any thing in the coustitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. The senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this constitution: but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. ARTICLE SEVENTH. 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. GEO. WASHINGTON, President, and deputy from Virginia. New Hampshire-John Landon, Nicholas Gilman. MassachusettsNathaniel Gorham, Rufus King. Connecticut--William Samuel New Johnson, Roger Sherman. New York-Alexander Hamilton. Jersey-William Livingston, David Brearly, William Patterson, Jonathan Dayton. Pennsylvania-Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin. Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris. Delaware-George Read, Gunning Bedford jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broome, Maryland-James M'Henry, Daniel of St Thomas Jenifer, Charles Carroll. Virginia-John Blair, James Madison jr. North Carolina--William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson. Carolina-John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler. Georgia-William Few, Abraham Baldwin. South AMENDMENTS To the constitution of the United States, ratified according to the provisions of the fifth article of the foregoing constitution. ARTICLE FIRST. 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 petition the government for a redress of grievances. ARTICLE SECOND. 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 infrin ged. ARTICLE THIRD. No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. ARTICLE FOURTH. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. ARTICLE FIFTH. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation, ARTICLE SIXTH. 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 by the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence. ARTICLE SEVENTH. In suits of common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved; and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. ARTICLE EIGHTH. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted, ARTICLE NINTH. The enumeration in this constitution of certain righta, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. ARTICLE TENTH The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. ARTICLE ELEVENTH. 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. ARTICLE TWELFTH. 1. The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by balhot 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 ballot 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 all persons voted for as vice presi. dent, 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, inthe 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 the majority of the whole number of electors appointed and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest number 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 state, and a majority of all the states shall be neces sary 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. 2. The person having the greatest number of votes as vice presi lent, 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. 3. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president, shall be eligible to that of vice president. DATES OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES BY THE THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES. Delaware, December 7, 1787. South Carolina, May 23, 1788. A LIST OF THE Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretaries of State, Secretaries of the Treasury, Secretaries of the War and Navy Departments, Post Masters General, Judges of the Supreme Court, Attorneys General, Speakers of the House of Representatives, and Foreign Ambassadors of the United States, from the organization of the Government in 1789 to the present time. |