CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND
AMENDMENT OF, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURES OF THE
SEVERAL STATES, PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF THE ORIGINAL
CONSTITUTION1
The Bill of Rights (1st 10 Amendments
to the Constitution)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
[ end of the Bill of Rights (1st 10 Amendments to the
Constitution) ]
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.
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.3
--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.
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.
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.
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.
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,4
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 10, 1933;
Connecticut, July 11, 1933; New Hampshire, July 11, 1933;
California, July 24, 1933; West Virginia, July 25, 1933;
Arkansas, August 1, 1933; Oregon, August 7, 1933; Alabama,
August 8, 1933; Tennessee, August 11, 1933; Missouri, August
29, 1933; Arizona, September 5, 1933; Nevada, September 5,
1933; Vermont, September 23, 1933; Colorado, September 26,
1933; Washington, October 3, 1933; Minnesota, October 10,
1933; Idaho, October 17, 1933; Maryland, October 18, 1933;
Virginia, October 25, 1933; New Mexico, November 2, 1933;
Florida, November 14, 1933; Texas, November 24, 1933;
Kentucky, November 27, 1933; Ohio, December 5, 1933;
Pennsylvania, December 5, 1933; Utah, December 5, 1933.
Ratification was completed on December 5, 1933.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Maine, on December
6, 1933, and by Montana, on August 6, 1934. The amendment was
rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by South Carolina, on
December 4, 1933.
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.
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.
Proposal and Ratification
This
amendment was proposed to the legislatures of the several
States by the Eightieth Congress on Mar. 21, 1947 by House
Joint Res. No. 27, and was declared by the Administrator of
General Services, on Mar. 1, 1951, to have been ratified by
the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of
ratification were: Maine, March 31, 1947; Michigan, March 31,
1947; Iowa, April 1, 1947; Kansas, April 1, 1947; New
Hampshire, April 1, 1947; Delaware, April 2, 1947; Illinois,
April 3, 1947; Oregon, April 3, 1947; Colorado, April 12,
1947; California, April 15, 1947; New Jersey, April 15, 1947;
Vermont, April 15, 1947; Ohio, April 16, 1947; Wisconsin,
April 16, 1947; Pennsylvania, April 29, 1947; Connecticut, May
21, 1947; Missouri, May 22, 1947; Nebraska, May 23, 1947;
Virginia, January 28, 1948; Mississippi, February 12, 1948;
New York, March 9, 1948; South Dakota, January 21, 1949; North
Dakota, February 25, 1949; Louisiana, May 17, 1950; Montana,
January 25, 1951; Indiana, January 29, 1951; Idaho, January
30, 1951; New Mexico, February 12, 1951; Wyoming, February 12,
1951; Arkansas, February 15, 1951; Georgia, February 17, 1951;
Tennessee, February 20, 1951; Texas, February 22, 1951;
Nevada, February 26, 1951; Utah, February 26, 1951; Minnesota,
February 27, 1951.
Ratification was completed on February 27, 1951.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by North Carolina on
February 28, 1951; South Carolina, March 13, 1951; Maryland,
March 14, 1951; Florida, April 16, 1951; Alabama, May 4, 1951.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by
Oklahoma in June 1947, and Massachusetts on June 9, 1949.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator
of General Services that the amendment had become valid was
made on Mar. 1, 1951, F.R. Doc. 51 092940, 16 F.R. 2019.
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.
The
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
This
amendment was proposed by the Eighty-sixth Congress on June
17, 1960 and was declared by the Administrator of General
Services on Apr. 3, 1961, to have been ratified by 38 of the
50 States. The dates of ratification were: Hawaii, June 23,
1960 (and that State made a technical correction to its
resolution on June 30, 1960); Massachusetts, August 22, 1960;
New Jersey, December 19, 1960; New York, January 17, 1961;
California, January 19, 1961; Oregon, January 27, 1961;
Maryland, January 30, 1961; Idaho, January 31, 1961; Maine,
January 31, 1961; Minnesota, January 31, 1961; New Mexico,
February 1, 1961; Nevada, February 2, 1961; Montana, February
6, 1961; South Dakota, February 6, 1961; Colorado, February 8,
1961; Washington, February 9, 1961; West Virginia, February 9,
1961; Alaska, February 10, 1961; Wyoming, February 13, 1961;
Delaware, February 20, 1961; Utah, February 21, 1961;
Wisconsin, February 21, 1961; Pennsylvania, February 28, 1961;
Indiana, March 3, 1961; North Dakota, March 3, 1961;
Tennessee, March 6, 1961; Michigan, March 8, 1961;
Connecticut, March 9, 1961; Arizona, March 10, 1961; Illinois,
March 14, 1961; Nebraska, March 15, 1961; Vermont, March 15,
1961; Iowa, March 16, 1961; Missouri, March 20, 1961;
Oklahoma, March 21, 1961; Rhode Island, March 22, 1961;
Kansas, March 29, 1961; Ohio, March 29, 1961.
Ratification was completed on March 29, 1961.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by New Hampshire on
March 30, 1961 (when that State annulled and then repeated its
ratification of March 29, 1961). The amendment was rejected
(and not subsequently ratified) by Arkansas on January 24,
1961.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator
of General Services that the amendment had become valid was
made on Apr. 3, 1961, F.R. Doc. 61 093017, 26 F.R. 2808.
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.
The
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed by the Eighty-seventh Congress by
Senate Joint Resolution No. 29, which was approved by the
Senate on Mar. 27, 1962, and by the House of Representatives
on Aug. 27, 1962. It was declared by the Administrator of
General Services on Feb. 4, 1964, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of 38 of the 50 States. This amendment was
ratified by the following States: Illinois, November 14, 1962;
New Jersey, December 3, 1962; Oregon, January 25, 1963;
Montana, January 28, 1963; West Virginia, February 1, 1963;
New York, February 4, 1963; Maryland, February 6, 1963;
California, February 7, 1963; Alaska, February 11, 1963; Rhode
Island, February 14, 1963; Indiana, February 19, 1963; Utah,
February 20, 1963; Michigan, February 20, 1963; Colorado,
February 21, 1963; Ohio, February 27, 1963; Minnesota,
February 27, 1963; New Mexico, March 5, 1963; Hawaii, March 6,
1963; North Dakota, March 7, 1963; Idaho, March 8, 1963;
Washington, March 14, 1963; Vermont, March 15, 1963; Nevada,
March 19, 1963; Connecticut, March 20, 1963; Tennessee, March
21, 1963; Pennsylvania, March 25, 1963; Wisconsin, March 26,
1963; Kansas, March 28, 1963; Massachusetts, March 28, 1963;
Nebraska, April 4, 1963; Florida, April 18, 1963; Iowa, April
24, 1963; Delaware, May 1, 1963; Missouri, May 13, 1963; New
Hampshire, June 12, 1963; Kentucky, June 27, 1963; Maine,
January 16, 1964; South Dakota, January 23, 1964; Virginia,
February 25, 1977.
Ratification was completed on January 23, 1964.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by North Carolina on
May 3, 1989. The amendment was rejected by Mississippi (and
not subsequently ratified) on December 20, 1962. Certification
of Validity Publication of the certifying statement of the
Administrator of General Services that the amendment had
become valid was made on Feb. 5, 1964, F.R. Doc. 64 091229, 29
F.R. 1715.
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.
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.
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 department6
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.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed by the Eighty-ninth Congress by
Senate Joint Resolution No. 1, which was approved by the
Senate on Feb. 19, 1965, and by the House of Representatives,
in amended form, on Apr. 13, 1965. The House of
Representatives agreed to a Conference Report on June 30,
1965, and the Senate agreed to the Conference Report on July
6, 1965. It was declared by the Administrator of General
Services, on Feb. 23, 1967, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of 39 of the 50 States. This amendment was
ratified by the following States: Nebraska, July 12, 1965;
Wisconsin, July 13, 1965; Oklahoma, July 16, 1965;
Massachusetts, August 9, 1965; Pennsylvania, August 18, 1965;
Kentucky, September 15, 1965; Arizona, September 22, 1965;
Michigan, October 5, 1965; Indiana, October 20, 1965;
California, October 21, 1965; Arkansas, November 4, 1965; New
Jersey, November 29, 1965; Delaware, December 7, 1965; Utah,
January 17, 1966; West Virginia, January 20, 1966; Maine,
January 24, 1966; Rhode Island, January 28, 1966; Colorado,
February 3, 1966; New Mexico, February 3, 1966; Kansas,
February 8, 1966; Vermont, February 10, 1966; Alaska, February
18, 1966; Idaho, March 2, 1966; Hawaii, March 3, 1966;
Virginia, March 8, 1966; Mississippi, March 10, 1966; New
York, March 14, 1966; Maryland, March 23, 1966; Missouri,
March 30, 1966; New Hampshire, June 13, 1966; Louisiana, July
5, 1966; Tennessee, January 12, 1967; Wyoming, January 25,
1967; Washington, January 26, 1967; Iowa, January 26, 1967;
Oregon, February 2, 1967; Minnesota, February 10, 1967;
Nevada, February 10, 1967.
Ratification was completed on February 10, 1967.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Connecticut,
February 14, 1967; Montana, February 15, 1967; South Dakota,
March 6, 1967; Ohio, March 7, 1967; Alabama, March 14, 1967;
North Carolina, March 22, 1967; Illinois, March 22, 1967;
Texas, April 25, 1967; Florida, May 25, 1967.
Certification of Validity Publication of the certifying statement of the
Administrator of General Services that the amendment had
become valid was made on Feb. 25, 1967, F.R. Doc. 67 092208,
32 F.R. 3287.
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.
The
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
This
amendment was proposed by the Ninety-second Congress by Senate
Joint Resolution No. 7, which was approved by the Senate on
Mar. 10, 1971, and by the House of Representatives on Mar. 23,
1971. It was declared by the Administrator of General Services
on July 5, 1971, to have been ratified by the legislatures of
39 of the 50 States. This amendment was ratified by the
following States: Connecticut, March 23, 1971; Delaware, March
23, 1971; Minnesota, March 23, 1971; Tennessee, March 23,
1971; Washington, March 23, 1971; Hawaii, March 24, 1971;
Massachusetts, March 24, 1971; Montana, March 29, 1971;
Arkansas, March 30, 1971; Idaho, March 30, 1971; Iowa, March
30, 1971; Nebraska, April 2, 1971; New Jersey, April 3, 1971;
Kansas, April 7, 1971; Michigan, April 7, 1971; Alaska, April
8, 1971; Maryland, April 8, 1971; Indiana, April 8, 1971;
Maine, April 9, 1971; Vermont, April 16, 1971; Louisiana,
April 17, 1971; California, April 19, 1971; Colorado, April
27, 1971; Pennsylvania, April 27, 1971; Texas, April 27, 1971;
South Carolina, April 28, 1971; West Virginia, April 28, 1971;
New Hampshire, May 13, 1971; Arizona, May 14, 1971; Rhode
Island, May 27, 1971; New York, June 2, 1971; Oregon, June 4,
1971; Missouri, June 14, 1971; Wisconsin, June 22, 1971;
Illinois, June 29, 1971; Alabama, June 30, 1971; Ohio, June
30, 1971; North Carolina, July 1, 1971; Oklahoma, July 1,
1971.
Ratification was completed on July 1, 1971.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Virginia, July 8,
1971; Wyoming, July 8, 1971; Georgia, October 4, 1971.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator
of General Services that the amendment had become valid was
made on July 7, 1971, F.R. Doc. 71 099691, 36 F.R. 12725.
No
law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators
and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of
Representatives shall have intervened.
Proposal and Ratification
This
amendment, being the second of twelve articles proposed by the
First Congress on Sept. 25, 1789, was declared by the
Archivist of the United States on May 18, 1992, to have been
ratified by the legislatures of 40 of the 50 States. This
amendment was ratified by the following States: Maryland,
December 19, 1789; North Carolina, December 22, 1789; South
Carolina, January 19, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790;
Vermont, November 3, 1791; Virginia, December 15, 1791; Ohio,
May 6, 1873; Wyoming, March 6, 1978; Maine, April 27, 1983;
Colorado, April 22, 1984; South Dakota, February 21, 1985; New
Hampshire, March 7, 1985; Arizona, April 3, 1985; Tennessee,
May 23, 1985; Oklahoma, July 10, 1985; New Mexico, February
14, 1986; Indiana, February 24, 1986; Utah, February 25, 1986;
Arkansas, March 6, 1987; Montana, March 17, 1987; Connecticut,
May 13, 1987; Wisconsin, July 15, 1987; Georgia, February 2,
1988; West Virginia, March 10, 1988; Louisiana, July 7, 1988;
Iowa, February 9, 1989; Idaho, March 23, 1989; Nevada, April
26, 1989; Alaska, May 6, 1989; Oregon, May 19, 1989;
Minnesota, May 22, 1989; Texas, May 25, 1989; Kansas, April 5,
1990; Florida, May 31, 1990; North Dakota, March 25, 1991;
Alabama, May 5, 1992; Missouri, May 5, 1992; Michigan, May 7,
1992; New Jersey, May 7, 1992.
Ratification was completed on May 7, 1992.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Illinois on May 12,
1992.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Archivist of
the United States that the amendment had become valid was made
on May 18, 1992, F.R. Doc. 92 0911951, 57 F.R. 21187.