratification was completed on February 7, 1795.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by South
Carolina on December 4, 1797. New Jersey and
Pennsylvania did not take action on the amendment.
[Article XII.]
The Electors shall meet in their respective states,
and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one
of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the
same state with themselves; they shall name in their
ballots the person voted for as President, and in
distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President,
and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted
for as President, and of all persons voted for as
Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each,
which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit
sealed to the seat of the government of the United
States, directed to the President of the Senate;--The
President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the
Senate and House of Representatives, open all the
certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--The
person having the greatest number of votes for
President, shall be the President, if such number be a
majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and
if no person have such majority, then from the persons
having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the
list of those voted for as President, the House of
Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the
President. But in choosing the President, the votes
shall be taken by states, the representation from each
state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall
consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the
states, and a majority of all the states shall be
necessary to a choice. And if the House of
Representatives shall not choose a President whenever
the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the
fourth day of March next following, then the
Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of
the death or other constitutional disability of the
President. (See
Note 14)--The person having the greatest
number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the
Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the
whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person
have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on
the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a
quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of
the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the
whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no
person constitutionally ineligible to the office of
President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of
the United States.
Proposal and Ratification The twelfth amendment to
the Constitution of the United States was proposed to
the legislatures of the several States by the Eighth
Congress, on the 9th of December, 1803, in lieu of the
original third paragraph of the first section of the
second article; and was declared in a proclamation of
the Secretary of State, dated the 25th of September,
1804, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 13 of
the 17 States. The dates of ratification were: North
Carolina, December 21, 1803; Maryland, December 24,
1803; Kentucky, December 27, 1803; Ohio, December 30,
1803; Pennsylvania, January 5, 1804; Vermont, January
30, 1804; Virginia, February 3, 1804; New York, February
10, 1804; New Jersey, February 22, 1804; Rhode Island,
March 12, 1804; South Carolina, May 15, 1804; Georgia,
May 19, 1804; New Hampshire, June 15, 1804.
Ratification was completed on June 15, 1804.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Tennessee,
July 27, 1804.
The amendment was rejected by Delaware, January 18,
1804; Massachusetts, February 3, 1804; Connecticut, at
its session begun May 10, 1804.
Article XIII.
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Thirty-eighth Congress, on the
31st day of January, 1865, and was declared, in a
proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 18th
of December, 1865, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of twenty-seven of the thirty-six States.
The dates of ratification were: Illinois, February 1,
1865; Rhode Island, February 2, 1865; Michigan, February
2, 1865; Maryland, February 3, 1865; New York, February
3, 1865; Pennsylvania, February 3, 1865; West Virginia,
February 3, 1865; Missouri, February 6, 1865; Maine,
February 7, 1865; Kansas, February 7, 1865;
Massachusetts, February 7, 1865; Virginia, February 9,
1865; Ohio, February 10, 1865; Indiana, February 13,
1865; Nevada, February 16, 1865; Louisiana, February 17,
1865; Minnesota, February 23, 1865; Wisconsin, February
24, 1865; Vermont, March 9, 1865; Tennessee, April 7,
1865; Arkansas, April 14, 1865; Connecticut, May 4,
1865; New Hampshire, July 1, 1865; South Carolina,
November 13, 1865; Alabama, December 2, 1865; North
Carolina, December 4, 1865; Georgia, December 6, 1865.
Ratification was completed on December 6, 1865.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Oregon,
December 8, 1865; California, December 19, 1865;
Florida, December 28, 1865 (Florida again ratified on
June 9, 1868, upon its adoption of a new constitution);
Iowa, January 15, 1866; New Jersey, January 23, 1866
(after having rejected the amendment on March 16, 1865);
Texas, February 18, 1870; Delaware, February 12, 1901
(after having rejected the amendment on February 8,
1865); Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected
it on February 24, 1865).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Mississippi, December 4, 1865.
Article XIV.
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the
United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizens of the United States and of the State
wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any
law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of
citizens of the United States; nor shall any State
deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor deny to any person
within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among
the several States according to their respective
numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each
State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right
to vote at any election for the choice of electors for
President and Vice President of the United States,
Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial
officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature
thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of
such State, being twenty-one years of age, (See
Note 15) and citizens of the United States,
or in any way abridged, except for participation in
rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation
therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the
number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such
State.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or
Representative in Congress, or elector of President and
Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military,
under the United States, or under any State, who, having
previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as
an officer of the United States, or as a member of any
State legislature, or as an executive or judicial
officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or
rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to
the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of
two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the
United States, authorized by law, including debts
incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for
services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall
not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation
incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the
United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation
of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims
shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce,
by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this
article.
Proposal and Ratification
The fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Thirty-ninth Congress, on the 13th
of June, 1866. It was declared, in a certificate of the
Secretary of State dated July 28, 1868 to have been
ratified by the legislatures of 28 of the 37 States. The
dates of ratification were: Connecticut, June 25, 1866;
New Hampshire, July 6, 1866; Tennessee, July 19, 1866;
New Jersey, September 11, 1866 (subsequently the
legislature rescinded its ratification, and on March 24,
1868, readopted its resolution of rescission over the
Governor's veto, and on Nov. 12, 1980, expressed support
for the amendment); Oregon, September 19, 1866 (and
rescinded its ratification on October 15, 1868);
Vermont, October 30, 1866; Ohio, January 4, 1867 (and
rescinded its ratification on January 15, 1868); New
York, January 10, 1867; Kansas, January 11, 1867;
Illinois, January 15, 1867; West Virginia, January 16,
1867; Michigan, January 16, 1867; Minnesota, January 16,
1867; Maine, January 19, 1867; Nevada, January 22, 1867;
Indiana, January 23, 1867; Missouri, January 25, 1867;
Rhode Island, February 7, 1867; Wisconsin, February 7,
1867; Pennsylvania, February 12, 1867; Massachusetts,
March 20, 1867; Nebraska, June 15, 1867; Iowa, March 16,
1868; Arkansas, April 6, 1868; Florida, June 9, 1868;
North Carolina, July 4, 1868 (after having rejected it
on December 14, 1866); Louisiana, July 9, 1868 (after
having rejected it on February 6, 1867); South Carolina,
July 9, 1868 (after having rejected it on December 20,
1866).
Ratification was completed on July 9, 1868.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Alabama,
July 13, 1868; Georgia, July 21, 1868 (after having
rejected it on November 9, 1866); Virginia, October 8,
1869 (after having rejected it on January 9, 1867);
Mississippi, January 17, 1870; Texas, February 18, 1870
(after having rejected it on October 27, 1866);
Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having rejected it on
February 8, 1867); Maryland, April 4, 1959 (after having
rejected it on March 23, 1867); California, May 6, 1959;
Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on
January 8, 1867).
Article XV.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States
to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any State on account of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
The fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Fortieth Congress, on the 26th of
February, 1869, and was declared, in a proclamation of
the Secretary of State, dated March 30, 1870, to have
been ratified by the legislatures of twenty-nine of the
thirty-seven States. The dates of ratification were:
Nevada, March 1, 1869; West Virginia, March 3, 1869;
Illinois, March 5, 1869; Louisiana, March 5, 1869; North
Carolina, March 5, 1869; Michigan, March 8, 1869;
Wisconsin, March 9, 1869; Maine, March 11, 1869;
Massachusetts, March 12, 1869; Arkansas, March 15, 1869;
South Carolina, March 15, 1869; Pennsylvania, March 25,
1869; New York, April 14, 1869 (and the legislature of
the same State passed a resolution January 5, 1870, to
withdraw its consent to it, which action it rescinded on
March 30, 1970); Indiana, May 14, 1869; Connecticut, May
19, 1869; Florida, June 14, 1869; New Hampshire, July 1,
1869; Virginia, October 8, 1869; Vermont, October 20,
1869; Missouri, January 7, 1870; Minnesota, January 13,
1870; Mississippi, January 17, 1870; Rhode Island,
January 18, 1870; Kansas, January 19, 1870; Ohio,
January 27, 1870 (after having rejected it on April 30,
1869); Georgia, February 2, 1870; Iowa, February 3,
1870.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1870,
unless the withdrawal of ratification by New York was
effective; in which event ratification was completed on
February 17, 1870, when Nebraska ratified.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Texas,
February 18, 1870; New Jersey, February 15, 1871 (after
having rejected it on February 7, 1870); Delaware,
February 12, 1901 (after having rejected it on March 18,
1869); Oregon, February 24, 1959; California, April 3,
1962 (after having rejected it on January 28, 1870);
Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on
March 12, 1869).
The amendment was approved by the Governor of
Maryland, May 7, 1973; Maryland having previously
rejected it on February 26, 1870.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Tennessee, November 16, 1869.
Article XVI.
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The sixteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Sixty-first Congress on the 12th
of July, 1909, and was declared, in a proclamation of
the Secretary of State, dated the 25th of February,
1913, to have been ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The
dates of ratification were: Alabama, August 10, 1909;
Kentucky, February 8, 1910; South Carolina, February 19,
1910; Illinois, March 1, 1910; Mississippi, March 7,
1910; Oklahoma, March 10, 1910; Maryland, April 8, 1910;
Georgia, August 3, 1910; Texas, August 16, 1910; Ohio,
January 19, 1911; Idaho, January 20, 1911; Oregon,
January 23, 1911; Washington, January 26, 1911; Montana,
January 30, 1911; Indiana, January 30, 1911; California,
January 31, 1911; Nevada, January 31, 1911; South
Dakota, February 3, 1911; Nebraska, February 9, 1911;
North Carolina, February 11, 1911; Colorado, February
15, 1911; North Dakota, February 17, 1911; Kansas,
February 18, 1911; Michigan, February 23, 1911; Iowa,
February 24, 1911; Missouri, March 16, 1911; Maine,
March 31, 1911; Tennessee, April 7, 1911; Arkansas,
April 22, 1911 (after having rejected it earlier);
Wisconsin, May 26, 1911; New York, July 12, 1911;
Arizona, April 6, 1912; Minnesota, June 11, 1912;
Louisiana, June 28, 1912; West Virginia, January 31,
1913; New Mexico, February 3, 1913.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by
Massachusetts, March 4, 1913; New Hampshire, March 7,
1913 (after having rejected it on March 2, 1911).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Utah.
[Article XVII.]
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The seventeenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Sixty-second Congress on the 13th
of May, 1912, and was declared, in a proclamation of the
Secretary of State, dated the 31st of May, 1913, to have
been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48
States. The dates of ratification were: Massachusetts,
May 22, 1912; Arizona, June 3, 1912; Minnesota, June 10,
1912; New York, January 15, 1913; Kansas, January 17,
1913; Oregon, January 23, 1913; North Carolina, January
25, 1913; California, January 28, 1913; Michigan,
January 28, 1913; Iowa, January 30, 1913; Montana,
January 30, 1913; Idaho, January 31, 1913; West
Virginia, February 4, 1913; Colorado, February 5, 1913;
Nevada, February 6, 1913; Texas, February 7, 1913;
Washington, February 7, 1913; Wyoming, February 8, 1913;
Arkansas, February 11, 1913; Maine, February 11, 1913;
Illinois, February 13, 1913; North Dakota, February 14,
1913; Wisconsin, February 18, 1913; Indiana, February
19, 1913; New Hampshire, February 19, 1913; Vermont,
February 19, 1913; South Dakota, February 19, 1913;
Oklahoma, February 24, 1913; Ohio, February 25, 1913;
Missouri, March 7, 1913; New Mexico, March 13, 1913;
Nebraska, March 14, 1913; New Jersey, March 17, 1913;
Tennessee, April 1, 1913; Pennsylvania, April 2, 1913;
Connecticut, April 8, 1913.
Ratification was completed on April 8, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Louisiana,
June 11, 1914.
The amendment was rejected by Utah (and not
subsequently ratified) on February 26, 1913.
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Sixty-fifth Congress, on the 18th
of December, 1917, and was declared, in a proclamation
of the Secretary of State, dated the 29th of January,
1919, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of
the 48 States. The dates of ratification were:
Mississippi, January 8, 1918; Virginia, January 11,
1918; Kentucky, January 14, 1918; North Dakota, January
25, 1918; South Carolina, January 29, 1918; Maryland,
February 13, 1918; Montana, February 19, 1918; Texas,
March 4, 1918; Delaware, March 18, 1918; South Dakota,
March 20, 1918; Massachusetts, April 2, 1918; Arizona,
May 24, 1918; Georgia, June 26, 1918; Louisiana, August
3, 1918; Florida, December 3, 1918; Michigan, January 2,
1919; Ohio, January 7, 1919; Oklahoma, January 7, 1919;
Idaho, January 8, 1919; Maine, January 8, 1919; West
Virginia, January 9, 1919; California, January 13, 1919;
Tennessee, January 13, 1919; Washington, January 13,
1919; Arkansas, January 14, 1919; Kansas, January 14,
1919; Alabama, January 15, 1919; Colorado, January 15,
1919; Iowa, January 15, 1919; New Hampshire, January 15,
1919; Oregon, January 15, 1919; Nebraska, January 16,
1919; North Carolina, January 16, 1919; Utah, January
16, 1919; Missouri, January 16, 1919; Wyoming, January
16, 1919.
Ratification was completed on January 16, 1919. See
Dillon v. Gloss, 256 U.S. 368, 376 (1921).
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Minnesota
on January 17, 1919; Wisconsin, January 17, 1919; New
Mexico, January 20, 1919; Nevada, January 21, 1919; New
York, January 29, 1919; Vermont, January 29, 1919;
Pennsylvania, February 25, 1919; Connecticut, May 6,
1919; and New Jersey, March 9, 1922.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently
ratified) by Rhode Island.
Article [XIX].
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The nineteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Sixty-sixth Congress, on the 4th
of June, 1919, and was declared, in a proclamation of
the Secretary of State, dated the 26th of August, 1920,
to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the
48 States. The dates of ratification were: Illinois,
June 10, 1919 (and that State readopted its resolution
of ratification June 17, 1919); Michigan, June 10, 1919;
Wisconsin, June 10, 1919; Kansas, June 16, 1919; New
York, June 16, 1919; Ohio, June 16, 1919; Pennsylvania,
June 24, 1919; Massachusetts, June 25, 1919; Texas, June
28, 1919; Iowa, July 2, 1919; Missouri, July 3, 1919;
Arkansas, July 28, 1919; Montana, August 2, 1919;
Nebraska, August 2, 1919; Minnesota, September 8, 1919;
New Hampshire, September 10, 1919; Utah, October 2,
1919; California, November 1, 1919; Maine, November 5,
1919; North Dakota, December 1, 1919; South Dakota,
December 4, 1919; Colorado, December 15, 1919; Kentucky,
January 6, 1920; Rhode Island, January 6, 1920; Oregon,
January 13, 1920; Indiana, January 16, 1920; Wyoming,
January 27, 1920; Nevada, February 7, 1920; New Jersey,
February 9, 1920; Idaho, February 11, 1920; Arizona,
February 12, 1920; New Mexico, February 21, 1920;
Oklahoma, February 28, 1920; West Virginia, March 10,
1920; Washington, March 22, 1920; Tennessee, August 18,
1920.
Ratification was completed on August 18, 1920.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by
Connecticut on September 14, 1920 (and that State
reaffirmed on September 21, 1920); Vermont, February 8,
1921; Delaware, March 6, 1923 (after having rejected it
on June 2, 1920); Maryland, March 29, 1941 (after having
rejected it on February 24, 1920, ratification certified
on February 25, 1958); Virginia, February 21, 1952
(after having rejected it on February 12, 1920);
Alabama, September 8, 1953 (after having rejected it on
September 22, 1919); Florida, May 13, 1969; South
Carolina, July 1, 1969 (after having rejected it on
January 28, 1920, ratification certified on August 22,
1973); Georgia, February 20, 1970 (after having rejected
it on July 24, 1919); Louisiana, June 11, 1970 (after
having rejected it on July 1, 1920); North Carolina, May
6, 1971; Mississippi, March 22, 1984 (after having
rejected it on March 29, 1920).
Article [XX.]
Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice
President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January,
and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on
the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms
would have ended if this article had not been ratified;
and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section. 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once
in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on
the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint
a different day.
Section. 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning
of the term of the President, the President elect shall
have died, the Vice President elect shall become
President. If a President shall not have been chosen
before the time fixed for the 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.
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The twentieth amendment to the Constitution was
proposed to the legislatures of the several states by
the Seventy-Second Congress, on the 2d day of March,
1932, and was declared, in a proclamation by the
Secretary of State, dated on the 6th day of February,
1933, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of
the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Virginia,
March 4, 1932; New York, March 11, 1932; Mississippi,
March 16, 1932; Arkansas, March 17, 1932; Kentucky,
March 17, 1932; New Jersey, March 21, 1932; South
Carolina, March 25, 1932; Michigan, March 31, 1932;
Maine, April 1, 1932; Rhode Island, April 14, 1932;
Illinois, April 21, 1932; Louisiana, June 22, 1932; West
Virginia, July 30, 1932; Pennsylvania, August 11, 1932;
Indiana, August 15, 1932; Texas, September 7, 1932;
Alabama, September 13, 1932; California, January 4,
1933; North Carolina, January 5, 1933; North Dakota,
January 9, 1933; Minnesota, January 12, 1933; Arizona,
January 13, 1933; Montana, January 13, 1933; Nebraska,
January 13, 1933; Oklahoma, January 13, 1933; Kansas,
January 16, 1933; Oregon, January 16, 1933; Delaware,
January 19, 1933; Washington, January 19, 1933; Wyoming,
January 19, 1933; Iowa, January 20, 1933; South Dakota,
January 20, 1933; Tennessee, January 20, 1933; Idaho,
January 21, 1933; New Mexico, January 21, 1933; Georgia,
January 23, 1933; Missouri, January 23, 1933; Ohio,
January 23, 1933; Utah, January 23, 1933.
Ratification was completed on January 23, 1933.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by
Massachusetts on January 24, 1933; Wisconsin, January
24, 1933; Colorado, January 24, 1933; Nevada, January
26, 1933; Connecticut, January 27, 1933; New Hampshire,
January 31, 1933; Vermont, February 2, 1933; Maryland,
March 24, 1933; Florida, April 26, 1933.
Article [XXI.]
Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the
Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2. The transportation or importation into any
State, Territory, or possession of the United States for
delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in
violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless
it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by conventions in the several States, as
provided in the Constitution, within seven years from
the date of the submission hereof to the States by the
Congress.
Proposal and Ratification
The twenty-first amendment to the Constitution was
proposed to the several states by the Seventy-Second
Congress, on the 20th day of February, 1933, and was
declared, in a proclamation by the Secretary of State,
dated on the 5th day of December, 1933, to have been
ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The dates of
ratification were: Michigan, April 10, 1933; Wisconsin,
April 25, 1933; Rhode Island, May 8, 1933; Wyoming, May
25, 1933; New Jersey, June 1, 1933; Delaware, June 24,
1933; Indiana, June 26, 1933; Massachusetts, June 26,
1933; New York, June 27, 1933; Illinois, July 10, 1933;
Iowa, July
Amendment XXII
Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office
of the President more than twice, and no person who has
held the office of President, or acted as President, for
more than two years of a term to which some other person
was elected President shall be elected to the office of
the President more than once. But this article shall not
apply to any person holding the office of President when
this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not
prevent any person who may be holding the office of
President, or acting as President, during the term
within which this article becomes operative from holding
the office of President or acting as President during
the remainder of such term.
Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless
it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the
several states within seven years from the date of its
submission to the states by the Congress.
Amendment XXIII
Section 1. The District constituting the seat of
government of the United States shall appoint in such
manner as the Congress may direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice President
equal to the whole number of Senators and
Representatives in Congress to which the District would
be entitled if it were a state, but in no event more
than the least populous state; they shall be in addition
to those appointed by the states, but they shall be
considered, for the purposes of the election of
President and Vice President, to be electors appointed
by a state; and they shall meet in the District and
perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article
of amendment.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXIV
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States
to vote in any primary or other election for President
or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice
President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress,
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or
any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or
other tax.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXV
Section 1. In case of the removal of the President
from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice
President shall become President.
Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office
of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a
Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation
by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the
President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives his written declaration
that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of
his office, and until he transmits to them a written
declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties
shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting
President.
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority
of either the principal officers of the executive
departments or of such other body as Congress may by law
provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
their written declaration that the President is unable
to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the
Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and
duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the
President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives his written declaration
that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and
duties of his office unless the Vice President and a
majority of either the principal officers of the
executive department or of such other body as Congress
may by law provide, transmit within four days to the
President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives their written declaration
that the President is unable to discharge the powers and
duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide
the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that
purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within
twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written
declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within
twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble,
determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the
President is unable to discharge the powers and duties
of his office, the Vice President shall continue to
discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the
President shall resume the powers and duties of his
office.
Amendment XXVI
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United
States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall
not be denied or abridged by the United States or any
state on account of age.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to
enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXVII
No law varying the compensation for the services of
the Senators and Representatives shall take effect until
an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
NOTES
Note 1: This text of the
Constitution follows the engrossed copy signed by Gen.
Washington and the deputies from 12 States. The small
superior figures preceding the paragraphs designate
Clauses, and were not in the original and have no
reference to footnotes.
The Constitution was
adopted by a convention of the States on September 17,
1787, and was subsequently ratified by the several
States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7,
1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey,
December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788;
Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6,
1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23,
1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788.
Ratification was
completed on June 21, 1788.
The Constitution was
subsequently ratified by Virginia, June 25, 1788; New
York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21, 1789;
Rhode Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont, January 10,
1791.
In May 1785, a committee
of Congress made a report recommending an alteration in
the Articles of Confederation, but no action was taken
on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to
proceed in the matter. In January 1786, the Legislature
of Virginia passed a resolution providing for the
appointment of five commissioners, who, or any three of
them, should meet such commissioners as might be
appointed in the other States of the Union, at a time
and place to be agreed upon, to take into consideration
the trade of the United States; to consider how far a
uniform system in their commercial regulations may be
necessary to their common interest and their permanent
harmony; and to report to the several States such an
act, relative to this great object, as, when ratified by
them, will enable the United States in Congress
effectually to provide for the same. The Virginia
commissioners, after some correspondence, fixed the
first Monday in September as the time, and the city of
Annapolis as the place for the meeting, but only four
other States were represented, viz: Delaware, New York,
New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; the commissioners
appointed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North
Carolina, and Rhode Island failed to attend. Under the
circumstances of so partial a representation, the
commissioners present agreed upon a report, (drawn by
Mr. Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their unanimous
conviction that it might essentially tend to advance the
interests of the Union if the States by which they were
respectively delegated would concur, and use their
endeavors to procure the concurrence of the other
States, in the appointment of commissioners to meet at
Philadelphia on the Second Monday of May following, to
take into consideration the situation of the United
States; to devise such further provisions as should
appear to them necessary to render the Constitution of
the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the
Union; and to report such an act for that purpose to the
United States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to
by them and afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of
every State, would effectually provide for the same.
Congress, on the 21st of
February, 1787, adopted a resolution in favor of a
convention, and the Legislatures of those States which
had not already done so (with the exception of Rhode
Island) promptly appointed delegates. On the 25th of
May, seven States having convened, George Washington, of
Virginia, was unanimously elected President, and the
consideration of the proposed constitution was
commenced. On the 17th of September, 1787, the
Constitution as engrossed and agreed upon was signed by
all the members present, except Mr. Gerry of
Massachusetts, and Messrs. Mason and Randolph, of
Virginia. The president of the convention transmitted it
to Congress, with a resolution stating how the proposed
Federal Government should be put in operation, and an
explanatory letter. Congress, on the 28th of September,
1787, directed the Constitution so framed, with the
resolutions and letter concerning the same, to "be
transmitted to the several Legislatures in order to be
submitted to a convention of delegates chosen in each
State by the people thereof, in conformity to the
resolves of the convention."
On the 4th of March,
1789, the day which had been fixed for commencing the
operations of Government under the new Constitution, it
had been ratified by the conventions chosen in each
State to consider it, as follows: Delaware, December 7,
1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey,
December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788;
Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6,
1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23,
1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; Virginia, June 25,
1788; and New York, July 26, 1788.
The President informed
Congress, on the 28th of January, 1790, that North
Carolina had ratified the Constitution November 21,
1789; and he informed Congress on the 1st of June, 1790,
that Rhode Island had ratified the Constitution May 29,
1790. Vermont, in convention, ratified the Constitution
January 10, 1791, and was, by an act of Congress
approved February 18, 1791, "received and admitted into
this Union as a new and entire member of the United
States."
Note 2: The part of this
Clause relating to the mode of apportionment of
representatives among the several States has been
affected by Section 2 of amendment XIV, and as to taxes
on incomes without apportionment by amendment XVI.
Note 3: This Clause has
been affected by Clause 1 of amendment XVII.
Note 4: This Clause has
been affected by Clause 2 of amendment XVIII.
Note 5: This Clause has
been affected by amendment XX.
Note 6: This Clause has
been affected by amendment XXVII.
Note 7: This Clause has
been affected by amendment XVI.
Note 8: This Clause has
been superseded by amendment XII.
Note 9: This Clause has
been affected by amendment XXV.
Note 10: This Clause has
been affected by amendment XI.
Note 11: This Clause has
been affected by amendment XIII.
Note 12: The first ten amendments to the
Constitution of the United States (and two others, one
of which failed of ratification and the other which
later became the 27th amendment) were proposed to the
legislatures of the several States by the First Congress
on September 25, 1789. The first ten amendments were
ratified by the following States, and the notifications
of ratification by the Governors thereof were
successively communicated by the President to Congress:
New Jersey, November 20, 1789; Maryland, December 19,
1789; North Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina,
January 19, 1790; New Hampshire, January 25, 1790;
Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York, February 24, 1790;
Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7,
1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; and Virginia, December
15, 1791.
Ratification was
completed on December 15, 1791.
The amendments were
subsequently ratified by the legislatures of
Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939;
and Connecticut, April 19, 1939.
Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th
articles of amendment had numbers assigned to them at
the time of ratification.
Note 14: This sentence has been superseded by
section 3 of amendment XX.
Note 15: See amendment XIX and section 1 of
amendment XXVI.
Note 16: Repealed by section 1 of amendment XXI.
This information has been compiled from the U.S. Code.
The U.S. Code is published by the Law Revision Counsel
of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Updated September 20, 2004
Return
to Constitution
Return
to Resources
Return to
Home Page 
This site hosted by Host4Profit.
|
