Last Modified April 06, 2021

RESOURCES:

The Resource List Includes....

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Glosasary

This Glossary mostly contains snapshot images of older dictionaries with a few charts used within this work. ....Read More older definitions about the many words used within The Declaration and The US Constitution.

"Oiginal" Meaning

Any contract or other lawfully enforceable instruments, such as constitutions and laws, can be viewed from three perspectives:

1. Word–Origin definition, is what that word meant when it first came into popular use.
2. Word–Use definition, is what the word meant to the generation at the time used or written into the document in question, especially if a public document or law.
3. Word–Comprehension definition, is what the word means to the person at the time they read the word, which can be years or centuries after its application.

The Primary Word, is the word used in the actual document. It must be defined through a dictionary in publication at the time just prior to the word's usage. This cements the meaning, regarding its intended application for the people at the time of that writing. Secondary Words, are the words used within the Primary Word's Definition, which in many instances also needs defining so as to clarify the meaning of the Primary Word. The Secondary Word must also be defined from the same dictionary.

When it comes to any contract or other lawfully enforceable instruments, such as constitutions and laws, using any definition, other than the Word–Use definition, is an unethical — criminal and even treasonous process of amending the contents; unless the subject writing allows for such an amendment process.

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1756 Dictionary's Copyright Page, as well as, an Alphabet Explanation

This shows publication year; MDCCLVI, which is 1756. The person credited for the work, is Samuel Johnson A.M.

Noah Webster would not publish his first dictionary edition until about 1806; with other editions at 1828 and 1898. These, most popularly used by constitution "scholars" because they are considered to be "American" dictionaries — all–be–they written after the fact.

Even the US Constitution, Article 1, Section 9, Clause 3 prohibits Congress; were Section 10, Clause 2 prohibits the States from Ex Post Facto practices of law.

Since the Ex Post Facto law practice is expressly prohibited; teaching people about how to define words used in law — must follow the same Ex Post Facto prohibitions when defining words used in those laws.

The image above, shows the first part of alphabet and how the letters appear in comparison to other alphabet styles.

The image above, shows the second part of alphabet and how the letters appear in comparison to other alphabet styles. Here we see how the letter 's' quite often looks like the letter 'f' with missing cross arm.

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Difficulty Of Establishing Corruption — vs. — Ease Of Removing Corruption

Difficulty of Establishing Corruption

It should be as difficult as possible for corruption to enter government. Thus, as seen with the far left in red, requiring all (100%) registered voters Consent To any thing or any one on the ballot makes it more difficult for corruption to get into government. It becomes easier to get corruption into government when requiring fewer registered voter's consent.

Ease of Removing Corruption

It should be as easy as possible to remove corruption from within government. Thus, as seen with the far left in blue, requiring as few as 0% or just 1 registered voter's Consent to remove any corrupted thing or any corrupted person in government. It becomes harder to effect that removal by requiring ever–larger percentages of registered voters consent.

The 50% Compromise

Because, in an honorable system, the standard must be identical for the one side as it is for the other; we establish The 50% Compromise. This establishes the voting "post" if you will, at 50% of the total number of registered voters. To enter or be removed from government, the total number of registered voter's consent must be more than 50% to succeed.

The registered voters may establish that post at any position over 50%; as seen within The Constitution for the United States of America (such as; 2/3 congressional veto overturn or proposing amendments; 3/4 of states to ratify proposed amendments; or even all of the states to amend The unanimous Declaration of the united States of America).

Growth Chart Days 1–15 & 15–30

Growth Chart; finding enough registered voters (part 1)

This shows what happens when each person finds one more person committed to attaining Clean Honest Government and keeps us all on the same page working from the same plans.

At day 15; it still appears impossible to attain Clean Honest Government within 30 days. After all, our goal is 135,000,0000 well–informed registered voter's signatures.

Growth Chart; finding enough registered voters (part 2 below)

By day 20; it looks promising.

By day 25; it looks real.

By day 28; it's a done deal.

For Getting It Done in 30 Days — or less (go to: Section 12)

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GLOSSARY — alphabetized older dictionary definition napshots

A a

To ABDICATE — ABDICATION – (1756)



To ABDICATE. v. a.

To give up right ; to resign.




ABDICATION. s.

The act of abdicating ; resignation.

To ABSTAIN – (1785)



To ABSTAIN. .

To forbear, to deny one's self any gratification; with the particle from.

To ACCOUTRE – (1756)



To ACCOUTRE. v. a.

To dress ; to equip.

ACCURATE — ACCURATELY — ACCURATENESS – (1756)



ACCURATE. a.

1. Exact, as opposed to negligence or ignorance.
2. Exact, without defect or failure.




ACCURATELY. ad.

Exactly, without errour, nicely.




ACCURATENESS. s.

Exactness, nicety.

ADVERSE — ADVERSITY — ADVERSLY – (1756)



ADVERSE. a.

1. Acting with contrary direction.
2. Calamitous ; afflictive ; pernicious.




ADVERSITY. s.

1. Affliction ; calamity.
2. The cause of our sorrow ; misfortune.




ADVERSLY. a.

Oppositely ; unfortunately.

ADVERSE — ADVERSITY – (1785)

ADVERSE. adj.

ADVERSITY. n. s.
1. The curse of our sorrow ; affliction ; misfortune. In this sense it may have a plural.
2. The state of unhappiness ; misery.
ALIENABLE – (1756)



ALIENABLE. a.

That of which the property may be transferred.

ALIENABLE – (1756)



ALIENABLE. a.

That of which the property may be transferred.

ALL – (1785)

ALL. adj. 1 of 2
1. Being the whole number ; every one.
2. Being the whole quantity ; every part.


ALL. adv. 1 of 2

ALL. n. s. 2 of 2
1. The whole ; opposed to part, or nothing.
2. Every thing.
ALLIANCE – (1756)

ALLIANCE. s.
1. The state of connection with another by confederacy ; a league.
2. Relation by marriage.
3. Relation by any form of kindred.
4. The persons allied to each other.
To ALTER – (1756)



To ALTER. v. a.

1. To change ; to make otherwise than it is.




To ALTER v. n.

To become otherwise than it was.

ALTERATION – (1756)

ALTERATION. s.
1. The act of altering or changing.
2. The change made.
To APPLY – (1756)



To APPLY. v. a.

3. To make use of as relative or suitable.

4. To put to a certain use.

5. To use as means to an end.

7. To have recourse to, as a petitioner.

APPROBATION – (1756)

APPROBATION. s.
1. The act of approving, or expressing himself pleased.
2. The liking of any thing.
3. Attestation ; support.
ARMS – (1785)

ARMS. n. s.
1. Weapons of offence, or armour of defence.
2. A state of hostility.
3. War in general.
4. Action ; the act of taking arms.
5. The ensigns armorial of a family.
To ASCERTAIN — ASCERTAINER – (1756)



To ASCERTAIN. v. a.

1. To make certain ; to fix ; to establish.
2. To make confident.




ASCERTAINER. s.

The person that proves or establishes.

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B b

To BESTOW – (1756)



To BESTOW. v. a.

1. To give ; to confer upon.

5. To apply

BY–LAW – (1756)



BY-LAW. s.

By-laws are orders made for the good of those that make them, farther than the publick law binds.

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C c

CAPITATION – (1756)



CAPITATION. s.

Numeration by heads.

CAPITATION – (1785)



CAPITATION. n. s.

Numeration by heads.

CENSUS – (1785)

CENSUS. n.
1. A numbering of the people, and valuation of their estates, for the purpuse of imposing taxes, etc. ; — usually made once in five years.
2. An official registration of the number of the people, the value of their estates, and other general statistics of a country.
CESSION – (1756)

CESSION. s.
1. Retreat ; the act of giving away.
2. Resignation.
CESSION – (1785)

CESSATION. v. a. 1 of 2

CESSION. n. f. 2 of 2
1. Retreat ; the act of giving way.
2. Resignation ; the act of yielding up or quitting to another.
CHARTER – (1756)

CHARTER. s.
1. A charter is a written evidence.
2. Any writing bestowing privileges or rights.
3. Privilege ; immunity ; exemption.
CIVICK — CIVIL — CIVILLY – (1756)

CIVICK. a. 1 of 2
Relating to civil honors ; not military.


CIVIL. a. 1 of 2
1. Relating to the community ; not political.
2. Not anarchy ; not wild.
3. Not foriegn ; intestine.
4. Not ecclesiastical.
5. Not natural.
6. Not military.
7. Not criminal.
8. Civilized ; not barbarous.
9. Complacent ; civilised ; gentle ; well bred.

CIVILLY ad. 2 of 2
1. In a manner relating to government.
COLONY – (1756)

COLONY. s.
1. A body of people drawn from the mother–country to inhabit some distant place.
2. The country planted ; a plantation.
COMMERCE — To COMMERCE — To COMMERCIAL – (1785)



COMMERCE. n. s. 1 of 2

1. Intercourse ; the exchange of one thing for another ; interchange of any thing ; trade ; traffick.



COMMERCE. n. s. 2 of 2

2. Common or familiar intercourse.




To COMMERCE. v. n. 2 of 2

1. To traffick.
2. To hold intercourse with.




COMMERCIAL. adj. 2 of 2

Relating to commerce or traffick.

common-law-1756



YD — To YD – (1756)

Double check dates and definitions.

common-law-1785



YD — To YD – (1785)

COMMON LAW .... (1785)???Common Law contains those customes and usages which have, by long perscription, obtained in this nation the force of law. It is distinguished from statute law, which owes its authority to acts of parliment.

COMMONWEALTH – (1756)

COMMONWEALTH. ...
1. A polity ; an established form of civil life.
2. The publick ; the general body of the people.
3. A government in which the supreme power is lodged in the people ; a republick. [This might be the other two goernment forns referred to in the DEMOCRACY definition. However, DEMOCRACY uses the word Sovereign; where here the wor is Supreme. What's the difference?]
COMMUNITY (1756)

COMMUNITY. s.
1. The commonwealth ; the body politick.
2. Common possession.
COMPACT — To COMPACT – (1756)

COMPACT. s.
A contract ; an accord ; an agreement.


To COMPACT. v. a.
3. To league together.
4. To join together ; to bring into a system.
COMPLACENSE — CONPLACENCY — COMPLACENT – (1756)



COMPLACENSE. CONPLACENCY; s.

1. Pleasure ; satisfaction ; gratification.
2. The cause of pleasure ; joy.
3. Civility ; complaisance.




COMPLACENT. a.

Civil ; affable ; soft.

CONFEDERATE — CONFEDERATION – (1756)

)

CONFEDERATE. s.

One who engages to support another ; an ally.




CONFEDERATION. s.

League ; alliance.

To CONFER – (1756)



To CONFER. v, a.

To discourse with another upon a stated subject.

To CONFER. v. a.

1. To compare.

2. To give ; to bestow.

3. To contiibute ; to conduce.

To CONFRONT – (1785)

To CONFRONT. v. a.
1. To stand against another ; in full view ; to face.
2. To stand face to face in opposition to another.
3. To oppose one evidence to another in open court.
CONSENT — To CONSENT – (1756)

CONSENT. s.
1. The act of yielding or consenting.
2. Concord ; agreement ; accord.
3. Coherence with ; correspondence.
4. Tendency to one point.
5. The perception one part has with a other, by means of some fibres and nerves common to them both.


To CONSENT. v. n.
1. To be of the same mind ; to agree.
2. To co–operate to the same end.
CONSTITUENT – (1756)

CONSTITUENT s.
1. The person or thing which constitutes or settles any thing.
2. That which is necessary to the subsistence of any thing.
3. He that deputes another.
To CONSTITUTE — CONSTITUTION — CONSTITUTIONAL – (1756)

To CONSTITUTE. v. a. 2 of 2
1. To give formal existence ; to produce.
2. To erect ; To establish.
3. To depute.


CONSTITUTION. s. 2 of 2
1. The act of constituting ; enacting ; establishing.
3. Corporeal frame.
6. Established form of government ; system of laws and customs.
7. Particular law ; establishment ; institution.


CONSTITUTIONAL. a. 2 of 2
2. Consistent with the constitution ; legal.
To CONSTITUTE — CONSTITUTION — CONSTITUTIONAL – (1785)

To CONSTITUTE. v. a. 2 of 2
1. To give formal existence ; to produce.
2. To erect ; To establish.
3. To depute.


CONSTITUTION. s. 2 of 2
1. The act of constituting ; enacting ; establishing.
3. Corporeal frame.
6. Established form of government ; system of laws and customs. [emphasis added]
7. Particular law ; establishment ; institution.


CONSTITUTIONAL. a. 2 of 2
2. Consistent with the constitution ; legal.
CONTEXT – (1756)



CONTEXT. s.

The general series of a discourse.

To CONTRACT — CONTRACT – (1756)

To CONTRACT. v. a. 1 of 2
2. To bring two parties together ; to make a bargain.

CONTRACT. s. 2 of 2
1. A bargain ; a compact.
3. A writing in which the terms of a bargain are included.
CONVULSION – (1756)

CONVULSION. s.
2. Any irregular and violent motion ; commotion.
CORPORATE — CORPORATION – (1756)



CORPORATE. a.

United in a body or community.




CORPORATION. s.

A body politick, authorized to have a common seal , one head officer or more, able by their common consent, to grant or receive in law, any thing within the compass of their charter ; even as one man.

CORPOREAL – (1756)



CORPOREAL. a.

Having a body ; not immaterial.

COUNSEL — COUNSELLOR – (1785)

COUNSEL. n. s. 1 of 2
1. Advice ; direction.
2. Consultation ; interchange of opinions.
3. Deliberation ; examination of consequences.

COUNSELLOR. n. s. 2 of 2
1. One that gives advice.
4. One that is consulted in a case of law ; a lawyer.
CREATOR – (1756)



CREATOR. s.

The being that bestows existence.

CRIME — CRIMINAL – (1756)

CRIME. s.
An act contrary to right ; an offense ; a great fault.


CRIMINAL. a.
3. Not civil. as a criminal prosecution.


CRIMINAL. s.
1. A man accused.
CRIME — CRIMINAL – (1785)

CRIME. n. s. 1 of 2
An act contrary to right ; an offense ; a great fault ; an act of wickedness.

CRIMINAL. adj. 2 of 2
3. Not civil ; as, a criminal prosecution ; the criminal law.


CRIMINAL. n. s. 2 of 2
1. A man accused.
CRUEL — CRUELTY – (1785)



CRUEL. adj. 1 of 2

1. Pleased with hurting others ; inhuman ; hard–hearted ; void of pity ; wanting compassion ; savage ; barbarous : unrelenting.



CRUELTY. n. s. 2 of 2

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D d

DEMOCRACY — DEMOCRATICAL – (1756)



DEMOCRACY. s. 1 of 2

One of the three forms of government ; that in which the sovereign power is lodged in the body of the people. [See also COMMONWEALTH]



DEMOCRATICAL. a. 2 of 2

Pertaining to a popular governnent ; popular.

DEPUTATION — To DEPUTE — DEPUTY – (1756)

DEPUTATION. s.
1. The act of deputing, or sending with a special commission.
2. Vicegerency.


To DEPUTE. v. a.
To send with a special commission ; to impower one to transact instead of another.


DEPUTY. s.
1. A lieutenant ; a viceroy.
2. Any one that transacts business for another.
DESPOT — DESPOTICAL — DESPOTICK — DESPOTISM – (1756)



DESPOT. s.

An absolute prince ; as, the despot of Servia.




DESPOTICAL. DESPOTICK. a.

Absolute in power ; unlimited in authority.




DESPOTISM. s.

Absolute power.

DESPOT — DESPOTICAL — DESPOTICK – (1785)



DESPOT. n. s.

An absolute prince ; one that governs with unlimited authority. The word is not in use except as applied to some Dacian prince ; as, the despot of Servia.




DESPOTICAL. DESPOTICK. adj.

Absolute in power ; unlimited in authority ; arbitrary ; unaccountable.

DICTION – (1785)



DICTION. n. s.

Style ; language ; expression.

difficulty-of-corruption-vs-ease-of-stopping-it



YD — To YD – (17)

T. v. a.

DISCOURSE — To DISCOURSE – (1756)



DISCOURSE. s.

1. The act of the understanding, by which it passes from premises to consequences.

2. Conversation ; mutual intercourse of language ; talk.

4. A treatise ; a dissertatian either written or uttered.

To DISCOURSE. v. n.

1. To converse ; to talk ; to relate.

2. To treat upon in a solemn or set manner.

3. To reason ; to pass from premises to consequences.

DISPOSITION – (1756)

DISPOSITION. s.
1. Order ; method ; distribution.
2. Natural fitness ; quality.
3. Tendency to any act or state.
4. Temper of mind.
5. Affection of kindness or ill-will.
6. Predominant inclination.
DIVINE – (1756)

DIVINE. a.
1. Partaking of the nature of God.
2. Proceeding from God ; not natural ; not human.
3. Excellent in supreme degree.
4. Presageful ; divining ; prescient.


DIVINE. s.
1. A minister of the gospel ; a priest ; a clergyman.
2. A man skilled in divinity ; a theologian.

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E e

ECCLESIASTICAL — ECCLESIATICK – (1756)



ECCLESIASTICAL. ECCLESIATICK. a.

Relating to the church ; not civil.




ECCLESIASTICK. s.

A person dedicated to the ministries of religion.

EFFECT – (1785)

EFFECT. n. s.
7. [In the plural] Goods ; moveables.
EMOLUMENT – (1785)



EMOLUMENT. n. s.

Profit ; advantage.

To ENSURE – (1756)

To ENSURE. v. a. 1 of 2
1. To ascertain ; to make certain ; to secure.
2. To exempt any thing from hazard by paying a certain sum, on condition of being reimbursed for miscarriage.



To ENSURE. v. a. 2 of 2
3. To promise reimbursement of any miscarriage for a certain reward stipulated
To ENTREAT — ENTREATY – (1756)



To ENTREAT. v. a.

1. To petition ; to solicite ; to importune.
2. To prevail upon by solicitation.




To ENTREAT. v. n.

3. To make a petition.




ENTREATY. s.

Petition ; prayer ; solicitation.

To ENUMERATE — ENUMERATION – (1756)



To ENUMERATE. v. a.

To reckon up singly ; to count over distinctly.




ENUMERATION. s.

The act of numbering or counting over.

To ENUMERATE — ENUMERATION – (1785)



To ENUMERATE. v. a.

To reckon up singly ; to count over distinctly ; to number.




ENUMERATION. n. s.

The act of numbering or counting over; number told out.

EQUAL – (1756)

EQUAL. a.
1. Like another in bulk, or any quality that admits comparison.


EQUAL. s.
1. One not inferiour or superiour to another.
EVIDENT – (1756)



EVIDENT. a.

Plain ; apparent ; notorious.

EXPRESSION – (1756)

EXPRESSION. s.
1. The act or power of representing any thing.
2. The form or craft of language in which any thoughts are uttered.
3. A phrase ; a mode of speech.
EXPRESSION – (1785)

EXPRESSION. n. s.
1. The act or power of representing any thing.
2. The form or mode of language in which any thoughts are uttered.
3. A phrase ; a mode of speech.

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F f

FAST – (1756)

FAST. a.
6. Speedy ; quick ; swift.
FORBEAR – (1756)



FORBEAR. s.

1. To cease from any thing; to intermit.

3.To omit voluntarily; not to do; to abstain.

FORM – (1756)

FORM s.
8. Stated method ; established practice.


To FORM. v. a.
1. To make out of materials.
2. To model in a particular shape.
3. To modify ; to scheme ; to plan.
4. To arrange ; to combine in a particular manner.
5. To adjust ; to settle.
6. To contrive ; to join.
7. To model by education or institution.
To FOUND – (1756)

To FOUND. v. a.
3. To establish ; to erect.
5. To raise upon, as on a principle or ground.
FOUNDER – (1756)

FOUNDER. s.
1. A builder ; one who raises an edifice.
2. One who establishes a revenue for any purpose.
3. One from whom any thing has its original or beginning.

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G g

GOD – (1756)

GOD. s.
1. The Supreme Being.
2. A false god ; an idol.
3. Any person or thing deified or too much honoured.
GOODS – (1785)

GOODS. n. s.
1. Moveables in a house.
2. Personal and moveable estate.
3. Wares ; freight ; merchandise.
To GOVERN – (1756)



To GOVERN. v. a.

1. To rule as a chief magistrate.
2. To regulate ; to influence ; to direct.
3. To manage ; to restrain.




To GOVERN. v. n.

To keep superiority.

GOVERNABLE — GOVERNANCE – (1756)

GOVERNABLE. a.
Submissive to authority ; subject to rule.


GOVERNANCE. s.
1. Government ; rule ; management.
2. Control, as that of a guardian.
GOVERNMENT – (1756)
GOVERNMENT. s.

1. Form of community with respect to the disposition of the supreme authority.
2. An establishment of legal authority.
3. Administration of publick affairs.
GOVERNOUR – (1756)

GOVERNOUR. s.
1. One who has the supreme direction.
2. One who is invested with supreme authority in a state.
3. One who rules any place with delegated and temporary authority.
growth-chart. YD — To YD –



T. v. a.

growth-chart-days-1-15 & 16-30 YD — To YD – (17)



T. v. a.






T. v. a.

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H h

HOSTILE — HOSTILITY – (1785)



HOSTILE. adj.

Adverse ; opposite ; suitable to an enemy.




HOSTILITY. n. s.

The practices of an open enemy ; open war ; opposition in war.

HUMAN – (1756)

HUMAN. a.
1. Having the qualities of a man.
2. Belonging to man.
HUMANKIND – (1756)



HUMANKIND. s.

The race of man.

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I i

IMUNITY – (1785)

IMMUNITY. n. s. 1 of 2
1. Discharge from any obligation.
2. Privilege ; exemption from onerous duties.



IMMUNITY n. s. 2 of 2
3. Freedom.
INALIENABLE – (1756)



INALIENABLE. a.

That cannot be alienated.

INCOME – (1898)

INCOME. n.
3. The gain which proceeds from labor, business, property, or capital of any kind, as the produce od a farm, the rent of houses, the proceeds of a professional business, the profits of commerce or of occupation, or the interest of money or stocks in funds, etc.; revenue ; receipts; salary ; especially, the annual receipts of a private person or a corporation, from property; as a large income.
To INCORPORATE —. INCORPORATION – (1756)

To INCORPORATE. v. a.
3. To form into a corporation, or body politick.
4. To unite; to associate.


INCORPORATION. s.
2. Formation of a body politick.
To INCORPORATE — INCORPORATION – (1785)

To INCORPORATE. v. a.
To form into a corporation, or body politick.


INCORPORATION. s.
3. Formation of a body politick.
INSTEAD of – (1756)

INSTEAD of. prep.
1. In room of ; in place of.
2. Equal to.
To INTERROGATE — INTERROGATION – (1756)

To INTERROGATE. v. a. 1 of 2
To examine ; to question.


To INTERROGATE. v. n. 1 of 2
To ask; to put questions.



INTERROGATION s.
1. A question put ; an enquiry.
INTESTINE – (1756)

INTESTINE. a. 1 of 2
1. Internal ; inward ; not external.

INTESTINE. a. 2 of 2
3. Domestick, not foreign.
INVOLUNTARILY — INVOLUNTARY — INVOLUTION – (1785)



INVOLUNTARILY. adv. 1 of 2

Not by choice ; not spontaneously.






INVOLUNTARY. adj. 2 of 2

1. Not having the power of choice.
2. Not chosen ; not done willingly.




INVOLUTION. n. s. 2 of 2

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J j

JUDGE – (1756)

JUDGE. s.
1. One who is invested with authority to determine any cause or question, real or personal.
2. One who presides in a court of judicature.
3. One who has skill sufficient to decide upon the merit of any thing.

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K k

Left Blank

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L l

LAW – (1756)

LAW. s.
1. A rule of action.
2. A decree, edict, statute, or custom, publickly established.
3. Judicial process.
4. Conformity to law ; any thing lawful.
5. An established and constant mode or process.
LAW – (1785)



LAW. v. a.

1. A rule of action.
2. A decree, edict, statute, or custom, publically established as a rule of justice.
3. A decree authoritatively annexing rewards or punishment to certain actions.




LAWFUL. .

LEAGUE – (1756)



LEAGUE s.

A confederacy ; a combination.

LIGHT – (1756)

LIGHT. a.
11. Easy to admit any influence ; unsteady ; unsettled.

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M m

MAN – (1756)

MAN. s.
1. Human being.
9. Individual.
MANKIND – (1756)

MANKIND. s.
1. The race or species of human beings.
MEN – (1756)



MEN. .

The plural of man.

MILITARY — MILITIA – (1756)



MILITARY. .

1. Engaged in the life of a soldier ; soldierly.
2. Suiting a soldier ; pertaining to a soldier ; warlike.
3. Effected by soldiers.




MILITIA. s.

The trainbands ; the standing force of a nation.

MILITARY — MILITIA – (1785)



MILITARY. . 1 of 2

1. Engaged in the life of a soldier ; soldierly.
2. Suiting a soldier ; pertaining to a soldier ; warlike.
3. Effected by soldiers.






MILITIA. n. s. 2 of 2

The trainbands ; the standing force of a nation.

MODERATE – (1785)

MODERATE. MODERATE adj.
1. Temperate ; not excessive.
2. Not hot of temper.
3. Not luxurious ; not expensive.
4. Not extreme in opinion ; not sanguine in a ...
5. Placed between extremes ; ...
MODERATION – (1785)

MODERATION n. s.
1. Forbearance of extremity ; the contrary temper to party violence ; state of keeping a due mean betwixt extremes.
2. Calmness of mind ; equanimity.
MOVEABLES – (1785)



MOVEABLES. n.s.

Goods ; furniture ; distinguished from real or immoveable possessions, as lands or houses.

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N n

NATION — NATIONAL – (1756)

NATION. s.
A people distinguished from another people.


NATIONAL. a.
1. Publick ; general ; not private ; not particular.

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O o

To OMIT – (1756)



To OMIT. s.

2. To neglect to practice.

To OPPOSE – (1785)

To OPPOSE. v. a. 1 of 2
1. To act against ; to be adverse ; to hinder ; to resist.

To OPPOSE. v. n. 2 of 2
1. To act adversely.
OPPOSITE – (1756)



OPPOSITE. a.

1. Placed in front ; facing each other.
2. Adverse ; Repugnant.
3. Contrary.




OPPOSITE. s.

Adversary ; opponent ; antagonist.

To OPPRESS — OPPRESSION — OPPRESSIVE – (1756)

To OPPRESS v. a.
1. To crush by hardship or unreasonable sevrity.
2. To overpower ; to subdue.


OPPRESSION s.
2. The state of being oppressed ; misery.
3. Hardship ; calamity.


OPPRESSIVE. a.
1. Cruel ; inhuman ; unjustly exactious or severe.
2. Heavy ; overwhelming.
To OPPRESS — OPPRESSION — OPPRESSIVE — OPPRESSOR – (1785)



To OPPRESS. v. a. 1 of 2

1. To crush by hardship or unreasonable severity.
2. To overpower ; to subdue.




OPPRESSION. n. s. 1 of 2

1. The act of oppressing ; cruelty ; sevetity.



OPPRESSIVE. adj. 2 of 2

1. Cruel ; inhuman ; unjustly exactious or severe.




OPPRESSOR. n. s. 2 of 2

One who harasses others with unreasonable or unjust severity.

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P p

PEOPLE – (1756)

PEOPLE. s.
1. A nation ; those who compose a community.
3. The commonality ; not the princes or nobles.
5. Men, or persons in general.
PERSON – (1756)



PERSON. s. 1 of 2

1. Individual or particular man or woman.
2. Man or woman considered as opposed to things.
3. Human Being.
4. Man or woman considered as present, acting or suffering.
5. A general loose term for human being.






PERSON. s. 2 of 2

PERSPECTIVE – (1756)



PERSPECTIVE. s.

1. A glass through which things are viewed.
2. The science by which things are ranged in picture, according to their appearance in their real situation.
3. View ; visto.




PERSPECTIVE. a.

Relating to the science of vision ; optick ; optical.

PPETITION. – (1756)

PETITION. s.
1. Request ; intreaty ; supplication ; prayer.
2. Single branch or article of a prayer.
To PETITION – (1756)



To PETITION. v. a.

To solicite ; to supplicate.

PLURALITY – (1756)

PLURALITY n. s.
1. The state of being or having a greater number.
2. A number more than one.
4. The greater number ; the majority.
PLURALITY – (1785)

PLURALITY n. s.
1. The state of being or having a greater number.
2. A number more than one.
4. The greater number ; the majority.
POLITICAL — POLITICALLY — POLITICASTER — POLITICIAN — POLITICK — POLITICKLY — POLITY – (1756)



POLITICAL. a. 1 of 2

1. Relating to politicks ; relating to the administration of publick affairs.
2. Cunning ; skilled.




POLITICALLY. ad. 1 of 2

1. With relation to publick administration.
2. Artfully ; politically.




POLITICASTER. s. 1 of 2

1. A petty ignorant pretender to politicks.




POLITICIAN. s. 1 of 2

1. One versed in the arts of government ; one skilled in politicks.
2. A man of artifice ; one of deep contrivance.






POLITICK. a. 2 of 2

1. Political ; civil.
2. Prudent ; versed in affairs.
3. Artful ; cunning.




POLITICKLY. ad. 2 of 2

Artfully ; cunningly.




POLITY. s. 2 of 2

A form of government ; civil constitution.

POLL — To POLL – (1756)

POLL. s.
1. The head.
2. A catalogue or list of persons ; a register of heads.


To POLL. v. a.
4. To take a list or register of persons.
5. To enter one's name in a list or register.
6. To insert into a number as a voter.
POST – (1756)



POST. s.

1. The head.

PRIVILEGE – (1785)

PRIVILEGE. n. s. 1 of 2
1. Peculiar advantage.



PRIVILEGE. n. s. 2 of 2
2. Immunity.
To PROPOSE – (1785)



To PROPOSE. v. a.

To offer to the consideration.

To PROSECUTE — PROSECUTION – (1785)

To PROSECUTE. v. a. 1 of 2
4. To persue by law; to sue criminally.


PROSECUTION. n. s. 1of 2



PROSECUTION. n. s. 2 of 2
2. Suit against a man in a criminal case.
To PROTECT – (1756)



To PROTECT. v. a.

To defend ; to cover from evil ; to shield.

PROVIDENCE – (1756)

PROVIDENCE. s. 1 of 2
1. Foresight ; timely care ; forecast ; the act of providing.
2. The care of God over created beings ; divine superintendence.

PROVIDENCE. s. 2 of 2
3. Prudence ; frugality ; reasonable and moderate care of expence.
PUBLICK – (1756)

PUBLICK. a.
1. Belonging to the state or nation ; not private.
4. Regarding not private interest, but the good of the community.


PUBLIC. s.
1. The general body of mankind, or of a state or nation.
PUBLICK – (1785)

PUBLIC. adj. 1 of 2
1. Belonging to the state or nation ; not private.



PUBLICK. v. a. 2 of 2
2. Open ; notorious ; generally known.
3. General ; done by many.
4. Regarding not private interests, but the good of the community.


PUBLICK. n. s. 2 of 2
1. The general body of mankind, or of a state or nation ; the people.
2. Open view ; general notice.
PUNISHMENT – (1756)



PUNISHMENT. n. s.

Any infliction or pain imposed in vengence of a crime.

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Q q

QUICK – (1785)



QUICK. adj. 1 of 2



QUICK. adj. 2 of 2

3. Speedy ; free from delay.
4. Active ; spritely ; ready.




QUICK. adv. 2 pf 2

Nimbly ; speedily ; readily.

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R r

RACE – (1756)



RACE. s. 1 of 2

1. A family ascending.
2. Family descending.
3. A generation ; a collective family.
4. A particular breed.






RACE. s. 2 of 2

REASON — REASONABLE – (1785)

REASON. v. a. 1 of 3
1. The power that man deduces one proposition from another, or proceeds from premises to consequences ; the rational faculty ; discursive powers.
2. Cause ; ground or principle.
3. Cause ; effecient.
4. Final cause.

REASON. s. 2 of 3

REASONABLE. adj. 3 of 3
3. Just ; rational ; agreeable to reason.
5. Tolerable ; being in mediocrity.
RECALL — To RECALL – (1756)



RECALL. s.

Revocation ; act or power of calling back.




To RECALL. v. a.

To call back ; to call again ; to revoke.

RECOURSE – (1756)



RECOURSE. (s.)

2. Return ; new attack.

3. Application as for help or protection.

4. Access,

REGISTER — To REGISTER — REGISTRY – (1756)

REGISTER. s.
1. An account of any thing regularly kept.


To REGISTER. v. a.
To record ; to preserve by authentick accounts.

REGISTRY v. a.
1. The act of inserting in the register.
2. The place where the register is kept.
3. A series of facts recorded.
RELIGION – (1756)

RELIGION. v. a.
1. Virtue, as founded upon reverence of God, and expectation of future rewards and punishments.
2. A system of divine faith and worship as opposite to others.
REPRESENTATIVE – (1756)

REPRESENTATIVE. a.
1. Exhibiting a similitude.
2. Bearing the character or power of another.



REPRESENTATIVE. s.
1. One exhibiting the likeness of another.
2. One exercising the vicarious power given by another.
3. That by which any thing is shown.
REPUBLICAN — REPUBLICK – (1756)



REPUBLICAN. a.

Placing the government in the people.




REPUBLICAN. s.

One who thinks a commonwealth without monarchy the best government.




REPUBLICK. s.

Common-wealth ; state in which the power is lodged in more than one.

REQUEST — To REQUEST — REQUESTER – (1756)



REQUEST. s.

1. Petition ; entreaty.
2. Demand ; repute ; credit ; state of being desired.




To REQUEST. v. a.

To ask ; to solicite ; to entreat.




REQUESTER. s.

Petitioner ; soliciter.

To RESIDE RESIDENCE — RESIDENT – (1785)



To RESIDE. v. n.

1. To have abode ; to live ; to dwell ; to be present.




RESIDENCE. n. s.

1. Act of dwelling in a place.
2. Place of abode ; dwelling.




RESIDENT. adj.

Dwelling or having abode in a place.

REVOCABLE — To REVOKE – (1756)

REVOCABLE. a.
1. That may be recalled.
2. That may be repealed.


To REVOKE. v. a.
1. To repeal ; reverse.
2. To check ; to repress.
3. To draw back.
RIGHT – (1756)

RIGHT. a. 1 of 2
1. Fit ; proper ; becoming ; suitable ; true; not erroneous.

RIGHT. a. 2 of 2
3. Just ; honest ; equitable.
4. Happy ; convenient.


RIGHT. interject. 2 of 2
An expression of approbation.


RIGHT s. 2 of 2
1. Justice ; not wrong.
2. Freedom from errour.
3. Just claim.
4. That which justly belongs to one.
5. Property ; interest.
6. Power ; prerogative.
7. Immunity ; privilege.
RIGHT — RIGHTFUL – (1785)



RIGHT. n. s. 1 of 3



RIGHT. n. s. 2 of 3

1. Not wrong.
2. Justice ; not injury.
3. Freedom from guilt ; goodness.
4. Freedom from errour.
5. Just claim.
6. That which justly belongs to one.
7. Property ; interest.
8. Power ; prerogative.
9. Immunity ; privilege.



RIGHTFUL. adj. 3 of 3

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S s

SAFE – (1756)

SAFE. a.
1. Free from danger.
2. Free from hurt.
3. Cont.... security.
4. No longer dangerous ; reposited out of the power of doing harm.
SECESSION – (1756)



SECESSION. s.

1. The act of departing.
2. The act of withdrawing from councils or actions.

To SECEDE — SECESSION – (1785)

To SECEDE. v. n. 1 of 2
To withdraw from fellowship in any affair.

SECESSION. n. s. 2 of 2
1. The act of departing.
2. The act of withdrawing. from councils or actions.
SECURE — To SECURE – (1756)

SECURE. a.
1. Free from fear ; exempt from terrour ; easy ; assured.
3. Free from danger ; safe.


To SECURE. v. a.
1. To make certain ; to put out of hazard ; to ascertain.
2. To protect ; to make safe.
3. To insure.
SERVITUDE – (1785)

SERVITUDE. n. s.
1. Slavery ; state of a slave ; dependence.
SHALL – (1785)



SHALL. verb desect. 1 of 2

5. He SHALL love. It will be that he must love ; it is commanded him that he must love.



SLAVE – (1785)

SLAVE. n. s.
1. One mansipated to a master ; not a freeman ; a dependant.
2. One that has lost power of resistance.
SLAVERY – (1785)



SLAVERY. n. s.

Servitude ; the condition of a slave ; the offices of a slave.

SOLEMN – (1756)

SOLEMN. adj. (1756)
4. Striking with seriousness ; sober ; serious.
SOVEREIGN – (1756)



SOVEREIGN. a.

1. Supreme in power ; having no superiour.




SOVEREIGN. s.

Supreme lord.




SOVEREIGNTY. s.

Supremacy ; highest place ; highest degree of excellence.

SPEEDY – (1756)



SPEEDY. a.

Quick ; swift ; nimble ; quick of dispatch.

SPEEDY – (1785)



SPEEDY adj..

Quick ; swift ; nimble ; quick of dispatch.

STATE – (1756)

STATE. s.
5. The community ; the publick ; the commonwealth.
6. A republick ; a government not monarchial.
13. The pincipal persons in the government.
To SUPPLICATE — SUPPLICATION – (1756)

To SUPPLICATE. v. n.
To emplore ; to entreat ; to petition submissively.


SUPPLICATION. s.
1. Petition humbly delivered ; entreaty.
To SUFFRAGATE — SUFFRAGE – (1756)



To SUFFRAGATE. v n.

To vote with ; to agree in voice with.




SUFFRAGE. s.

Vote ; voice given in a controverted point.

SWIFT – (1785)

SWIFT. adj. 1 of 2
1. Moving far in a short time ; quick ; fleet ; speedy ; nimble ; rapid.

SWIFT. adj.. 2 of 2
2. Ready.
SYSTEM – (1756)

SYSTEM. s.
1. Any complexure or combinaion of many things acting togeher.
2. A scheme which reduces many things to regular dependence or co-operation.
3. A scheme which unites many things in order.

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T t

TENET – (1785)



TENET. n. s.

Position ; principle ; opinion.

TESTIMONY – (1785)

TESTIMONY. n. s.
1. Evidence given ; proof by witness.
2. Publick evidence.
3. Open attestation ; profession.
TRAINBANDS – (1756)



TRAINBANDS. s.

The militia ; the part of the community trained to martial exercise.

TRAITOR – (1756)



TRAITOR. s.

One who being trusted betrays.

TRAITOR – (1785)



TRAITOR. n. s.

One who being trusted betrays.

TRANSIENT – (1756)



TRANSIENT a.

Soon past ; soon passing ; short ; momentary.

TREASON — TREASONABLE. — TREASONOUS. – (1756)



TREASON. s. 1 of 2

An offense committed against the dignity and magisty of the commonwealth : it is divided into high treason and petit treason. High treason is an offence against the commonwealth.... Petit treason is when a servant kills his master.....



TREASONABLE. — TREASONOUS. a. 2 of 2

Having the nature or guilt of treason.

TREASON — TREASONABLE. — TREASONOUS. – (1785)



TREASON. n. s. 1 of 2

An offense committed against the dignity and magisty of the commonwealth : it is divided into high treason and petit treason. High treason is an offence against the commonwealth.... Petit treason is when a servant kills his master.....



TREASONABLE. — TREASONOUS.. adj. 2 of 2

Having the nature or guilt of treason.

TREASON – (The Constitution for the United States of America, Article 3, Section 3 – 1790)

From both, the 1756 and 1785 dictionaries on about the first line refers to “offense” / war; and the fourteenth line mentioning “adhering to his enemies” carry forward into The Constitution for the United States of America, Article 3, Section 3.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them aid and comfort.

The constitutional definition is lawfully enforceable. However, neither The unanimous Declaration nor The Constitution for the United States of America define “war”. Therefore, we must use a common-use dictionary of the time to determine the meanings for words contained in those document/contracts. Benefit going to the governed, while limited power goes to the government. We know this by The Declaration's “ consent of the governed”; and The Constitution's Amendment 10.

TREATY – (1756)

TREATY. s.
1. Negotiation ; act of treating.
2. A compact of accommodation relating to publick affairs.
3. For entreaty : supplication ; petition.
TYRANNICAL — TYRANNOUS — TYRANNY — TYRANT – (1756)

TYRANNICAL. a. 1 of 2
Suiting a tyrant ; acting like a tyrant ; cruel ; despotick ; imperious.

TYRANNOUS. a. 2 of 2
Tyrannical ; despotick ; arbitrary ; severe.


TYRANNY. s.
1. Absolute monarchy imperiously administered.
2. Unrestricted and cruel power.
3. Cruel government ; rigorous command.
4. Severity ; rigour ; inclemency.


TYRANT. s.
1. An absolute monarch governing imperiously.
2. A cruel despotick and severe master.
TYRANNY — TYRANT – (1785)

TYRANNY. n. s.
1. Absolute monarchy imperiously administered.
2. Unresisted and cruel power.
3. Cruel government ; rigorous command.
4. Severity ; rigour ; inclemency.


TYRANT. n. s.
1. An absolute monarch governing imperiously.
2. A cruel, despotick and severe master ; an oppressor.

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U u

UN – (1756)



UN.

A Saxon privative or negative particle answering to in of the Latins, and a of the Greeks, on, Dutch. It is placed almost at will before adjectives and adverbs.

UNION – (1756)

UNION. s.
1. The act of joining two or more.
2. Concord ; conjunction of mind or interests.
UNUSUAL – (1785)



UNUSUAL. adj.

Not common ; not frequent ; rare.

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V v

VICARIOUS – (1756)






VICARIOUS. a.

Deputed ; delegated ; acting in the place of another.

VOTE — To VOTE — VOTER – (1756)



VOTE. s.

Sufferage ; voice given and numbered.




To VOTE. v. a.

1. To chuse by sufferage ; to determine by sufferage.
2. To give by vote.




VOTER. s.

One who has the right of giving his voice or sufferage.

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W w

WAGES — WAGE – (1898)

WAGES. n.
A compensation given to a hired person for services; price paid for labor; recompense; hire. See Wage, n., 2.

WAGE. n.
2. That for which one labors ; mead ; reward ; stipulated payment ; --- at present, used in the plural. See Wages.
WAR — To WAR – (1756)



WAR. s.

1. The exercise of violence under sovereign command.

3. Forces ; army.
4. The profession of arms.
5. Hostility ; state of opposition ; act of opposition.




To WAR. v. n.

To make war ; to be in a state of hostility.




To WAR. v. a.

To make war upon.

WAR – (1785)

WAR. n. s. 1 of 2
1. War may be defined the exercise of violence under sovereign command against withstanders ; force, authority, and resistance, being the essential parts thereof. Violence, limited by authority, is sufficiently distinguished from robbery, and the like outrages ; yet, in consisting in relation towards others, it necessarily requires a supposition of resistance, whereby the force of war becomes different from the violence inflicted upon slaves or yielding malefactors.

WAR n. s. 2 of 2
4. The profession of arms.
5. Hostility ; state of opposition ; act of opposition.
WITHSTANDER – (1785)



WITHSTANDER. n. s.

An opponent ; resisting power.

WITNESS – (1785)

WITNESS. n. s.
1. Testimony ; attestation.
2. One who gives testimony.

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X x

Left Blank

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Y y

YIELD — To YIELD – (1756)

To YIELD. v. a.
5. To allow ; to permit.
7. To resign ; to give up.
8. To surrender.


To YIELD. v. n.
1. To give up the conquest ; to submit.
4. To concede ; to admit ; to allow ; not to deny.

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Z z

Left Blank

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Glossary Code Notes

YD — To YD – (1756)
insert 1st definition image code


T. v. a. (1756)
insert 2nd definition image code



T. v. a. (1756)


T. v. a. (1756)

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The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

Full text of The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America; excluding signatures. this is the governed people's most important paper — but we'er taught to forget about it. After all; lawyers, politicians, professors, and experts tell us; "It is just there to remind us that we were once under British Rule." ....Read this proof of ownership

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In Congress, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.—Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

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End The unanimous Declaration Content

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The Articles of Confederation

This is the full text of The Articles of Confederation; our first constitution.It's important even today to help know how the founding generation viewed government. It also helps clarify various elements of The Constitution for the United States of America; such as Amendment 2. ....Read our first constitution

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Transcript of Articles of Confederation (1777)

To all to whom these Presents shall come, we, the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting. Whereas the Delegates of the United States of America in Congress assembled did on the fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy seven, and in the Second Year of the Independence of America agree to certain articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia in the Words following, viz. “Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Article I.

The Stile of this confederacy shall be, "The United States of America."

Article II.

Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.

Article III.

The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence whatever.

Article IV.

The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different states in this union, the free inhabitants of each of these states, paupers, vagabonds and fugitives from Justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states; and the people of each state shall have free ingress and regress to and from any other state, and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same duties, impositions and restrictions as the inhabitants thereof respectively, provided that such restrictions shall not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property imported into any state, to any other State of which the Owner is an inhabitant; provided also that no imposition, duties or restriction shall be laid by any state, on the property of the united states, or either of them.

If any Person guilty of, or charged with, treason, felony, or other high misdemeanor in any state, shall flee from Justice, and be found in any of the united states, he shall upon demand of the Governor or executive power of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, and removed to the state having jurisdiction of his offence.

Full faith and credit shall be given in each of these states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates of every other state.

Article V.

For the more convenient management of the general interests of the united states, delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislature of each state shall direct, to meet in Congress on the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved to each state to recall its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the year, and to send others in their stead, for the remainder of the Year.

No State shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor by more than seven Members; and no person shall be capable of being delegate for more than three years, in any term of six years; nor shall any person, being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the united states, for which he, or another for his benefit receives any salary, fees or emolument of any kind.

Each State shall maintain its own delegates in a meeting of the states, and while they act as members of the committee of the states.

In determining questions in the united states, in Congress assembled, each state shall have one vote.

Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall not be impeached or questioned in any Court, or place out of Congress, and the members of congress shall be protected in their persons from arrests and imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from, and attendance on congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.

Article VI.

No State, without the Consent of the united States, in congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conferrence, agreement, alliance, or treaty, with any King prince or state; nor shall any person holding any office of profit or trust under the united states, or any of them, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state; nor shall the united states, in congress assembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility.

No two or more states shall enter into any treaty, confederation, or alliance whatever between them, without the consent of the united states, in congress assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for which the same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue.

No State shall lay any imposts or duties, which may interfere with any stipulations in treaties, entered into by the united States in congress assembled, with any king, prince, or State, in pursuance of any treaties already proposed by congress, to the courts of France and Spain.

No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace, by any state, except such number only, as shall be deemed necessary by the united states, in congress assembled, for the defence of such state, or its trade; nor shall any body of forces be kept up, by any state, in time of peace, except such number only as, in the judgment of the united states, in congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts necessary for the defence of such state; but every state shall always keep up a well regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accounted, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public stores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition, and camp equipage.

No State shall engage in any war without the consent of the united States in congress assembled, unless such State be actually invaded by enemies, or shall have received certain advice of a resolution being formed by some nation of Indians to invade such State, and the danger is so imminent as not to admit of a delay till the united states in congress assembled, can be consulted: nor shall any state grant commissions to any ships or vessels of war, nor letters of marque or reprisal, except it be after a declaration of war by the united states in congress assembled, and then only against the kingdom or State, and the subjects thereof, against which war has been so declared, and under such regulations as shall be established by the united states in congress assembled, unless such state be infested by pirates, in which case vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept so long as the danger shall continue, or until the united states in congress assembled shall determine otherwise.

Article VII.

When land forces are raised by any state, for the common defence, all officers of or under the rank of colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each state respectively by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such state shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the state which first made appointment.

Article VIII.

All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the united states in congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states, in proportion to the value of all land within each state, granted to or surveyed for any Person, as such land and the buildings  and improvements thereon shall be estimated, according to such mode as the united states, in congress assembled, shall, from time to time, direct and appoint. The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the several states within the time agreed upon by the united states in congress assembled.

Article IX.

The united states, in congress assembled, shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of determining on peace and war, except in the cases mentioned in the sixth article - of sending and receiving ambassadors - entering into treaties and alliances, provided that no treaty of commerce shall be made, whereby the legislative power of the respective states shall be restrained from imposing such imposts and duties on foreigners, as their own people are subjected to, or from prohibiting the exportation or importation of any species of goods or commodities whatsoever -  of establishing rules for deciding, in all cases, what captures on land or water shall be legal, and in what manner prizes taken by land or naval forces in the service of the united Sates, shall be divided or appropriated - of granting letters of marque and reprisal in times of peace  -  appointing courts for the trial of piracies and felonies committed on the high seas; and establishing courts; for receiving and determining finally appeals in all cases of captures; provided that no member of congress shall be appointed a judge of any of the said courts.

The united states, in congress assembled, shall also be the last resort on appeal, in all disputes and differences now subsisting, or that hereafter may arise between two or more states concerning boundary, jurisdiction, or any other cause whatever; which authority shall always be exercised in the manner following. Whenever the legislative or executive authority, or lawful agent of any state in controversy with another, shall present a petition to congress, stating the matter in question, and praying for a hearing, notice thereof shall be given, by order of congress, to the legislative or executive authority of the other state in controversy, and a day assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents, who shall then be directed to appoint, by joint consent, commissioners or judges to constitute a court for hearing and determining the matter in question: but if they cannot agree, congress shall name three persons out of each of the united states, and from the list of such persons each party shall alternately strike out one, the petitioners beginning, until the number shall be reduced to thirteen; and from that number not less than seven, nor more than nine names, as congress shall direct, shall, in the presence of congress, be drawn out by lot, and the persons whose names shall be so drawn, or any five of them, shall be commissioners or judges, to hear and finally determine the controversy, so always as a major part of the judges, who shall hear the cause, shall agree in the determination: and if either party shall neglect to attend at the day appointed, without showing reasons which congress shall judge sufficient, or being present, shall refuse to strike, the congress shall proceed to nominate three persons out of each State, and the secretary of congress shall strike in behalf of such party absent or refusing; and the judgment and sentence of the court, to be appointed in the manner before prescribed, shall be final and conclusive; and if any of the parties shall refuse to submit to the authority of such court, or to appear or defend their claim or cause, the court shall nevertheless proceed to pronounce sentence, or judgment, which shall in like manner be final and decisive; the judgment or sentence and other proceedings being in either case transmitted to congress, and lodged among the acts of congress, for the security of the parties concerned: provided that every commissioner, before he sits in judgment, shall take an oath to be administered by one of the judges of the supreme or superior court of the State where the cause shall be tried, “well and truly to hear and determine the matter in question, according to the best of his judgment, without favour, affection, or hope of reward: “provided, also, that no State shall be deprived of territory for the benefit of the united states.

All controversies concerning the private right of soil claimed under different grants of two or more states, whose jurisdictions as they may respect such lands, and the states which passed such grants are adjusted, the said grants or either of them being at the same time claimed to have originated antecedent to such settlement of jurisdiction, shall, on the petition of either party to the congress of the united states, be finally determined, as near as may be, in the same manner as is before prescribed for deciding disputes respecting territorial jurisdiction between different states.

The united states, in congress assembled, shall also have the sole and exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy and value of coin struck by their own authority, or by that of the respective states - fixing the standard of weights and measures throughout the united states - regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the Indians, not members of any of the states; provided that the legislative right of any state, within its own limits, be not infringed or violated - establishing and regulating post-offices from one state to another, throughout all the united states, and exacting such postage on the papers passing through the same, as may be requisite to defray the expenses of the said office - appointing all officers of the land forces in the service of the united States, excepting regimental officers - appointing all the officers of the naval forces, and commissioning all officers whatever in the service of the united states; making rules for the government and regulation of the said land and naval forces, and directing their operations.

The united States, in congress assembled, shall have authority to appoint a committee, to sit in the recess of congress, to be denominated, “A Committee of the States,” and to consist of one delegate from each State; and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the general affairs of the united states under their direction - to appoint one of their number to preside; provided that no person be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one year in any term of three years; to ascertain the necessary sums of money to be raised for the service of the united states, and to appropriate and apply the same for defraying the public expenses; to borrow money or emit bills on the credit of the united states, transmitting every half year to the respective states an account of the sums of money so borrowed or emitted, -  to build and equip a navy - to agree upon the number of land forces, and to make requisitions from each state for its quota, in proportion to the number of white inhabitants in such state, which requisition shall be binding; and thereupon the legislature of each state shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men, and clothe, arm, and equip them, in a soldier-like manner, at the expense of the united states; and the officers and men so clothed, armed, and equipped, shall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the united states, in congress assembled; but if the united states, in congress assembled, shall, on consideration of circumstances, judge proper that any state should not raise men, or should raise a smaller number than its quota, and that any other state should raise a greater number of men than the quota thereof, such extra number shall be raised, officered, clothed, armed, and equipped in the same manner as the quota of such state, unless the legislature of such state shall judge that such extra number cannot be safely spared out of the same, in which case they shall raise, officer, clothe, arm, and equip, as many of such extra number as they judge can be safely spared. And the officers and men so clothed, armed, and equipped, shall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the united states in congress assembled.

The united states, in congress assembled, shall never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque and reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof nor ascertain the sums and expenses necessary for the defence and welfare of the united states, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the united states, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels of war to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine states assent to the same, nor shall a question on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day, be determined, unless by the votes of a majority of the united states in congress assembled.

The congress of the united states shall have power to adjourn to any time within the year, and to any place within the united states, so that no period of adjournment be for a longer duration than the space of six Months, and shall publish the Journal of their proceedings monthly, except such parts thereof relating to treaties, alliances, or military operations, as in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the delegates of each State, on any question, shall be entered on the Journal, when it is desired by any delegate; and the delegates of a State, or any of them, at his or their request, shall be furnished with a transcript of the said Journal, except such parts as are above excepted, to lay before the legislatures of the several states.

Article X.

The committee of the states, or any nine of them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of congress, such of the powers of congress as the united states, in congress assembled, by the consent of nine states, shall, from time to time, think expedient to vest them with; provided that no power be delegated to the said committee, for the exercise of which, by the articles of confederation, the voice of nine states, in the congress of the united states assembled, is requisite.

Article XI.

Canada acceding to this confederation, and joining in the measures of the united states, shall be admitted into, and entitled to all the advantages of this union: but no other colony shall be admitted into the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine states.

Article XII.

All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed, and debts contracted by or under the authority of congress, before the assembling of the united states, in pursuance of the present confederation, shall be deemed and considered as a charge against the united States, for payment and satisfaction whereof the said united states and the public faith are hereby solemnly pledged.

Article XIII.

Every State shall abide by the determinations of the united states, in congress assembled, on all questions which by this confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this confederation shall be inviolably observed by every state, and the union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them, unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the united states, and be afterwards con-firmed by the legislatures of every state.

And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, Know Ye, that we, the undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, do, by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained. And we do further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents, that they shall abide by the determinations of the united states in congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said confederation are submitted to them. And that the articles thereof shall be inviolably observed by the states we respectively represent, and that the union shall be perpetual. In Witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, in Congress. Done at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, the ninth Day of July, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and Seventy eight, and in the third year of the Independence of America.

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The Definitive Treaty of Peace

This is full text of The Definitive Treaty of Peace; proof of a successful defense for Self–Governance. It is not a grant of independence from the Crown. It simply acknowledges that we are Free & Independent States ....Read the treaty

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The Definitive Treaty of Peace 1783

In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity.

It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the Hearts of the most Serene and most Potent Prince George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, Arch- Treasurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire etc.. and of the United States of America, to forget all past Misunderstandings and Differences that have unhappily interrupted the good Correspondence and Friendship which they mutually wish to restore; and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory Intercourse between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal Advantages and mutual Convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual Peace and Harmony; and having for this desirable End already laid the Foundation of Peace & Reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th of November 1782, by the Commissioners empowered on each Part, which Articles were agreed to be inserted in and constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which Treaty was not to be concluded until Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain & France, and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such Treaty accordingly: and the treaty between Great Britain & France having since been concluded, his Britannic Majesty & the United States of America, in Order to carry into full Effect the Provisional Articles above mentioned, according to the Tenor thereof, have constituted & appointed, that is to say his Britannic Majesty on his Part, David Hartley, Esqr., Member of the Parliament of Great Britain, and the said United States on their Part, - stop point - John Adams, Esqr., late a Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts, and Chief Justice of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary of the said United States to their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; - stop point - Benjamin Franklin, Esqr., late Delegate in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania, President of the Convention of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the Court of Versailles; John Jay, Esqr., late President of Congress and Chief Justice of the state of New York, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the said United States at the Court of Madrid; to be Plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the Present Definitive Treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full Powers have agreed upon and confirmed the following Articles.

Article 1:

His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and Independent States; that he treats with them as such, and for himself his Heirs & Successors, relinquishes all claims to the Government, Propriety, and Territorial Rights of the same and every Part thereof.

Article 2:

And that all Disputes which might arise in future on the subject of the Boundaries of the said United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and shall be their Boundaries, viz.; from the Northwest Angle of Nova Scotia, viz., that Angle which is formed by a Line drawn due North from the Source of St. Croix River to the Highlands; along the said Highlands which divide those Rivers that empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the northwesternmost Head of Connecticut River; Thence down along the middle of that River to the forty-fifth Degree of North Latitude; From thence by a Line due West on said Latitude until it strikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy; Thence along the middle of said River into Lake Ontario; through the Middle of said Lake until it strikes the Communication by Water between that Lake & Lake Erie; Thence along the middle of said Communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said Lake until it arrives at the Water Communication between that lake & Lake Huron; Thence along the middle of said Water Communication into the Lake Huron, thence through the middle of said Lake to the Water Communication between that Lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior Northward of the Isles Royal & Phelipeaux to the Long Lake; Thence through the middle of said Long Lake and the Water Communication between it & the Lake of the Woods, to the said Lake of the Woods; Thence through the said Lake to the most Northwestern Point thereof, and from thence on a due West Course to the river Mississippi; Thence by a Line to be drawn along the Middle of the said river Mississippi until it shall intersect the Northernmost Part of the thirty-first Degree of North Latitude, South, by a Line to be drawn due East from the Determination of the Line last mentioned in the Latitude of thirty-one Degrees of the Equator to the middle of the River Apalachicola or Catahouche; Thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint River; Thence straight to the Head of Saint Mary's River, and thence down along the middle of Saint Mary's River to the Atlantic Ocean. East, by a Line to be drawn along the Middle of the river Saint Croix, from its Mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its Source, and from its Source directly North to the aforesaid Highlands, which divide the Rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the river Saint Lawrence; comprehending all Islands within twenty Leagues of any Part of the Shores of the United States, and lying between Lines to be drawn due East from the Points where the aforesaid Boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one Part and East Florida on the other shall, respectively, touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such Islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the said Province of Nova Scotia.

Article 3:

It is agreed that the People of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the Right to take Fish of every kind on the Grand Bank and on all the other Banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and at all other Places in the Sea, where the Inhabitants of both Countries used at any time heretofore to fish. And also that the Inhabitants of the United States shall have Liberty to take Fish of every Kind on such Part of the Coast of Newfoundland as British Fishermen shall use, (but not to dry or cure the same on that Island) And also on the Coasts, Bays & Creeks of all other of his Brittanic Majesty's Dominions in America; and that the American Fishermen shall have Liberty to dry and cure Fish in any of the unsettled Bays, Harbors, and Creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador, so long as the same shall remain unsettled, but so soon as the same or either of them shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said Fishermen to dry or cure Fish at such Settlement without a previous Agreement for that purpose with the Inhabitants, Proprietors, or Possessors of the Ground.

Article 4:

It is agreed that Creditors on either Side shall meet with no lawful Impediment to the Recovery of the full Value in Sterling Money of all bona fide Debts heretofore contracted.

Article 5:

It is agreed that Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the Legislatures of the respective States to provide for the Restitution of all Estates, Rights, and Properties, which have been confiscated belonging to real British Subjects; and also of the Estates, Rights, and Properties of Persons resident in Districts in the Possession on his Majesty's Arms and who have not borne Arms against the said United States. And that Persons of any other Description shall have free Liberty to go to any Part or Parts of any of the thirteen United States and therein to remain twelve Months unmolested in their Endeavors to obtain the Restitution of such of their Estates – Rights & Properties as may have been confiscated. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States a Reconsideration and Revision of all Acts or Laws regarding the Premises, so as to render the said Laws or Acts perfectly consistent not only with Justice and Equity but with that Spirit of Conciliation which on the Return of the Blessings of Peace should universally prevail. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States that the Estates, Rights, and Properties of such last mentioned Persons shall be restored to them, they refunding to any Persons who may be now in Possession the Bona fide Price (where any has been given) which such Persons may have paid on purchasing any of the said Lands, Rights, or Properties since the Confiscation.

And it is agreed that all Persons who have any Interest in confiscated Lands, either by Debts, Marriage Settlements, or otherwise, shall meet with no lawful Impediment in the Prosecution of their just Rights.

Article 6:

That there shall be no future Confiscations made nor any Prosecutions commenced against any Person or Persons for, or by Reason of the Part, which he or they may have taken in the present War, and that no Person shall on that Account suffer any future Loss or Damage, either in his Person, Liberty, or Property; and that those who may be in Confinement on such Charges at the Time of the Ratification of the Treaty in America shall be immediately set at Liberty, and the Prosecutions so commenced be discontinued.

Article 7:

There shall be a firm and perpetual Peace between his Britanic Majesty and the said States, and between the Subjects of the one and the Citizens of the other, wherefore all Hostilities both by Sea and Land shall from henceforth cease: All prisoners on both Sides shall be set at Liberty, and his Britanic Majesty shall with all convenient speed, and without causing any Destruction, or carrying away any Negroes or other Property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons & Fleets from the said United States, and from every Post, Place and Harbour within the same; leaving in all Fortifications, the American Artillery that may be therein: And shall also Order & cause all Archives, Records, Deeds & Papers belonging to any of the said States, or their Citizens, which in the Course of the War may have fallen into the hands of his Officers, to be forthwith restored and delivered to the proper States and Persons to whom they belong.

Article 8:

The Navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the Ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the Subjects of Great Britain and the Citizens of the United States.

Article 9:

In case it should so happen that any Place or Territory belonging to great Britain or to the United States should have been conquered by the Arms of either from the other before the Arrival of the said Provisional Articles in America, it is agreed that the same shall be restored without Difficulty and without requiring any Compensation.

Article 10:

The solemn Ratifications of the present Treaty expedited in good & due Form shall be exchanged between the contracting Parties in the Space of Six Months or sooner if possible to be computed from the Day of the Signature of the present Treaty. In witness whereof we the undersigned their Ministers Plenipotentiary have in their Name and in Virtue of our Full Powers, signed with our Hands the present Definitive Treaty, and caused the Seals of our Arms to be affixed thereto.

Done at Paris, this third day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.

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The Constitution for the United States of America

Full text of The Constitution for the United States of America with all 27 amendments and preambles to the Constitution and Amendments along with both Preambles, and all 27 Amendments. ....Read More

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The Constitution for the United States of America

The Constitution for the United States

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.

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.

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.

[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] (go to: Amendment 14, Section 8). 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.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section 3.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, [chosen by the Legislature thereof] (go to: Amendment 7), for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

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.] (go to: Amendment 17)

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.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be [on the first Monday in December,] (go to: Amendment 12, Section 2) unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section 5.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

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;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

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;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession 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

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.

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.

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.

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

[No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.] (go to: Amendment 16)

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

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.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Section 10.

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.

No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.

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.

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

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

[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.] (go to: Amendment 12)

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.

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.

[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, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, 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.] (go to: Amendment 25)

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.

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.

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.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Section 4.

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article III:

Section 1.

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section 2.

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,] (go to: Amendment 11) —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.] (go to: Amendment 11)

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

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.

[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.] (go to: Amendment 13)

Section 3.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

The Word, "the," being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, The Word "Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words "is tried" being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word "the" being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.

Attest William Jackson Secretary

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 Independance of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

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The Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 – 10) with Their Preamble

The U.S. Bill of Rights

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

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.

Amendment 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.

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.

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The following two items were proposed along with the amendments that became The Bill of Rights; but were unsuccessful — for the worse of it, one of them became the 27th Amendment.

Article the first..

After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.

Article the second...

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

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Amendments 11 – 27

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 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.

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 the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2.

This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

Amendment XXIII:

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 the Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 2.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XXIV:

Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

Section 1.

he right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Section 2.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment XXV:

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.

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The Constitution of the Confederate States of America

Full text of The Constitution for the Confederate States of America helps understand some little&known facts about the war and slavery. ....Read this little–known constitution

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Constitution of the Confederate States of America

We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity-invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God-do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Confederate States of America.

Article I:

Section 1.

All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested in Congress of the Confederate States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section 2.

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 be citizens of the Confederate States, and have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature; but no person of foreign birth, not a citizen of the Confederate States, shall be allowed to vote for any officer, civil or political, State or Federal.

No person shall be a representative, who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years, and be a citizen of the Confederate States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Confederacy, 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 slaves. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the Confederate 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 fifty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of South Carolina shall be entitled to choose six; the State of Georgia ten; the State of Alabama nine; the State of Florida two; the State of Mississippi seven; the State of Louisiana six; and the State of Texas six.

When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment; except that any judicial or other federal officer, resident and acting solely within the limits of any State, may be impeached by a vote of two-thirds of both branches of the Legislature thereof.

Section 3.

The Senate of the Confederate States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen for six years by the legislature thereof, at the regular session next immediately preceding the commencement of the term of service; and each Senator shall have one vote.

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.

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of thirty years, and be a citizen of the Confederate States; and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of the State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice-President of the Confederate States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall choose 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 Confederate States.

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 Confederate States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

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 Confederate States; but the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

Section 4.

The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof, subject to the provisions of this Constitution; but the Congress may, at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the times and places of choosing Senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year; and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, appoint a different day.

Section 5.

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 tinder such penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the whole number, expel a member.

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.

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.

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate States. They shall, in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged 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.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the Confederate States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no person holding any office under the Confederate States shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office. But Congress may, by law, grant to the principal officers in each of the Executive Departments a seat upon the floor of either House, with the privilege of discussing any measures appertaining to his department.

Section 7.

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.

Every bill which shall have passed both Houses, shall before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the Confederate States; if he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it with hit; 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 he 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. The President may approve any appropriation and disapprove any other appropriation in the same bill. In such case he shall, in signing the bill, designate the appropriations disapproved; and shall return a copy of such appropriations, with his objections, to the House in which the bill shall have originated; and the same proceedings shall then be had as in case of other bills disapproved by the President.

Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the Confederate States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him; or being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of both Houses according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.

Section 8.

The Congress shall have power -

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, for revenue necessary to pay the debts, provide for the common defense, and carry on the Government of the Confederate States; but no bounties shall be granted from the treasury, nor shall any duties or taxes on importations from foreign nations be laid to promote or foster any branch of industry; and all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the Confederate States:

To borrow money on the credit of the Confederate States:

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes; but neither this, nor any other clause contained in the constitution, shall ever be construed to delegate the power to Congress to appropriate money for any internal improvement intended to facilitate commerce; except for the purpose of furnishing lights, beacon, and buoys, and other aids to navigation upon the coasts, and the improvement of harbors, all the removing of obstructions in river navigation, in all which cases, such duties shall be laid on the navigation facilitated thereby, as may be necessary to pay the Costs, and expenses thereof:

To establish uniform laws of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the Confederate States; but no law of Congress shall discharge any debt contracted before the passage of the same:

To coin money, regulate the value thereof and, of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures:

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities - and current coin of the Confederate States:

To establish post offices and post routes; but the expenses of the Post Office Department, after the first day of March, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty-three, shall be paid out of its own revenues:

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:

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court:

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations:

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water:

To raise and support armies; but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years:

To provide and maintain a navy:

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces: To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Confederate States, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions:

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 Confederate 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:

To exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of one or more States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the Government of the Confederate 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, dockyards, and other needful building: and

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 Confederate States, or in any department or officer thereof.

Section 9.

The importation of negroes of the African race, from any foreign country, other than the slaveholding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden; and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same.

Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of, or Territory not belonging to, this Confederacy.

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.

No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves, shall be passed.

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken.

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State, except by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses.

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over those of another.

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.

Congress shall appropriate no money from the treasury except by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses, taken by yeas and nays, unless it be asked and estimate for by some one of the heads of Department, and submitted to Congress by the President; or for the purpose of paying its own expenses and contingencies; or for the payment of claims against the Confederate States, the justice of which shall have been judicially declared by a tribunal for the investigation of claims against the government, which it is hereby made the duty of Congress to establish.

All bills appropriating money shall specify in federal currency, the exact amount of each appropriation, and the purposes for which it is made; and Congress shall grant no extra compensation to any public contractor, officer, agent or servant, after such contract shall have been made or such service rendered.

No title of nobility shall be granted by the Confederate States; and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from any king, prince or foreign State.

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 petition the government for a redress of grievances.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 to be taken for public use, without just compensation.

In all criminal prosecution 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 defense.

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 so tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the Confederacy, than according to the rules of the common law.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Every law, or resolution having the force of law, shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.

Section 10.

No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, or ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts; or grant any title of nobility.

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 its inspection laws; and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any State on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the Confederate States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of Congress. No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on tonnage, except on sea-going vessels, for the improvement of its rivers and harbors navigated by the said vessels, but such duties shall not conflict with any treaties of the Confederate States with foreign nations; and any surplus revenue thus derived, shall, after making such improvement, be paid into the common treasury. Nor shall any State 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. But when any river divides or flows through two or more States, they may enter into compacts with each other to improve the navigation thereof.

Article II:

Section 1.

The executive power shall be vested in a President of the Confederate States of America. He and the Vice-President shall hold their offices for the term of six years: but the President shall not be re-eligible. The President and Vice-President shall be elected as follows:

Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the Confederate States, shall be appointed an elector.

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 Confederate 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 Confederate States.

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the Confederate States.

No person except natural born citizen of the Confederate States, or citizen thereof at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, or a citizen thereof born in the United States prior to the twentieth of December, eighteen hundred and sixty, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the limits of the Confederate States, as they may exist at the time of his election.

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President; 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.

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a compensation, which shall neither be increased 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 Confederate States, or any of them.

Before he enters 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 Confederate States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution thereof."

Section 2.

The President shall be commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the Confederate States, and of the militia of the several States, when called into the actual service of the Confederate 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 Confederate States, except in cases of impeachment.

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 Confederate States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law; but the Congress may, by law, vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in courts of law or in the heads of Departments.

The principal officer in each of the Executive Departments, and all persons connected with the diplomatic service, may be removed from office at the pleasure of the President. All other civil officers of the Executive Department may be removed at any time by the President, or other appointing power, when their services are unnecessary, or for dishonesty, incapacity, inefficiency, misconduct or neglect of duty; and when so removed, the removal shall be reported to the Senate, together with the reasons therefore.

The President shall have power to fill vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session; but no person rejected by the Senate shall be reappointed to the same office during their ensuing recess.

Section 3.

The President shall from time to time, give to the Congress information of the state of the Confederacy, and recommend to their confederation such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them: and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the Confederate States.

Section 4.

The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the Confederate States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Article III:

Section 1.

The judicial power of the Confederate 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 behavior, and shall, at stated times receive for their services a compensation which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

Section 2.

The judicial power shall extend to all cases arising under this Constitution, the laws of the Confederate 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 Confederate States shall be a party; to controversies between two or more States; between a State and citizens of another State where the State is plaintiff, between citizens claiming lands under grants of different States, and between a State or the citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens or subjects; but no State shall be sued by a citizen or subject of any foreign State.

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a State shall be a 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.

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.

Treason against the Confederate 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.

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.

The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States, and shall have the right of transit and sojourn in any State of this Confederacy, with their slaves and other property; and the right of property in said slaves shall not be thereby impaired.

A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or other crime against the laws of such State, 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.

No slave or other person held to service or labor in any State or Territory of the Confederate States, under the laws thereof, escaping or lawfully carried into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor; but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such slave belongs, or to whom such service or labor may be due.

Section 3.

Other States may be admitted into this Confederacy by a vote of two-thirds of the whole House of Representatives, and two-thirds of the Senate, the Senate voting by States; 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.

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations concerning the property of the Confederate States, including the lands thereof.

The Confederate States may acquire new territory, and Congress shall have power to legislate and provide government for the inhabitants of all territory belonging to the Confederate States, lying without the limits of the several States; and may permit them, at such times, and in such manner as it may by law provide, to form states to be admitted into the Confederacy. In all such territory, the institution of negro slavery as it now exists in the Confederate States, shall be recognized and protected by Congress, and by the territorial government; and the inhabitants of the several Confederate States and Territories, shall have the right to take to such territory any slaves, lawfully held by them in any of the States or Territories of the Confederate States.

The Confederate States shall guaranty to every State that now is or hereafter may become a member of this Confederacy, 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 is not in session) against domestic violence.

Article V:

Upon the demand of any three States, legally assembled in their several conventions, the Congress shall summon a convention of all the States, to take into consideration such amendments to the Constitution as the said States shall concur in suggesting at the time when the said demand is made; and should any of the proposed amendments to the Constitution be agreed on by the said convention-voting by States-and the same be ratified by the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, or by conventions in two-thirds thereof-as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the general convention-they shall thenceforward form a part of this Constitution. But no State shall, without its consent, be deprived of its equal representation in the Senate.

Article VI:

The government established by this Constitution is successor of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America; and all the laws passed by the latter shall continue in force until the same shall be repealed or modified; and all the officers appointed by the same shall remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified, or the offices abolished.

All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption of this Constitution shall be as valid against the Confederate States under this Constitution as under the Provisional Government.

This Constitution, and the laws of the Confederate States, made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the Confederate States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the Confederate 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 Confederate States.

The enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people of the several States.

The powers not delegated to the Confederate States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or the people thereof.

Article VII:

The ratification of the conventions of five States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the same.

When five States shall have ratified this Constitution, in the manner before specified, the Congress under the Provisional Constitution, shall prescribe the time for holding the election of President and Vice-President; and for the meeting of the Electoral College; and for counting the votes, and inaugurating the President. They shall also prescribe the time for holding the first election of members of Congress under this Constitution, and the time for assembling the same. Until the assembling of such Congress, the Congress under the Provisional Constitution shall continue to exercise the legislative powers granted them; not extending beyond the time limited by the Constitution of the Provisional Government.

Adopted unanimously by the Congress of the Confederate States of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Sitting in convention at the Capitol, in the City of Montgomery, Alabama, on the Eleventh day of March, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Sixty one.

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