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This amendment was important to the founding fathers. Americans resented the British quartering soldiers in private citizens’ homes back before Independence. Therefore, they enshrined our freedom from quartering in the Constitution.

Transcript from National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Today’s Amendment is, as you know, constantly embroiled in controversy. Which arms need to be beyond the right to bear because they are the ones that infringe on the Constitutional right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for groups of people like school children or crowds at concerts?

The Militia was essential to our success in the War for Independence, of course. Although our militia these days is the National Guard. Also, arms are part of American life for many who hunt or feel they need to carry to protect themselves.

How do courts and legislatures balance the need for life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness?

The transcript today is from the National Archives. The Bill of Rights was find-able today there. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10)

The Bill of Rights was ratified December 14, 1791, three years after the Constitution’s seven Articles were ratified.

Today, we will look at the Bill of Right’s Amendment 1, the most potent amendment because it assures that “We the People” (the fourth branch of government) have access to our methods of keeping the government from usurping too much power.

It clarifies liberties our founding fathers believed were our “unalienable” natural rights:

1. the freedom from being coerced into an official government religion. (This was a huge deal in those days. For instance, before the War for Independence, you could be jailed for being a Baptist or Presbyterian in Virginia.)
2. the freedom to practice whichever religion you choose
3. the freedom of speech
4. the freedom of the press
5. the right to peaceably assemble
6. the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances

Think about it. You live in the First Amendment. In what ways have you, the fourth branch of the government, exercised your freedom of religion, speech, writing/communication, assembly, or petition?

If you haven’t exercised that freedom lately, might I suggest you think about choosing ways to live in those liberties? In these political days, our Constitution is often under threat. As the fourth branch of government, will you exercise some of your liberties?

The transcript today is not from the National Archives official site, as the Archives currently has a photo of the original document but you have to really dig around the site for the transcript. Instead, the Archives directed me to the George Bush Whitehouse Archives: https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/kids/constitution/text/billofrights.html

Here is what the first Amendment to the US Constitution says:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Today’s Article is a short read. It is the ratification clause which told how this contract between the government and the people would go into effect.

Transcript from National Archives archives.gov

Explanation below the article, bolded and italicized.

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.

Once the Constitutional Convention settled on the original articles, it needed to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states to go into effect.

Delaware was the first state to ratify on December 7, 1787.

Followed by Pennsylvania and New Jersey in December 1787.

Next came Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. At this point (June 21, 1788), the Constitution became legal.

Next came Virginia, New York, and North Carolina. Last of all Rhode Island ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790.

This is a short Article but THE most important. It contains the Supremacy Clause that promises that this Constitution is the Supreme Law of the land. Every other law or government official must obey this Constitution.

Comments are bolded and italicized after each section. Transcript is from National Archives archives.gov

Article. VI.

     “All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.”

This was a promise that the government would pay off all the debts from the War for Independence.

     “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.”

This is the Supremacy Clause. It states that the Constitution, the US laws, and treaties are the highest law of the land and everyone is bound thereby.

    “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.”

While only the president has a verbatim oath prescribed in the Constitution, all Senators, Representatives, State Legislators, and judges shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support the Constitution. However, there shall be no religious test as qualification for an office.

Article V tells how to Amend the Constitution. This is the ONLY way that the Constitution can be changed. The Constitution cannot be eliminated by anyone. It is there (remember the Preamble) to all posterity. However, it can be amended- not easily.

Explanation is bolded and in italics after the transcript. The transcript is from National Archives archives.gov.

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 V sets forth procedures for amending the Constitution.1 Most of the Article’s text addresses the proposal and ratification of amendments.2

Since the Founding, Congress has used Article V’s procedures to propose 33 constitutional amendments.4 The states have ratified 27 of these proposed amendments, which include the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights,5 thereby making them part of the Constitution.

Article V establishes two methods for proposing amendments to the Constitution.6 The first method requires both the House and Senate to propose a constitutional amendment by a vote of two-thirds of the Members present.7 This is the only method for proposing amendments that has been used thus far. Alternatively, Article V provides that Congress “shall” call a convention for proposing amendments upon the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures.8 This method of proposing amendments, which scholars have debated at length, has never been used.9

Article V also sets forth two methods for states to ratify amendments to the Constitution.10 Congress determines which method the states must follow in order for proposed amendments to become effective.11 The first method of ratification requires three-fourths of the state legislatures to ratify an amendment to the Constitution.12 Alternatively, Congress may require that three-fourths of state ratifying conventions approve a proposed amendment.13 Congress has specified this second mode of amendment only once, for the Twenty-First Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment establishing Prohibition.14

Article 4 has four short sections. The legal language makes it a little boring to read, but it sets into place important rights and privileges for states and individuals.

Explanations are inserted in bold and italics after each section. The underlined blue sections have been changed by later amendment.

Transcript is from National Archives archives.gov.

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.”

This simply means that states must respect the laws and judgments of other states.

Section. 2.

     “The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.”

This is called the “Privileges and Immunities Clause”. It simply means that a citizen of one state who is in another state enjoys the same rights and privileges as residents (except in voting and election eligibility).

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.

This is called the “Extradition Clause”,1 which is also referred to as the Interstate Rendition Clause,2 applies to a person accused of a crime in one state who flees to another state. The Extradition Clause “preclude[s] any state from becoming a sanctuary for fugitives from justice” and “enable[s] each state to bring offenders to trial as swiftly as possible in the state where the alleged offense was committed.” (From constitution.congress.gov)

This following section was negated by Amendment 11:

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.“

Section. 3.

     “New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.”

This is called the Admissions Clause. It says that new states are admitted by Congress. The first state admitted under this clause was Maine in 1791, and the most recent was Hawaii in 1959.

     “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.”

This is called the Plenary Clause. It gives Congress the power to oversee US territories and properties.

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 IV, Section 4 is generally known as the “Guarantee Clause.”1 Through its terms, the United States makes three related assurances to the states: (1) a guarantee of a republican form of government; (2) protection against foreign invasion; and (3) upon request by the state, protection against internal insurrection or rebellion.2 (constitution.congress.gov)

Article 3 Judicial Branch

Background information and terms:

Judicial Review: The Supreme Court has the power to review the constitutionality of acts of national and state governments. This is implied but not directly stated in the Constitution. It has been one of the primary jobs of the Supreme Court. The concept was defined by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers.

Striking down laws passed by Congress:

• 1803-1857 Supreme Court struck down 2 federal laws
• 1942-1995 Supreme Court struck down 46 federal laws
• 1995-2019 Supreme Court struck down 49 federal laws

Thanks for reading the US Constitution in a Month with me!

Okay, here’s the Constitution Article 3: The Judicial Branch. Comments are italicized and bolded. The sections that are underlined in blue have been removed by later amendments. Transcript is from the National Archives at archives.gov

Article 3 Judicial Branch

    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.”

This section clarifies that the Judicial Branch is the Supreme Court and any other federal courts that Congress may establish.

Judges hold office for a lifetime and get paid for their job.

They hold their office as long as they are on “good behavior”.

Judges who have been impeached include:

• Supreme Court Judge Samuel Chase (1804) for arbitrary and oppressive conduct of trials. Acquitted
• District Court Judge John Pickering (1803) for drunkenness on the bench. Removed.
• District Court Judge Harry Clayborne (1986) for tax evasion. Removed.
• District Court Judge G. Thomas Porteus, Jr. (2010) for accepting bribes. Removed.

Section. 2.

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

    Section. 3.

    “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

    The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.”

References

Congressional Research Service. The Emoluments Clause. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11086

Constitution Center. Constitution 101. https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/constitution-101-course

fjc.gov Judges who have been impeached. https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/impeachments-federal-judges

National Archives. The Constitution. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript

Supreme court.gov https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/about.aspx

Article II of the United States Constitution describes the Executive branch, which includes the president, vice president, and departments.

The Executive branch was listed in the second Article of the Constitution, the founding fathers having craftily placed it after the Legislative branch. They wanted to ensure that, even in the formatting of the Constitution, the executive was not first and thus he could not construe that he had any ability to make himself a king or dictator.

To ensure that a king or dictator never succeeds, the Constitution sets up the Separation of Powers into 3 sections answerable to We the People:

• Legislative Branch (Article 1)
• Executive Branch (Article 2)
• Judicial Branch (Article 3)

All 3 branches are answerable to We the People. Thus, NO ONE branch has more power or authority than another, and all must answer to the citizens.

The founding fathers felt that the separation of powers was the most important guarantee for our nation’s well-being. They knew that without the separation of powers, a president could attempt to overthrow the Constitution and become a king or tyrant (dictator).

Let’s read about the Executive branch (transcript from the National Archives at archives.gov).

ARTICLE 2 Executive Branch

   Section. 1.

    “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.”

Note: Electoral College and the Procedure for Counting Electoral Votes is included here but was amended in Amendments 12 and 20. The Electoral College was a compromise of many factions at the Constitutional Convention. The president would be chosen by electors from each state.

• Some wanted a president with little power except to enforce laws (fearing another king)
• Some wanted a president chosen for lifetime
• Some wanted a time limited.
• Some wanted an appointed president
• Some wanted an elected president 
• The compromise was the Electoral College.

    “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…

    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.

    The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

    Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” 

   Section. 2.

    “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

   He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

   The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.”

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.”

Day 2: Article 1 of the United States Constitution- The Legislative Branch

This article is one of the longest in the Constitution because it is one of the most important. SO important that the founding fathers placed it first in the body of the Constitution. Remember, our founding fathers were inventing a new form of government and wanted to ensure that NO leader (executive, president, king or tyrant) could usurp the power of the people.

This article explains the House of Representatives and Senate, setting their terms at 2 years for the House and 6 years for the Senate. The House of Representatives has the power of impeachment and the Senate has the power of trial after impeachment. The House handles the budget.

The system of checks and balances is introduced with only the House and Senate creating laws, but the president has the right to veto. Then Congress can override the veto with 2/3 votes.

Article 9 lists lots of additional jobs for Congress. Note particularly that no Congress-person can receive emoluments (gifts or other financials) from kings or nations.

Read Article 1 out loud to yourself if you feel bogged down. It will help. It is SO important to see all that the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, has to say. If we aren’t wise about our Constitutional government, we might find it gets stolen.

Note that in this transcript of Article 1 of the US Constitution, where are sections underlined and in blue. These sections were changed by later Amendments.

Here you go:

Article. I. (from archives.gov)

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.

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section. 3.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; 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.

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

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.

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section. 5.

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section. 6.

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Section. 7.

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

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.

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;—And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section. 9.

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Section. 10.

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it’s inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.