Amendments 1-10 | Amendments 11-27
Congress of the
United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth
of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a
number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution,
expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers,
that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending
the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the
beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress
assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be
proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the
Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified
by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and
purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and
Amendment of the 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.
Note: The
following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the
Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December
15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."
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.
AMENDMENT
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.
AMENDMENT
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.
AMENDMENT
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.
AMENDMENT 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.
AMENDMENT
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.
AMENDMENT
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.
AMENDMENT
VIII
Excessive bail
shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual
punishments inflicted.
AMENDMENT
IX
The enumeration in
the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the people.
AMENDMENT 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.
AMENDMENT XI - Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified
February 7, 1795.
Note:
Article III, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 11.
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.
AMENDMENT
XII - Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804.
Note: A
portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th
amendment.
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 case of the death or other
constitutional disability of the President. --]* 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.
*Superseded
by section 3 of the 20th amendment.
AMENDMENT
XIII - Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.
Note: A
portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the
13th amendment.
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.
AMENDMENT
XIV - Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.
Note:
Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th
amendment.
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,* 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 the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the
provisions of this article.
*Changed by
section 1 of the 26th amendment.
AMENDMENT
XV - Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.
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 the power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT
XVI - Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.
Note:
Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16.
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.
AMENDMENT
XVII - Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.
Note:
Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.
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.
AMENDMENT
XVIII - Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919.
Repealed by amendment 21.
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.
AMENDMENT
XIX - Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.
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.
AMENDMENT
XX - Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.
Note:
Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this
amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by
section 3.
Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th
day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the
3rd day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this
article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then
begin.
Section 2.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall
begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a
different day.
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 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.
AMENDMENT
XXI - Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.
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.
AMENDMENT
XXII - Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951.
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 President more than once. But this Article shall
not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was
proposed by 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 - Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.
Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall
appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:
A number of
electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators
and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it
were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be
in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for
the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors
appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such
duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT
XXIV - Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.
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 poll tax
or other tax.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT
XXV - Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.
Note:
Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.
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 - Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.
Note:
Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the
26th amendment.
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or
older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any
State on account of age.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT
XXVII -
Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.
No law, varying the
compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take
effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.
http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/education
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
Many of us believe that our sovereign debt problems could have been avoided if we had ensured that our federal government remained in compliance with the US Constitution and the limits placed on the federal by the enumerated powers and 10th Amendment.
If we had resisted the federal government’s unconstitutional expansion of powers, 1/3rd of our landmass would be owned by the states, the federal courts would only be able to “opine” over federal issues and states would have had to deal with these issues with a balanced budget.
Resetting Constitutional powers will require some time to transition functions from the federal to the states. The federal government will need to continue to fund Social Security transition costs and pay down its debts.
If we are able to wrest the unconstitutional functions from the federal government, there would be no departments, agencies, programs, congressional committees or funds for Foreign Aid, Grants to States, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Health & Human Services, Education, Transportation, Energy, Labor, Interior or Commerce. There would be no HUD, EPA, USDA, TSA, FEMA, FDA, Federal Reserve, etc.
Loans held by Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac and Sallie Mae would be sold to the private sector. Education and Healthcare care should be repaired in the free market.
The Federal government would cede all federal lands to the states and transfer unconstitutional functions “to the States and the People” States and the People would have responsibility for education, labor, food inspection, environmental regulations, etc.
The Federal government would maintain military forces for defense, police the oceans, secure the borders, administer immigration policy, deal with other nations and operate the US mint and Patent Office. They would maintain a federal court, a legislature consisting of a House and Senate and maintain the Executive branch.
The Federal government would need to pay down the national debt and begin to transition Social Security for the next generation to private accounts.
Interest rates would be set by the free market. Churches, charities and individuals would need to reassume their previous responsibility for the poor. This would require the repeal of many laws and regulations. Malpractice would be handled by local Medical Associations. The Civil Rights Act should be repealed. The US should return to being a free market meritocracy. We should quit the UN and IMF. Congress should take control of trade agreements and immigration and should read all bills and write their own regulations. Bills should not be bundled to allow bad law to ride on critical Bills.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea
Party Leader
NTL Conservative Blog August 30 2015
National Parks – The notion that the federal government is allowed by the Constitution to own 1/3 of the US landmass is preposterous. The Constitution limits the federal government to only that land it uses to fulfill its enumerated powers. This land needs to be returned to the States.
Campaign Finance – Big Money has influenced elective office from the beginning. Many of the founders were wealthy enough to devote time to founding the US. In recent years, voters have been cut out of the process by global corporations with their own agendas. But now Big Money doesn’t care what happens to the U.S. Consequently, we need to restrict campaign contributions to registered voters and only for those candidates who would appear on their ballot.
Unsound Money – The US dollar was sound leading up to the passage of the Federal Reserve Act in 1913. Congress’ responsibility for the money supply was given to the Federal Reserve, who also took setting interest rates away from the free market. This imposed a “managed economy” to replace the “free market economy” the US was founded on. Money printing now needs to be restricted by Congress and interest rates should be returned to the free market as soon as possible.
Government Schools – These have failed on all fronts. The government needs to withdraw from all control and funding of education on all fronts.
Social Security – This needs
to be wound down and returned to the free market as soon as possible. If we had
sent our 15% to our own self-directed IRAs, we would have a retirement account
3 times larger than our payments.
Healthcare – This belongs in the private sector.
Insurance – This belongs in the private sector.
Lending - This belongs in the private sector.
Environmental Quality – This belongs to the States and the
People.
Urban Housing – This is not a federal matter or even a good
idea.
Welfare for Non-citizens – This is fiscal suicide.
Trade Agreements – This belongs in the private sector, but
the US government should be able to impose tariffs on imports and Impose total
economic isolation on bad countries.
Counterproductive Regulations – These are regulations that
are unnecessary or predatory.
Immigration – This used to be controlled by our need for
labor, but continued far beyond that. Now 93 million working-age US
citizens are without jobs, because of excessive immigration and open borders.
Excessive Government Debt – This should not be allowed at
any level of government.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
NTL Conservative BlogJune 24 2015
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