| (See Note 1) We
the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote
the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America. Article. I.
Section 1.
All legislative Powers herein granted
shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate
and House of Representatives. Section. 2.
Clause 1: 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. Clause
2: 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. Clause 3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned
among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to
their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number
of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding
Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. (See Note 2) 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. Clause 4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from
any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill
such Vacancies. Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their
Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. Section.
3.
Clause 1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators
from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, (See Note 3) for six Years;
and each Senator shall have one Vote. Clause 2: Immediately after they
shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided
as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first
Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class
at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration
of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies
happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any
State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting
of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies. (See Note 4) Clause
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. Clause
4: The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but
shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. Clause 5: 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. Clause 6: 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. Clause 7: 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.
Clause 1: 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. Clause
2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall
be on the first Monday in December, (See Note 5) unless they shall by Law appoint
a different Day. Section. 5.
Clause 1: 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. Clause
2: 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.
Clause 3: 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.
Clause 4: 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.
Clause
1: 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. (See
Note 6) They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace,
beprivileged 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. Clause
2: No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected,
be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which
shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during
such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be
a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office. Section. 7.
Clause 1: 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. Clause
2: 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.
Clause 3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of
the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question
of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and
before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved
by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives,
according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill. Section.
8.
Clause 1: 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; Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of
the United States; Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations,
and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; Clause 4: To
establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of
Bankruptcies throughout the United States; Clause 5: To coin Money, regulate
the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
Clause 6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities
and current Coin of the United States; Clause 7: To establish Post Offices
and post Roads; Clause 8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful
Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right
to their respective Writings and Discoveries; Clause 9: To constitute Tribunals
inferior to the supreme Court; Clause 10: To define and punish Piracies
and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make
Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; Clause 12: To raise and support
Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than
two Years; Clause 13: To provide and maintain a Navy; Clause 14:
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
Clause 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws
of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; Clause 16: 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; Clause
17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District
(not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, byCession 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 Clause
18: 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.
Clause 1: 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. Clause
2: 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. Clause
3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. Clause 4:
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the
Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken. (See Note 7) Clause
5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. Clause
6: 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. Clause
7: 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. Clause 8: 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.
Clause 1: 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.
Clause 2: No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any
Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary
for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts,
laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury
of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul
of the Congress. Clause 3: 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.
Clause 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 Clause 2: 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.
Clause 3: The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote
by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of
the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons
voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and
certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States,
directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in
the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates,
and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of
Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number
of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and
have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately
chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then
from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the
President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the
Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall
consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of
all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice
of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors
shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal
Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President. (See Note
8) Clause 4: 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. Clause 5: 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. Clause
6: 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, (See Note
9) the Same shall devolve on the VicePresident, 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. Clause 7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive
for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished
during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive
within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
Clause 8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take
the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that
I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will
to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the
United States." Section. 2.
Clause 1: The President shall be Commander
in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the
several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may
require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive
Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices,
and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the
United States, except in Cases of Impeachment. Clause 2: 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. Clause 3: The President
shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of
the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next
Session. Section. 3.
He shall from time to time give to the Congress
Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such
Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions,
convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them,
with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he
shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he
shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all
the Officers of the United States. Section. 4.
The President, Vice
President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office
on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes
and Misdemeanors. Article. III.
Section. 1.
The judicial Power of
the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior
Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges,
both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good
Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation,
which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. Section.
2.
Clause 1: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity,
arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made,
or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors,
other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to
Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between
two or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another State; (See Note
10)--between Citizens of different States, --between Citizens of the same State
claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens
thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects. Clause 2: 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. Clause 3: 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.
Clause 1: 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. Clause
2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no
Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during
the Life of the Person attainted. Article. IV.
Section. 1.
Full
Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and
judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws
prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved,
and the Effect thereof. Section. 2.
Clause 1: The Citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several
States. Clause 2: 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. Clause
3: 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. (See Note 11) Section. 3.
Clause
1: 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.
Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful
Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to
the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to
Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State. Section.
4.
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican
Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application
of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened)
against domestic Violence. Article. V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds
of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution,
or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States,
shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall
be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified
by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions
in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be
proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to
the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first
and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State,
without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. Article.
VI.
Clause 1: 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. Clause 2: 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.
Clause 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members
of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both
of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation,
to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as
a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. Article.
VII.
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient
for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the
Same.
done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the
Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth
In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names, GO WASHINGTON--Presidt.
and deputy from Virginia [Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.]
Delaware Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard
Bassett
Jaco: Broom
Maryland
James MCHenry
Dan of ST
ThoS. Jenifer
DanL Carroll.
Virginia
John Blair--
James
Madison Jr.
North Carolina
WM Blount
RichD. Dobbs Spaight.
Hu
Williamson
South Carolina
J. Rutledge
Charles 1ACotesworth
Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler.
Georgia
William
Few
Abr Baldwin
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
Attest William
Jackson Secretary
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. |
