|
|
AMERICA'S FOUNDATION DOCUMENTS
ARTICLES
IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENTS OF, THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Amendments
to the Constitution
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY
CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURES OF THE SEVERAL
STATES, PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION
(See Note 12)
Article [I.] (See Note 13)
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 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 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.]
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The eleventh amendment to the Constitution of the United States
was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by
the Third Congress, on the 4th of March 1794; and was declared
in a message from the President to Congress, dated the 8th
of January, 1798, to have been ratified by the legislatures
of three-fourths of the States. The dates of ratification
were: New York, March 27, 1794; Rhode Island, March 31, 1794;
Connecticut, May 8, 1794; New Hampshire, June 16, 1794; Massachusetts,
June 26, 1794; Vermont, between October 9, 1794 and November
9, 1794; Virginia, November 18, 1794; Georgia, November 29,
1794; Kentucky, December 7, 1794; Maryland, December 26, 1794;
Delaware, January 23, 1795; North Carolina, February 7, 1795.
Ratification was completed on February 7, 1795.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by South Carolina
on December 4, 1797. New Jersey and Pennsylvania did not take
action on the amendment.
[Article XII.]
The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote
by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at
least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves;
they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President,
and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President,
and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for
as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President,
and of the number of votes for each, which lists 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 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 two-thirds 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. (See Note 14)--The person having the greatest
number of votes as Vice-President, 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. But no
person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President
shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United
States.
Proposal and Ratification The twelfth amendment to the Constitution
of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the
several States by the Eighth Congress, on the 9th of December,
1803, in lieu of the original third paragraph of the first
section of the second article; and was declared in a proclamation
of the Secretary of State, dated the 25th of September, 1804,
to have been ratified by the legislatures of 13 of the 17
States. The dates of ratification were: North Carolina, December
21, 1803; Maryland, December 24, 1803; Kentucky, December
27, 1803; Ohio, December 30, 1803; Pennsylvania, January 5,
1804; Vermont, January 30, 1804; Virginia, February 3, 1804;
New York, February 10, 1804; New Jersey, February 22, 1804;
Rhode Island, March 12, 1804; South Carolina, May 15, 1804;
Georgia, May 19, 1804; New Hampshire, June 15, 1804.
Ratification was completed on June 15, 1804.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Tennessee, July
27, 1804.
The amendment was rejected by Delaware, January 18, 1804;
Massachusetts, February 3, 1804; Connecticut, at its session
begun May 10, 1804.
Article XIII.
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except
as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any
place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
The thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States
by the Thirty-eighth Congress, on the 31st day of January,
1865, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary
of State, dated the 18th of December, 1865, to have been ratified
by the legislatures of twenty-seven of the thirty-six States.
The dates of ratification were: Illinois, February 1, 1865;
Rhode Island, February 2, 1865; Michigan, February 2, 1865;
Maryland, February 3, 1865; New York, February 3, 1865; Pennsylvania,
February 3, 1865; West Virginia, February 3, 1865; Missouri,
February 6, 1865; Maine, February 7, 1865; Kansas, February
7, 1865; Massachusetts, February 7, 1865; Virginia, February
9, 1865; Ohio, February 10, 1865; Indiana, February 13, 1865;
Nevada, February 16, 1865; Louisiana, February 17, 1865; Minnesota,
February 23, 1865; Wisconsin, February 24, 1865; Vermont,
March 9, 1865; Tennessee, April 7, 1865; Arkansas, April 14,
1865; Connecticut, May 4, 1865; New Hampshire, July 1, 1865;
South Carolina, November 13, 1865; Alabama, December 2, 1865;
North Carolina, December 4, 1865; Georgia, December 6, 1865.
Ratification was completed on December 6, 1865.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Oregon, December
8, 1865; California, December 19, 1865; Florida, December
28, 1865 (Florida again ratified on June 9, 1868, upon its
adoption of a new constitution); Iowa, January 15, 1866; New
Jersey, January 23, 1866 (after having rejected the amendment
on March 16, 1865); Texas, February 18, 1870; Delaware, February
12, 1901 (after having rejected the amendment on February
8, 1865); Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected
it on February 24, 1865).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified)
by Mississippi, December 4, 1865.
Article XIV.
Section 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.
Section 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,(See Note 15) and citizens
of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation
in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of 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 years of age in such State.
Section 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.
Section 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. 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.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of this article.
Proposal and Ratification
The fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States
by the Thirty-ninth Congress, on the 13th of June, 1866. It
was declared, in a certificate of the Secretary of State dated
July 28, 1868 to have been ratified by the legislatures of
28 of the 37 States. The dates of ratification were: Connecticut,
June 25, 1866; New Hampshire, July 6, 1866; Tennessee, July
19, 1866; New Jersey, September 11, 1866 (subsequently the
legislature rescinded its ratification, and on March 24, 1868,
readopted its resolution of rescission over the Governor's
veto, and on Nov. 12, 1980, expressed support for the amendment);
Oregon, September 19, 1866 (and rescinded its ratification
on October 15, 1868); Vermont, October 30, 1866; Ohio, January
4, 1867 (and rescinded its ratification on January 15, 1868);
New York, January 10, 1867; Kansas, January 11, 1867; Illinois,
January 15, 1867; West Virginia, January 16, 1867; Michigan,
January 16, 1867; Minnesota, January 16, 1867; Maine, January
19, 1867; Nevada, January 22, 1867; Indiana, January 23, 1867;
Missouri, January 25, 1867; Rhode Island, February 7, 1867;
Wisconsin, February 7, 1867; Pennsylvania, February 12, 1867;
Massachusetts, March 20, 1867; Nebraska, June 15, 1867; Iowa,
March 16, 1868; Arkansas, April 6, 1868; Florida, June 9,
1868; North Carolina, July 4, 1868 (after having rejected
it on December 14, 1866); Louisiana, July 9, 1868 (after having
rejected it on February 6, 1867); South Carolina, July 9,
1868 (after having rejected it on December 20, 1866).
Ratification was completed on July 9, 1868.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Alabama, July 13,
1868; Georgia, July 21, 1868 (after having rejected it on
November 9, 1866); Virginia, October 8, 1869 (after having
rejected it on January 9, 1867); Mississippi, January 17,
1870; Texas, February 18, 1870 (after having rejected it on
October 27, 1866); Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having
rejected it on February 8, 1867); Maryland, April 4, 1959
(after having rejected it on March 23, 1867); California,
May 6, 1959; Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected
it on January 8, 1867).
Article XV.
Section 1. 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 race, color, or previous condition
of servitude.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation.
Proposal and Ratification
The fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States
by the Fortieth Congress, on the 26th of February, 1869, and
was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State,
dated March 30, 1870, to have been ratified by the legislatures
of twenty-nine of the thirty-seven States. The dates of ratification
were: Nevada, March 1, 1869; West Virginia, March 3, 1869;
Illinois, March 5, 1869; Louisiana, March 5, 1869; North Carolina,
March 5, 1869; Michigan, March 8, 1869; Wisconsin, March 9,
1869; Maine, March 11, 1869; Massachusetts, March 12, 1869;
Arkansas, March 15, 1869; South Carolina, March 15, 1869;
Pennsylvania, March 25, 1869; New York, April 14, 1869 (and
the legislature of the same State passed a resolution January
5, 1870, to withdraw its consent to it, which action it rescinded
on March 30, 1970); Indiana, May 14, 1869; Connecticut, May
19, 1869; Florida, June 14, 1869; New Hampshire, July 1, 1869;
Virginia, October 8, 1869; Vermont, October 20, 1869; Missouri,
January 7, 1870; Minnesota, January 13, 1870; Mississippi,
January 17, 1870; Rhode Island, January 18, 1870; Kansas,
January 19, 1870; Ohio, January 27, 1870 (after having rejected
it on April 30, 1869); Georgia, February 2, 1870; Iowa, February
3, 1870.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1870, unless the
withdrawal of ratification by New York was effective; in which
event ratification was completed on February 17, 1870, when
Nebraska ratified.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Texas, February
18, 1870; New Jersey, February 15, 1871 (after having rejected
it on February 7, 1870); Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after
having rejected it on March 18, 1869); Oregon, February 24,
1959; California, April 3, 1962 (after having rejected it
on January 28, 1870); Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having
rejected it on March 12, 1869).
The amendment was approved by the Governor of Maryland, May
7, 1973; Maryland having previously rejected it on February
26, 1870.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified)
by Tennessee, November 16, 1869.
Article XVI.
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The sixteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States
by the Sixty-first Congress on the 12th of July, 1909, and
was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State,
dated the 25th of February, 1913, to have been ratified by
36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Alabama,
August 10, 1909; Kentucky, February 8, 1910; South Carolina,
February 19, 1910; Illinois, March 1, 1910; Mississippi, March
7, 1910; Oklahoma, March 10, 1910; Maryland, April 8, 1910;
Georgia, August 3, 1910; Texas, August 16, 1910; Ohio, January
19, 1911; Idaho, January 20, 1911; Oregon, January 23, 1911;
Washington, January 26, 1911; Montana, January 30, 1911; Indiana,
January 30, 1911; California, January 31, 1911; Nevada, January
31, 1911; South Dakota, February 3, 1911; Nebraska, February
9, 1911; North Carolina, February 11, 1911; Colorado, February
15, 1911; North Dakota, February 17, 1911; Kansas, February
18, 1911; Michigan, February 23, 1911; Iowa, February 24,
1911; Missouri, March 16, 1911; Maine, March 31, 1911; Tennessee,
April 7, 1911; Arkansas, April 22, 1911 (after having rejected
it earlier); Wisconsin, May 26, 1911; New York, July 12, 1911;
Arizona, April 6, 1912; Minnesota, June 11, 1912; Louisiana,
June 28, 1912; West Virginia, January 31, 1913; New Mexico,
February 3, 1913.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts,
March 4, 1913; New Hampshire, March 7, 1913 (after having
rejected it on March 2, 1911).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified)
by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Utah.
[Article XVII.]
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. 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 the representation of any State 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.
Proposal and Ratification
The seventeenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States
by the Sixty-second Congress on the 13th of May, 1912, and
was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State,
dated the 31st of May, 1913, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification
were: Massachusetts, May 22, 1912; Arizona, June 3, 1912;
Minnesota, June 10, 1912; New York, January 15, 1913; Kansas,
January 17, 1913; Oregon, January 23, 1913; North Carolina,
January 25, 1913; California, January 28, 1913; Michigan,
January 28, 1913; Iowa, January 30, 1913; Montana, January
30, 1913; Idaho, January 31, 1913; West Virginia, February
4, 1913; Colorado, February 5, 1913; Nevada, February 6, 1913;
Texas, February 7, 1913; Washington, February 7, 1913; Wyoming,
February 8, 1913; Arkansas, February 11, 1913; Maine, February
11, 1913; Illinois, February 13, 1913; North Dakota, February
14, 1913; Wisconsin, February 18, 1913; Indiana, February
19, 1913; New Hampshire, February 19, 1913; Vermont, February
19, 1913; South Dakota, February 19, 1913; Oklahoma, February
24, 1913; Ohio, February 25, 1913; Missouri, March 7, 1913;
New Mexico, March 13, 1913; Nebraska, March 14, 1913; New
Jersey, March 17, 1913; Tennessee, April 1, 1913; Pennsylvania,
April 2, 1913; Connecticut, April 8, 1913.
Ratification was completed on April 8, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Louisiana, June
11, 1914.
The amendment was rejected by Utah (and not subsequently ratified)
on February 26, 1913.
Article [XVIII].(See Note 16)
Section 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.
Section. 2. The Congress and the several States shall have
concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section. 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
hereof to the States by the Congress.
Proposal and Ratification
The eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States
by the Sixty-fifth Congress, on the 18th of December, 1917,
and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State,
dated the 29th of January, 1919, to have been ratified by
the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification
were: Mississippi, January 8, 1918; Virginia, January 11,
1918; Kentucky, January 14, 1918; North Dakota, January 25,
1918; South Carolina, January 29, 1918; Maryland, February
13, 1918; Montana, February 19, 1918; Texas, March 4, 1918;
Delaware, March 18, 1918; South Dakota, March 20, 1918; Massachusetts,
April 2, 1918; Arizona, May 24, 1918; Georgia, June 26, 1918;
Louisiana, August 3, 1918; Florida, December 3, 1918; Michigan,
January 2, 1919; Ohio, January 7, 1919; Oklahoma, January
7, 1919; Idaho, January 8, 1919; Maine, January 8, 1919; West
Virginia, January 9, 1919; California, January 13, 1919; Tennessee,
January 13, 1919; Washington, January 13, 1919; Arkansas,
January 14, 1919; Kansas, January 14, 1919; Alabama, January
15, 1919; Colorado, January 15, 1919; Iowa, January 15, 1919;
New Hampshire, January 15, 1919; Oregon, January 15, 1919;
Nebraska, January 16, 1919; North Carolina, January 16, 1919;
Utah, January 16, 1919; Missouri, January 16, 1919; Wyoming,
January 16, 1919.
Ratification was completed on January 16, 1919. See Dillon
v. Gloss, 256 U.S. 368, 376 (1921).
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Minnesota on January
17, 1919; Wisconsin, January 17, 1919; New Mexico, January
20, 1919; Nevada, January 21, 1919; New York, January 29,
1919; Vermont, January 29, 1919; Pennsylvania, February 25,
1919; Connecticut, May 6, 1919; and New Jersey, March 9, 1922.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified)
by Rhode Island.
Article [XIX].
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.
Proposal and Ratification
The nineteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States
by the Sixty-sixth Congress, on the 4th of June, 1919, and
was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State,
dated the 26th of August, 1920, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification
were: Illinois, June 10, 1919 (and that State readopted its
resolution of ratification June 17, 1919); Michigan, June
10, 1919; Wisconsin, June 10, 1919; Kansas, June 16, 1919;
New York, June 16, 1919; Ohio, June 16, 1919; Pennsylvania,
June 24, 1919; Massachusetts, June 25, 1919; Texas, June 28,
1919; Iowa, July 2, 1919; Missouri, July 3, 1919; Arkansas,
July 28, 1919; Montana, August 2, 1919; Nebraska, August 2,
1919; Minnesota, September 8, 1919; New Hampshire, September
10, 1919; Utah, October 2, 1919; California, November 1, 1919;
Maine, November 5, 1919; North Dakota, December 1, 1919; South
Dakota, December 4, 1919; Colorado, December 15, 1919; Kentucky,
January 6, 1920; Rhode Island, January 6, 1920; Oregon, January
13, 1920; Indiana, January 16, 1920; Wyoming, January 27,
1920; Nevada, February 7, 1920; New Jersey, February 9, 1920;
Idaho, February 11, 1920; Arizona, February 12, 1920; New
Mexico, February 21, 1920; Oklahoma, February 28, 1920; West
Virginia, March 10, 1920; Washington, March 22, 1920; Tennessee,
August 18, 1920.
Ratification was completed on August 18, 1920.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Connecticut on
September 14, 1920 (and that State reaffirmed on September
21, 1920); Vermont, February 8, 1921; Delaware, March 6, 1923
(after having rejected it on June 2, 1920); Maryland, March
29, 1941 (after having rejected it on February 24, 1920, ratification
certified on February 25, 1958); Virginia, February 21, 1952
(after having rejected it on February 12, 1920); Alabama,
September 8, 1953 (after having rejected it on September 22,
1919); Florida, May 13, 1969; South Carolina, July 1, 1969
(after having rejected it on January 28, 1920, ratification
certified on August 22, 1973); Georgia, February 20, 1970
(after having rejected it on July 24, 1919); Louisiana, June
11, 1970 (after having rejected it on July 1, 1920); North
Carolina, May 6, 1971; Mississippi, March 22, 1984 (after
having rejected it on March 29, 1920).
Article [XX.]
Section 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 3d 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.
Section. 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every
year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of
January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
Section. 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the
term of the President, the President elect shall have died,
the Vice President elect shall become President. 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.
Section. 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 have devolved
upon them.
Section. 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th
day of October following the ratification of this article.
Section. 6. 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 from the date of its submission.
Proposal and Ratification
The twentieth amendment to the Constitution was proposed to
the legislatures of the several states by the Seventy-Second
Congress, on the 2d day of March, 1932, and was declared,
in a proclamation by the Secretary of State, dated on the
6th day of February, 1933, to have been ratified by the legislatures
of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Virginia,
March 4, 1932; New York, March 11, 1932; Mississippi, March
16, 1932; Arkansas, March 17, 1932; Kentucky, March 17, 1932;
New Jersey, March 21, 1932; South Carolina, March 25, 1932;
Michigan, March 31, 1932; Maine, April 1, 1932; Rhode Island,
April 14, 1932; Illinois, April 21, 1932; Louisiana, June
22, 1932; West Virginia, July 30, 1932; Pennsylvania, August
11, 1932; Indiana, August 15, 1932; Texas, September 7, 1932;
Alabama, September 13, 1932; California, January 4, 1933;
North Carolina, January 5, 1933; North Dakota, January 9,
1933; Minnesota, January 12, 1933; Arizona, January 13, 1933;
Montana, January 13, 1933; Nebraska, January 13, 1933; Oklahoma,
January 13, 1933; Kansas, January 16, 1933; Oregon, January
16, 1933; Delaware, January 19, 1933; Washington, January
19, 1933; Wyoming, January 19, 1933; Iowa, January 20, 1933;
South Dakota, January 20, 1933; Tennessee, January 20, 1933;
Idaho, January 21, 1933; New Mexico, January 21, 1933; Georgia,
January 23, 1933; Missouri, January 23, 1933; Ohio, January
23, 1933; Utah, January 23, 1933.
Ratification was completed on January 23, 1933.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts on
January 24, 1933; Wisconsin, January 24, 1933; Colorado, January
24, 1933; Nevada, January 26, 1933; Connecticut, January 27,
1933; New Hampshire, January 31, 1933; Vermont, February 2,
1933; Maryland, March 24, 1933; Florida, April 26, 1933.
Article [XXI.]
Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution
of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 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.
Section 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 from the date of the submission hereof
to the States by the Congress.
Proposal and Ratification
The twenty-first amendment to the Constitution was proposed
to the several states by the Seventy-Second Congress, on the
20th day of February, 1933, and was declared, in a proclamation
by the Secretary of State, dated on the 5th day of December,
1933, to have been ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The dates
of ratification were: Michigan, April 10, 1933; Wisconsin,
April 25, 1933; Rhode Island, May 8, 1933; Wyoming, May 25,
1933; New Jersey, June 1, 1933; Delaware, June 24, 1933; Indiana,
June 26, 1933; Massachusetts, June 26, 1933; New York, June
27, 1933; Illinois, July 10, 1933; Iowa, July
Amendment XXII
Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the
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 the 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 President, 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.
Section 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 from the date of its submission to the states
by the Congress.
Amendment XXIII
Section 1. The District constituting the seat of government
of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the 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.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXIV
Section 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.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXV
Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office
or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become
President.
Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the
Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President
who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote
of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President
pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that he is unable
to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until
he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary,
such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President
as Acting President.
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either
the principal officers of the executive departments or of
such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to
the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives their written declaration that
the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties
of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume
the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President
pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that no inability
exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office
unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal
officers of the executive department or of such other body
as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days
to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives their written declaration
that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties
of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue,
assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not
in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after
receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress
is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is
required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both
Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers
and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue
to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the
President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
Amendment XXVI
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who
are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or any state on account of
age.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXVII
No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators
and Representatives shall take effect until an election of
Representatives shall have intervened.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
top
of page
©2000. You The People,
Inc. All rights reserved.
Site designed and maintained by Castano Design Associates-@ArtsGloucester. |
|