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 anothernor 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 StatesAnd 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 Lawsand
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 Congressbut 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 Lawbut 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 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
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,
George Washingtton -President. and deputy from Virginia
Signed also by the deputies of twelve states
Delaware
GeoRead
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jacob Broom
Maryland
James McHenry
Daniel Carroll.
Virginia
John Blair
James Madison Jr.
North Carolina
William Blount
Richard Dobbs Spaight
Hugh Williamson
South Carolina
James Rutledge
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler
Georgia
William Few
Abraham Baldwin
New Hampshire
John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King
Connecticut
William Sammual Johnson
Roger Sherman
New York
Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey
William Livingston
David Brearley.
William Paterson.
Jona Dayton
Pennsylvania
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
RobT Morris
George Clymer
Thomas S. Fitzsimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson
Gouv Morris
Attest William Jackson Secretary
ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENTS OF, THE
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
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
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 10, 1933;
Connecticut, July 11, 1933; New Hampshire, July 11, 1933; California, July 24, 1933; West
Virginia, July 25, 1933; Arkansas, August 1, 1933; Oregon, August 7, 1933; Alabama, August
8, 1933; Tennessee, August 11, 1933; Missouri, August 29, 1933; Arizona, September 5,
1933; Nevada, September 5, 1933; Vermont, September 23, 1933; Colorado, September 26,
1933; Washington, October 3, 1933; Minnesota, October 10, 1933; Idaho, October 17, 1933;
Maryland, October 18, 1933; Virginia, October 25, 1933; New Mexico, November 2, 1933;
Florida, November 14, 1933; Texas, November 24, 1933; Kentucky, November 27, 1933; Ohio,
December 5, 1933; Pennsylvania, December 5, 1933; Utah, December 5, 1933.
Ratification was completed on December 5, 1933.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Maine, on December 6, 1933, and by Montana, on
August 6, 1934.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by South Carolina, on December
4, 1933.
Article 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.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Eightieth
Congress on Mar. 21, 1947 by House Joint Res. No. 27, and was declared by the
Administrator of General Services, on Mar. 1, 1951, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Maine, March 31,
1947; Michigan, March 31, 1947; Iowa, April 1, 1947; Kansas, April 1, 1947; New Hampshire,
April 1, 1947; Delaware, April 2, 1947; Illinois, April 3, 1947; Oregon, April 3, 1947;
Colorado, April 12, 1947; California, April 15, 1947; New Jersey, April 15, 1947; Vermont,
April 15, 1947; Ohio, April 16, 1947; Wisconsin, April 16, 1947; Pennsylvania, April 29,
1947; Connecticut, May 21, 1947; Missouri, May 22, 1947; Nebraska, May 23, 1947; Virginia,
January 28, 1948; Mississippi, February 12, 1948; New York, March 9, 1948; South Dakota,
January 21, 1949; North Dakota, February 25, 1949; Louisiana, May 17, 1950; Montana,
January 25, 1951; Indiana, January 29, 1951; Idaho, January 30, 1951; New Mexico, February
12, 1951; Wyoming, February 12, 1951; Arkansas, February 15, 1951; Georgia, February 17,
1951; Tennessee, February 20, 1951; Texas, February 22, 1951; Nevada, February 26, 1951;
Utah, February 26, 1951; Minnesota, February 27, 1951.
Ratification was completed on February 27, 1951.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by North Carolina on February 28, 1951; South
Carolina, March 13, 1951; Maryland, March 14, 1951; Florida, April 16, 1951; Alabama, May
4, 1951.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Oklahoma in June 1947, and
Massachusetts on June 9, 1949.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator of General Services that the
amendment had become valid was made on Mar. 1, 1951, F.R. Doc. 51 092940, 16 F.R. 2019.
Article 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.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed by the Eighty-sixth Congress on June 17, 1960 and was declared
by the Administrator of General Services on Apr. 3, 1961, to have been ratified by 38 of
the 50 States. The dates of ratification were: Hawaii, June 23, 1960 (and that State made
a technical correction to its resolution on June 30, 1960); Massachusetts, August 22,
1960; New Jersey, December 19, 1960; New York, January 17, 1961; California, January 19,
1961; Oregon, January 27, 1961; Maryland, January 30, 1961; Idaho, January 31, 1961;
Maine, January 31, 1961; Minnesota, January 31, 1961; New Mexico, February 1, 1961;
Nevada, February 2, 1961; Montana, February 6, 1961; South Dakota, February 6, 1961;
Colorado, February 8, 1961; Washington, February 9, 1961; West Virginia, February 9, 1961;
Alaska, February 10, 1961; Wyoming, February 13, 1961; Delaware, February 20, 1961; Utah,
February 21, 1961; Wisconsin, February 21, 1961; Pennsylvania, February 28, 1961; Indiana,
March 3, 1961; North Dakota, March 3, 1961; Tennessee, March 6, 1961; Michigan, March 8,
1961; Connecticut, March 9, 1961; Arizona, March 10, 1961; Illinois, March 14, 1961;
Nebraska, March 15, 1961; Vermont, March 15, 1961; Iowa, March 16, 1961; Missouri, March
20, 1961; Oklahoma, March 21, 1961; Rhode Island, March 22, 1961; Kansas, March 29, 1961;
Ohio, March 29, 1961.
Ratification was completed on March 29, 1961.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by New Hampshire on March 30, 1961 (when that
State annulled and then repeated its ratification of March 29, 1961).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Arkansas on January 24,
1961.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator of General Services that the
amendment had become valid was made on Apr. 3, 1961, F.R. Doc. 61 093017, 26 F.R. 2808.
Article 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.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed by the Eighty-seventh Congress by Senate Joint Resolution No.
29, which was approved by the Senate on Mar. 27, 1962, and by the House of Representatives
on Aug. 27, 1962. It was declared by the Administrator of General Services on Feb. 4,
1964, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 38 of the 50 States.
This amendment was ratified by the following States:
Illinois, November 14, 1962; New Jersey, December 3, 1962; Oregon, January 25, 1963;
Montana, January 28, 1963; West Virginia, February 1, 1963; New York, February 4, 1963;
Maryland, February 6, 1963; California, February 7, 1963; Alaska, February 11, 1963; Rhode
Island, February 14, 1963; Indiana, February 19, 1963; Utah, February 20, 1963; Michigan,
February 20, 1963; Colorado, February 21, 1963; Ohio, February 27, 1963; Minnesota,
February 27, 1963; New Mexico, March 5, 1963; Hawaii, March 6, 1963; North Dakota, March
7, 1963; Idaho, March 8, 1963; Washington, March 14, 1963; Vermont, March 15, 1963;
Nevada, March 19, 1963; Connecticut, March 20, 1963; Tennessee, March 21, 1963;
Pennsylvania, March 25, 1963; Wisconsin, March 26, 1963; Kansas, March 28, 1963;
Massachusetts, March 28, 1963; Nebraska, April 4, 1963; Florida, April 18, 1963; Iowa,
April 24, 1963; Delaware, May 1, 1963; Missouri, May 13, 1963; New Hampshire, June 12,
1963; Kentucky, June 27, 1963; Maine, January 16, 1964; South Dakota, January 23, 1964;
Virginia, February 25, 1977.
Ratification was completed on January 23, 1964.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by North Carolina on May 3, 1989.
The amendment was rejected by Mississippi (and not subsequently ratified) on December 20,
1962.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator of General Services that the
amendment had become valid was made on Feb. 5, 1964, F.R. Doc. 64 091229, 29 F.R. 1715.
Article 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 (See Note 17) 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.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed by the Eighty-ninth Congress by Senate Joint Resolution No. 1,
which was approved by the Senate on Feb. 19, 1965, and by the House of Representatives, in
amended form, on Apr. 13, 1965. The House of Representatives agreed to a Conference Report
on June 30, 1965, and the Senate agreed to the Conference Report on July 6, 1965. It was
declared by the Administrator of General Services, on Feb. 23, 1967, to have been ratified
by the legislatures of 39 of the 50 States.
This amendment was ratified by the following States:
Nebraska, July 12, 1965; Wisconsin, July 13, 1965; Oklahoma, July 16, 1965; Massachusetts,
August 9, 1965; Pennsylvania, August 18, 1965; Kentucky, September 15, 1965; Arizona,
September 22, 1965; Michigan, October 5, 1965; Indiana, October 20, 1965; California,
October 21, 1965; Arkansas, November 4, 1965; New Jersey, November 29, 1965; Delaware,
December 7, 1965; Utah, January 17, 1966; West Virginia, January 20, 1966; Maine, January
24, 1966; Rhode Island, January 28, 1966; Colorado, February 3, 1966; New Mexico, February
3, 1966; Kansas, February 8, 1966; Vermont, February 10, 1966; Alaska, February 18, 1966;
Idaho, March 2, 1966; Hawaii, March 3, 1966; Virginia, March 8, 1966; Mississippi, March
10, 1966; New York, March 14, 1966; Maryland, March 23, 1966; Missouri, March 30, 1966;
New Hampshire, June 13, 1966; Louisiana, July 5, 1966; Tennessee, January 12, 1967;
Wyoming, January 25, 1967; Washington, January 26, 1967; Iowa, January 26, 1967; Oregon,
February 2, 1967; Minnesota, February 10, 1967; Nevada, February 10, 1967.
Ratification was completed on February 10, 1967.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Connecticut, February 14, 1967; Montana,
February 15, 1967; South Dakota, March 6, 1967; Ohio, March 7, 1967; Alabama, March 14,
1967; North Carolina, March 22, 1967; Illinois, March 22, 1967; Texas, April 25, 1967;
Florida, May 25, 1967.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator of General Services that the
amendment had become valid was made on Feb. 25, 1967, F.R. Doc. 67 092208, 32 F.R. 3287.
Article XXVI
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.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment was proposed by the Ninety-second Congress by Senate Joint Resolution No.
7, which was approved by the Senate on Mar. 10, 1971, and by the House of Representatives
on Mar. 23, 1971. It was declared by the Administrator of General Services on July 5,
1971, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 39 of the 50 States.
This amendment was ratified by the following States: Connecticut, March 23, 1971;
Delaware, March 23, 1971; Minnesota, March 23, 1971; Tennessee, March 23, 1971;
Washington, March 23, 1971; Hawaii, March 24, 1971; Massachusetts, March 24, 1971;
Montana, March 29, 1971; Arkansas, March 30, 1971; Idaho, March 30, 1971; Iowa, March 30,
1971; Nebraska, April 2, 1971; New Jersey, April 3, 1971; Kansas, April 7, 1971; Michigan,
April 7, 1971; Alaska, April 8, 1971; Maryland, April 8, 1971; Indiana, April 8, 1971;
Maine, April 9, 1971; Vermont, April 16, 1971; Louisiana, April 17, 1971; California,
April 19, 1971; Colorado, April 27, 1971; Pennsylvania, April 27, 1971; Texas, April 27,
1971; South Carolina, April 28, 1971; West Virginia, April 28, 1971; New Hampshire, May
13, 1971; Arizona, May 14, 1971; Rhode Island, May 27, 1971; New York, June 2, 1971;
Oregon, June 4, 1971; Missouri, June 14, 1971; Wisconsin, June 22, 1971; Illinois, June
29, 1971; Alabama, June 30, 1971; Ohio, June 30, 1971; North Carolina, July 1, 1971;
Oklahoma, July 1, 1971.
Ratification was completed on July 1, 1971.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Virginia, July 8, 1971; Wyoming, July 8, 1971;
Georgia, October 4, 1971.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Administrator of General Services that the
amendment had become valid was made on July 7, 1971, F.R. Doc. 71 099691, 36 F.R. 12725.
Article 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.
Proposal and Ratification
This amendment, being the second of twelve articles proposed by the First Congress on
Sept. 25, 1789, was declared by the Archivist of the United States on May 18, 1992, to
have been ratified by the legislatures of 40 of the 50 States.
This amendment was ratified by the following States: Maryland, December 19, 1789; North
Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; Delaware, January 28, 1790;
Vermont, November 3, 1791; Virginia, December 15, 1791; Ohio, May 6, 1873; Wyoming, March
6, 1978; Maine, April 27, 1983; Colorado, April 22, 1984; South Dakota, February 21, 1985;
New Hampshire, March 7, 1985; Arizona, April 3, 1985; Tennessee, May 23, 1985; Oklahoma,
July 10, 1985; New Mexico, February 14, 1986; Indiana, February 24, 1986; Utah, February
25, 1986; Arkansas, March 6, 1987; Montana, March 17, 1987; Connecticut, May 13, 1987;
Wisconsin, July 15, 1987; Georgia, February 2, 1988; West Virginia, March 10, 1988;
Louisiana, July 7, 1988; Iowa, February 9, 1989; Idaho, March 23, 1989; Nevada, April 26,
1989; Alaska, May 6, 1989; Oregon, May 19, 1989; Minnesota, May 22, 1989; Texas, May 25,
1989; Kansas, April 5, 1990; Florida, May 31, 1990; North Dakota, March 25, 1991; Alabama,
May 5, 1992; Missouri, May 5, 1992; Michigan, May 7, 1992; New Jersey, May 7, 1992.
Ratification was completed on May 7, 1992.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Illinois on May 12, 1992.
Certification of Validity
Publication of the certifying statement of the Archivist of the United States that the
amendment had become valid was made on May 18, 1992, F.R. Doc. 92 0911951, 57 F.R. 21187.
[Editorial note: There is some conflict as to the exact dates of ratification of the
amendments by the several States. In some cases, the resolutions of ratification were
signed by the officers of the legislatures on dates subsequent to that on which the second
house had acted. In other cases, the Governors of several of the States
"approved" the resolutions (on a subsequent date), although action by the
Governor is not contemplated by article V, which required ratification by the legislatures
(or conventions) only. In a number of cases, the journals of the State legislatures are
not available. The dates set out in this document are based upon the best information
available.]
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.
Note 17
So in original. Probably should be "departments".