THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

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   (See Note 1)

   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 Posterity, do ordain and establish

   this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article. I.

  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.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 3: 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. (See Note 2) 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.

   Clause 4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State,

   the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill

   such Vacancies.

   Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and

   other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

  Section. 3.

   Clause 1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two

   Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, (See Note

   3) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

   Clause 2: 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. (See Note 4)

   Clause 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.

   Clause 4: The Vice President of the United States shall be President

   of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

   Clause 5: 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.

   Clause 6: 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.

   Clause 7: 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.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and

   such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, (See Note 5)

   unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

  Section. 5.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 3: 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.

   Clause 4: 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.

   Clause 1: 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. (See Note 6) They shall in

   all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace,

   beprivileged 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 3: 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.

   Clause 1: 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;

   Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

   Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the

   several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

   Clause 4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform

   Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

   Clause 5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign

   Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

   Clause 6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the

   Securities and current Coin of the United States;

   Clause 7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

   Clause 8: 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;

   Clause 9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

   Clause 10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the

   high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

   Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and

   make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

   Clause 12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money

   to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

   Clause 13: To provide and maintain a Navy;

   Clause 14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land

   and naval Forces;

   Clause 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the

   Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

   Clause 16: 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;

   Clause 17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever,

   over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, byCession

   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

   Clause 18: 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.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

   Clause 4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in

   Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be

   taken. (See Note 7)

   Clause 5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any

   State.

   Clause 6: 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.

   Clause 7: 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.

   Clause 8: 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.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 3: 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.

Article. II.

  Section. 1.

   Clause 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

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 3: 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 State 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 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 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 greatest Number of Votes of

   the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain

   two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by

   Ballot the Vice President. (See Note 8)

   Clause 4: 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.

   Clause 5: 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.

   Clause 6: 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, (See Note 9) the Same shall devolve on the

   VicePresident, and the Congress may by 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.

   Clause 7: 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.

   Clause 8: 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.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 3: 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.

Article. III.

  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.

  Section. 2.

   Clause 1: 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; (See Note 10)--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.

   Clause 2: 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 the 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.

   Clause 3: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment,

   shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the

   said Crimes 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.

  Section. 3.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

  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.

  Section. 2.

   Clause 1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all

   Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 3: 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. (See Note 11) 

  Section. 3.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

  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. V.

   The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it

   necessary, shall propose [1]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. VI.

   Clause 1: 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.

   Clause 2: 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.

   Clause 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

   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 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,

   GO WASHINGTON--Presidt. and deputy from Virginia

   [Signed also by the deputies of twelve States.]

   Delaware

   Geo: Read

   Gunning Bedford jun

   John Dickinson

   Richard Bassett

   Jaco: Broom

   Maryland

   James MCHenry

   Dan of ST ThoS. Jenifer

   DanL Carroll.

   Virginia

   John Blair--

   James Madison Jr.

   North Carolina

   WM Blount

   RichD. Dobbs Spaight.

   Hu Williamson

   South Carolina

   J. Rutledge

   Charles 1ACotesworth Pinckney

   Charles Pinckney

   Pierce Butler.

   Georgia

   William Few

   Abr Baldwin

   New Hampshire

   John Langdon

   Nicholas Gilman

   Massachusetts

   Nathaniel Gorham

   Rufus King

   Connecticut

   WM. SamL. Johnson

   Roger Sherman

   New York

   Alexander Hamilton

   New Jersey

   Wil: Livingston

   David Brearley.

   WM. Paterson.

   Jona: Dayton

   Pennsylvania

   B Franklin

   Thomas Mifflin

   RobT Morris

   Geo. Clymer

   ThoS. FitzSimons

   Jared Ingersoll

   James Wilson.

   Gouv Morris

   Attest William Jackson Secretary

   NOTES

   Note 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed copy

   signed by Gen. Washington and the deputies from 12 States. The small

   superior figures preceding the paragraphs designate Clauses, and were

   not in the original and have no reference to footnotes.

   The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on

   September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified by the several

   States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7, 1787;

   Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787;

   Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts,

   February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23,

   1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788.

   Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788.

   The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia, June 25, 1788;

   New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21, 1789; Rhode

   Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont, January 10, 1791.

   In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommending an

   alteration in the Articles of Confederation, but no action was taken

   on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to proceed in the

   matter. In January 1786, the Legislature of Virginia passed a

   resolution providing for the appointment of five commissioners, who,

   or any three of them, should meet such commissioners as might be

   appointed in the other States of the Union, at a time and place to be

   agreed upon, to take into consideration the trade of the United

   States; to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial

   regulations may be necessary to their common interest and their

   permanent harmony; and to report to the several States such an act,

   relative to this great object, as, when ratified by them, will enable

   the United States in Congress effectually to provide for the same. The

   Virginia commissioners, after some correspondence, fixed the first

   Monday in September as the time, and the city of Annapolis as the

   place for the meeting, but only four other States were represented,

   viz: Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; the

   commissioners appointed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North

   Carolina, and Rhode Island failed to attend. Under the circumstances

   of so partial a representation, the commissioners present agreed upon

   a report, (drawn by Mr. Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their

   unanimous conviction that it might essentially tend to advance the

   interests of the Union if the States by which they were respectively

   delegated would concur, and use their endeavors to procure the

   concurrence of the other States, in the appointment of commissioners

   to meet at Philadelphia on the Second Monday of May following, to take

   into consideration the situation of the United States; to devise such

   further provisions as should appear to them necessary to render the

   Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of

   the Union; and to report such an act for that purpose to the United

   States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to by them and afterwards

   confirmed by the Legislatures of every State, would effectually

   provide for the same.

   Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a resolution in favor

   of a convention, and the Legislatures of those States which had not

   already done so (with the exception of Rhode Island) promptly

   appointed delegates. On the 25th of May, seven States having convened,

   George Washington, of Virginia, was unanimously elected President, and

   the consideration of the proposed constitution was commenced. On the

   17th of September, 1787, the Constitution as engrossed and agreed upon

   was signed by all the members present, except Mr. Gerry of

   Massachusetts, and Messrs. Mason and Randolph, of Virginia. The

   president of the convention transmitted it to Congress, with a

   resolution stating how the proposed Federal Government should be put

   in operation, and an explanatory letter. Congress, on the 28th of

   September, 1787, directed the Constitution so framed, with the

   resolutions and letter concerning the same, to "be transmitted to the

   several Legislatures in order to be submitted to a convention of

   delegates chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity to

   the resolves of the convention."

   On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed for commencing

   the operations of Government under the new Constitution, it had been

   ratified by the conventions chosen in each State to consider it, as

   follows: Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787;

   New Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut,

   January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28,

   1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788;

   Virginia, June 25, 1788; and New York, July 26, 1788.

   The President informed Congress, on the 28th of January, 1790, that

   North Carolina had ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789; and he

   informed Congress on the 1st of June, 1790, that Rhode Island had

   ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790. Vermont, in convention,

   ratified the Constitution January 10, 1791, and was, by an act of

   Congress approved February 18, 1791, "received and admitted into this

   Union as a new and entire member of the United States."

   Note 2: The part of this Clause relating to the mode of apportionment

   of representatives among the several States has been affected by

   Section 2 of amendment XIV, and as to taxes on incomes without

   apportionment by amendment XVI.

   Note 3: This Clause has been affected by Clause 1 of amendment XVII.

   Note 4: This Clause has been affected by Clause 2 of amendment XVIII.

   Note 5: This Clause has been affected by amendment XX.

   Note 6: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXVII.

   Note 7: This Clause has been affected by amendment XVI.

   Note 8: This Clause has been superseded by amendment XII.

   Note 9: This Clause has been affected by amendment XXV.

   Note 10: This Clause has been affected by amendment XI.

   Note 11: This Clause has been affected by amendment XIII.

   Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United

   States (and two others, one of which failed of ratification and the

   other which later became the 27th amendment) were proposed to the

   legislatures of the several States by the First Congress on September

   25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by the following

   States, and the notifications of ratification by the Governors thereof

   were successively communicated by the President to Congress: New

   Jersey, November 20, 1789; Maryland, December 19, 1789; North

   Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New

   Hampshire, January 25, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York,

   February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7,

   1790; Vermont, November 3, 1791; and Virginia, December 15, 1791.

   Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791.

   The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures of

   Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939; and

   Connecticut, April 19, 1939.

   Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of amendment had

   numbers assigned to them at the time of ratification.

   Note 14: This sentence has been superseded by section 3 of amendment

   XX.

   Note 15: See amendment XIX and section 1 of amendment XXVI.

   Note 16: Repealed by section 1 of amendment XXI.

References

   1. http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Amend.html