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                         THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION     _________________________________________________________________      (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

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