ENV H 471: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REGULATION
STATUTES & REGULATIONS

.
.

CONSTITUTION OF

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 
 
 
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our psoterity, do ordain and establishthis Constitution for the United States of America.
 
 

ARTICLE I.

Sect. 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.

Sect. 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 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-fifth of all other persons.]1 The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent 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 all such vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

Sect. 3.  The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, [chosen by the legislature thereof,]2Ý 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.Ý 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 fill such vacancies.]3

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.

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 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 sole power to try all impeachment's.Ý When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation.Ý 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.

Sect. 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 meetings shall [be on the first Monday in December,]4 unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Sect. 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, punsih 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 they in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any questin shall, at the desire of one-fifth of thosepresent, be enetered on the journal.

Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, not to any other place than that in which the two haouses shall be sitting.

Sect. 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 is elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emolument 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.

Sect. 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 becomes 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 the 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, like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevents turn, 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 of 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 limitation prescribed in the case of a bill.

Sect. 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 Indian tribes;
To establish a 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 port 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 offenses 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 tot hat use shall be for a term longer 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 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, arse-nals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings: ó 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.

Sect. 9.  The migration or importation of such persons as any state 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.5

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state.Ý 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 ands 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: ó 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.

Sect. 10.Ý 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 obligations 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 its 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.Ý 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 agree-ment or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actu-ally invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.
 
 

ARTICLE II.

Sect. 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 representative 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.

[The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same sate with themselves.  And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of government of the United States, directed to the president of the senate.  The president of the senate shall, in the presence of the senate and house of representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted.  The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the house of representatives shall immediately chuse by ballot one of them for president; and if no person have a majority, then from the five highest on the list the said house shall in like manner chuse the president.  But in chusing the president, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice.  In every case, after the choice of the president, the person having the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors shall be the vice-president.Ý But if there should re-main two or more who have equal votes, the senate shall chuse from them by ballot the vice-president.]6

The Congress may determine the time of chusing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United States.

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.

In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve to the vice-president and the Congress may be law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the president and vice-president, declaring what officer shall then act as president, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a president shall be elected.

The president shall at stated timed, 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."

Sect. 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 actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in 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 offenses 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.Ý 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 powers 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.

Sect. 3.  He shall from time to time give to 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.

Sect. 4.  The president, vice-president and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
 
 

ARTICLE III.

Sect. 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.

Sect. 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,7 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.

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the supreme court shall have original jurisdiction.  In all other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trials shall be held in the state where the said crime shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.

Sect. 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.Ý 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.
 
 

ARTICLE IV.

Sect. 1.  Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.Ý And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.

Sect. 2.  The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.

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.

[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.]8

Sect. 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.

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.

Sect. 4.  The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a Republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.
 
 

ARTICLE V.

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or on appli-cation 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 any convention in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi-cation may be proposed by the Congress; Pro-vided, that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight9 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 con-sent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the senate.
 
 

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 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 notwith-standing.

The senators and representatives before mentioned, and members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
 
 

ARTICLE VII.

The ratification of the conventions of nine States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this constitutiona between the States so ratifying the same.

ÝDone 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 out Names.

George Washington, President and Deputy from Virginia.
NEW HAMPSHIRE John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman
MASSACHUSETTS Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King
CONNECTICUT Wm. Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman
NEW YORK Alexander Hamilton
NEW JERSEY William Livingston, David Brearley, William Paterson, Johnathan Dayton
PENNSYLVANIA Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris
DELAWARE George Reed, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom
MARYLAND James McHenry, Daniel of St. Tho. Jenifer, Daniel Carrol
VIRGINIA John Blair, James Madison, Jr.
NO. CAROLINA William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson
SO. CAROLINA John Rutledge, Charles Coteworth Pickney, Charles Pickney, Pierce Butler
GEORGIA William Few, Abraham Baldwin


Attest, William Jackson, SECRETARY
 


 
 

ARTICLES
in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America,Ý
proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures10 of the several States,Ý
pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

ARTICLE I.11

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

ARTICLE II.

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

ARTICLE III.

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

ARTICLE IV.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
 
 

ARTICLE V.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due pro-cess of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
 
 

ARTICLE VI.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
 
 

ARTICLE VII.

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
 
 

ARTICLE VIII.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
 
 

ARTICLE IX.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
 
 

ARTICLE X.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
 
 

ARTICLE XI.12

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 XII13 .

The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, on 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 list 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 list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate: -- The president of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then the person having the highest numbers not exceeding three of the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President.Ý But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the presentation 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 states shall be necessary to a choice.Ý [And if the House of Representative shall not choose a President whenever the right of Choice shall devolve to 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 constitutionalÝ disability of the President.] --14 The person having the great-est number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a major-ity of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Sen-ate 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.Ý But no person constitutionally ineli-gible tot he office of President shall be eligible to that of the Vice-President of the United States.
 
 

ARTICLE XIII.15

Sect. 1.  Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have benn duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any part subject lto their jurisdiction.

Sect. 2.  Congress shall have pwoer to enforce this article by appropriate legsialtion.
 
 

ARTICLE XIV.16

Sect. 1.  All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.  No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Sect. 2.  Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.  But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for the participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of the 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 year of age in such State.

Sect. 3.  No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.  But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Sect. 4.  The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.Ý 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.

Sect. 5.  The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
 
 

ARTICLE XV.17

Sect. 1.  The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United StatesÝ or any States on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Sect. 2.  The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
 
 

ARTICLE XVI.18

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.
 
 

ARTICLE XVII.19

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.Ý 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 representation of any States 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.
 
 

ARTICLE XVIII.20

[Sect. 1.  After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

[Sect. 2.  The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

[Sect. 3.  This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission thereof to the States by the Congress.]
 
 

ARTICLE XIX.21

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.
 
 

ARTICLE XX.22

Sect. 1.  The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and representatives at noon on the 3rd 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.

Sect. 2.  The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Sect. 3.  If, at the timed fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President.Ý 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.

Sect. 4.  The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever, the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall devolved upon them.

Sect. 5.  Section 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Sect. 6.  This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment tot he Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourth of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.
 
 

ARTICLE XXI.23

Sect. 1.  The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Sect. 2.  The transportation or importation into any State, territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Sect. 3.  This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years form the date of the submission thereof to the States by the Congress.
 
 

ARTICLE XXII.24

Sect. 1.  No person shall be elected to the office of 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 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 Presi-dent, 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.

Sect. 2.  This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years form the date of the submission thereof to the States by the Congress.
 
 

ARTICLE XXIII.25

Sect. 1.  The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as 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.

Sect. 2.  The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
 
 

ARTICLE XXIII.26

Sect. 1.  The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Sect. 2.  The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
 
 

________________________________
1Ý The part enclosed by brackets was changed by section 2 of Amendment XIV.
2Ý The clause enclosed by brackets was changed by clause 1 of Amendment XVII.
3Ý The part enclosed by brackets was changed by clause 2 of Amendment XVII.
4 The clause enclosed by brackets was changed by section 2 of Amendment XX.
5Ý See also Amendment XVI.
6Ý This paragraph has been superseded by Amendment XII.
7 This clause has been affected by Amendment XI.
8 This paragraph has been superseded by Amendment XIII.
9 Misprinted "seven" in the original broadside of September 17, 1787, when the figures of the preced-ing draft were spelled out.Ý Corrected by Dunlap & Claypoole in their Pennsylvania Packet reprint of September 19, 1787.Ý It was the only error of text in the original print.Ý Correct in engrossed copy.
10 The first 20 amendments and the twenty-second, twenty-third and twenty-fourth Amendments were ratified by State Legislatures.Ý The twenty-first Amendment, by its terms, was ratified by "conventions in the several States."
11Ý The first 10 amendments (termed articles) together with 2 others that failed of ratifica-tion, were proposed to the several States by resolution of Congress on September 25, 1789.Ý The ratifications were transmitted by the Governors to the President and by him com-municated to Congress from time to time.Ý The first 10 amendments were ratified by 11 of the 14 States.Ý Virginia completed the required three-fourths by ratification on December 15, 1791, and its action was communicated to Congress by the President on December 30, 1791.Ý The legislatures of Massachusetts, Georgia and Connecticut ratified them on March 2, 1939, March 24, 1939 and April 19, 1939, respectively.
12Ý The 11th Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress of March 4, 1794.Ý It was declared by the President, in a message to Congress dated January 8, 1798, to have been ratified by three fourths of the several States.Ý Records of the Department of State show that the 11th Amendment as ratified by 13 of the 16 States and rejected by New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
13 The 12th Amendment was proposed in lieu of the original third paragraph of section1 of Article II, by resolution of Congress on December 8, 1803.Ý It was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated September 25, 1804, to have been ratified by three fourths of the States.Ý Records of the Department of State shows that the 12th Amendment was ratified by 12 of the 17 States and rejected by Connecticut and Delaware.
14Ý The part enclosed by brackets has been superseded by section 3 of Amendment XX.
15Ý The 13th Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress which the President approved on February 1, 1865.Ý It was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated December 18, 1865, to have been ratified by 27 States.Ý Subsequent records of the Department of State show that the 13th Amendment was ratified by 7 additional states.Ý It was reject by Mississippi.
16 The 14th Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on June 13, 1866.Ý By a concurrent resolution of Congress adopted July 21, 1868, it was declared to have been ratified by three fourths and more of the sev-eral States of the Unions", and the Secretary of State was required duly to promulgate the amendment as a part of the Constitution.Ý He accordingly issued a proclamation, dated July 28, 1868, declaring the amendment to have been ratified by 30 States, "being more than three fourths."Ý Records of the Department of State show that the 14th Amendment was subsequently ratified by 3 more of the States.Ý It was rejected by Kentucky and New Jersey.
17 The 15th Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on February 26, 1869.Ý It was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of States, dated March 30, 1870, to have been ratified by 29 States, which "constitute three fourth."Ý Records of the Department of State show that the 15th Amendment was subsequently ratified by 6 more of the States,Ý It was rejected by Kentucky and Tennessee.
18Ý The 16th Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on July 12, 1909.Ý It was de-clared in a proclamation of the Secretary of States, dated February 25, 1913, to have been ratified by 38 States, which "constitute three fourth."Ý Records of the Department of State show that the 16th Amendment was subsequently ratified by 4 more of the States,Ý It was rejected by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Utah.
19 The 17th Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on May 13, 1912.Ý It was de-clared in a proclamation of the Secretary of States, dated May 31, 1913, to have been ratified by 36 States, which "constitute three fourth."Ý Records of the Department of State show that the 17th Amendment was subsequently ratified by 1 more of the States,Ý It was rejected by Utah and Delaware.
20Ý The 18th Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on December 18, 1917.Ý It was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of States, dated January 29, 1919, to have been ratified by 36 States, which "constitute three fourth."Ý Records of the Department of State show that the 18th Amendment was subsequently ratified by 10 more of the 48 States,Ý It was rejected by Rhode Island.Ý By its own terms the 18th Amendments became effective one year after its ratification, which was consummated on January 16, 1919, and therefore went into effect on January 16, 1920.ÝÝ Repeal of the 18th Amendment on December 5, 1933 was proclaimed by the President in his proclamation of that date, when ratification of the 21st Amendment was certified by the Acting Secretary of State.
21Ý The Nineteenth Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on June 4, 1919.Ý It was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated August 26, 1920, to have been ratified by 36 States, which "constitute three fourth."Ý Subsequent records of the Department of State show that the 19th Amendment was ratified by 2 more of the 48 States.Ý It was rejected by Georgia, South Carolina, Delaware, Mississippi, Louisiana and Virginia.
22Ý The Twentieth Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on March 2, 1932.Ý It was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated February 6, 1933, to have been ratified by 39 States, which "constitute more than the requisite three fourth."Ý Subsequent records of the Department of State show that the 20th Amendment was ratified by all of the 48 States before sections 1 and 2 became effective on October 15, 1933.Ý The other sections of the amendment became effective on January 23, 1933, when it ratification was consummated by three fourths of the States.
23 The Twenty-first Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on February 20, 1933.Ý It was declared in a proclamation of the Acting Secretary of State, dated December 5, 1933 to have been ratified by conventions of 36 States, which "constitute the requisite three fourth of the whole number of states."Ý Subsequent records of the Department of State show that the 21st Amendment was ratified by 1 more of the 48 State.Ý It was rejected by convention of South Carolina.Ý North Carolina voted against holding a convention.
24 The Twenty-second Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on March 24, 1947.Ý Ratification was completed on February 27, 1951, when the thirty-sixth State (Minnesota) approved the amendment.Ý On March 1, 1951, the Administrator of General Services certified that "the States whose Legislatures have so ratified the said proposed Amendment constitute the requisite three-fourths of the whole number of States in the United States".Ý Records of the General Services Administration show that the 22nd Amendment was subsequently ratified by 5 additional States.
25 The Twenty-third Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on June 16, 1960.Ý The Administrator of General Services certified the ratification and adoption of the amendment by three-fourths of the States on April 3, 1961.Ý It was rejected by Arkansas.
26 The Twenty-fourth Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on August 27, 1962.Ý It was declared in a Proclamation of theÝ Administrator of General Services, dated February 4,1 964. to have been ratified by three-fourths of the States.Ý It was rejected by the Legislature of Mississippi on December 20, 1962.
 



 

Revised: 12/25/99