Republican

form.

SECTION IV.

1. 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.

Amendments,

SECTION V.

1. The congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall how attained. 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 legis latures 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.

Prior debts of

ARTICLE VI.

1. All debts contracted, and engagements entered into, begovernment. fore the adoption of this constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this constitution, as under the confederation.

Constitution 2. This constitution, and the laws of the United States which and treaties are shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or the supreme 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.

law.

Oath to the constitution.

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

test.

Ratification.

1. The ratification of the convention 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

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

March 4th,

1798.

Rights of con

dom of the

ARTICLE I.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of science, free- 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.

press, &c.

ARTICLE II.

Of the right to bear arms.

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.

Of quartering troops.

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.

Of searches, seizures

rants.

and

ARTICLE IV.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, general war 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.

&c.

ARTICLE V.

Ofindictments, No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise punishments, infamous crime, unless on 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 VI.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right of trial in criminal to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state cases, and the rights and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which of a defendant. 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.

cases.

In suits at common law, when the value in controversy shall Of trial in civil 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 im- Of bail in fines. posed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

ARTICLE IX.

The enumeration to the constitution of certain rights shall Of rights re not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the served. ⚫ people.

ARTICLE. X.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the con- Powers not delstitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the egated. states respectively, or to the people.

ARTICLE XI.

*

* Dec. 2, 1793.

The judicial power of the United States shall not be con- Of the judicial strued to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or power. prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.

ARTICLE XII.

*Oct. 17, 1808.

1. The electors shall meet in their respective states, and Manner of elecvote by ballot for president and vice-president, one of whom, ting the presiat least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with them- dent and vicepresident. selves: They shall name in their ballots the person voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as vicepresident; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as president, and of all persons voted for as vice-presi

dent, and of the number of votes for each; which lists 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 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 twothirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the house of representatives shall not choose a president, whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the vice-president shall act as president, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the president.

2. The person having the greatest number of votes as vicepresident, 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 of the United States.