ment of the union: but the impropriety of delegating fuch extenfive truft to one body of men is evident. Hence refults the neceflity of a different organization. It is obviously impracticable, in the federal government of these ftates, to fecure all rights of independent fovereignty to each, and yet provide for the intereft and fafety of all. Individuals, entering into fociety, muft give up a fhare of liberty to preferve the reft. The magnitude of the facrifice muft depend as well on fituation and circumstance, as on the object to be obtained. It is at all times difficult to draw with precifion the line between thofe rights which must be furrendered, and thofe which may be referved; and, on the prefent occafion, this difficulty was increafed by a difference among the feveral ftates, as to their fituation, extent, habits, and particular interefts. In all our deliberations on this fubject, we kept fteadily in our view that which appears to us the greateft intereft of every true American -the confolidation of our union, in which is involved our profperity, felicity, fafety, perhaps our hational exiftence. This important confideration, feriously and deeply im effed on our minds, led each ftate in the convention to be lefs rigid on points of inferior magnitude than might have been other wife expected; and thus the Conftitution, which we now prefent, is the refult of a fpirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and conceflion which the peculiarity of our political fituation rendered indifpenfable. That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every state, is not perhaps to be expected; but each will doubtless confider, that, had her interests been alone confulted, the confequences might have been particularly difagreeable or injurious to others; that it is liable to as few exceptions as could reasonably have been expected, we hope and believe; and that it may promote the lafting welfare of that country, fo dear to us all, and fecure her freedom and happiness, is our moft ardent with. With great refpe&t, We have the honour to be, Your Excellency's moft obedient and humble fervants, GEORGE WASHINGTON, Prefident. By unanimous order of the convention. [To his Excellency the Prefident of Congress.] WE, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, eftablish juftice, infuse domeftic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and fecure the bleffings of liberty to ourselves and our pofterity, do ordain and efțablith blith this Conftitution for the United States of America. No perfon fhall be a reprefentative who fhall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been feven years a citizen of the United States, and who thall not when elected be an inhabitant of that ftate in which he thall be chofen. Representatives and direct taxes fhall be apportioned among the feveral ftates which may be included within this union according to their respective numbers, which fhall be determined by adding to the whole number of free perfons, including those bound to fervice for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all perfons. The actual enumeration fhall be made within three years after the first meeting of the congrefs of the United States, and within every fubfequent term of ten years, in fuch manner as they. fhall by law direct. The number of reprefentatives fhall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one reprefentative; and until fuch enumeration fhall be made, the ftate of New Hampshire fhall be entitled to chufe three, Maffachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York fix, New Jersey four, Pennfylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland fix, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. When vacancies happen to the reprefentation from any ftate, the executive authority thereof fhall iffue writs of election to fill fuch vacancies. The houfe of reprefentatives fhall chufe their speaker and other officers; and fhall have the fole power of impeachment. Se&t. 3. The fenate of the United States fhall be compofed of two fenators from each state, chofen by the legislature thereof, for fix years; and each fenator fhall have one vote. Immediately after they fhall be affembled in confequence of the first election, they fhall be divided, as nearly as may be, into three claffes. The feats of the fenators of the firft clafs fhall be vacated at the expiration of the fecond year; of the fecond clafs, at the expiration of the fourth year; and of the third clafs, at the expiration of the fixth year; fo that one third may be chofen every fecond year; and if vacancies happen by refignation, or otherwife, during the recefs of the legiflature of any ftate, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legiflature, which shall then . fill fuch vacancies. No perfon fhall be a fenator who fhall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who fhall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that ftate for which he fhall be chofen. The vice-prefident of the United States fhall be prefident of the senate; but fhall have no vote, unlefs they be equally divided. The fenate thall chufe their other officers, and alfo a prefident pro tempore, in the abfence of the viceprefident, or when he fhall exercife the office of prefident of the United States. The fenate fhall have the fole power to try all impeachments. When fitting for that purpose, they fhall be on oath or affirmation. When the prefident of the United States is tried, the chief juftice [7] 2 1hall fhall prefide; and no perfon fhall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members prefent. Judgment in cafes of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and difqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, truft, or profit, under the United States; but the party convicted fhall nevertheless be liable and fubject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to law. Sect. 4. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for fenators and reprefentatives, fhall be prefcribed in each ftate by the legiflature thereof, but the congrefs may at any time by law make or alter fuch regulations, except as to the places of choofing fenators. The congrefs fhall affemble at leaft once in every year; and fuch meeting fhall be on the firft Monday in December, unless they fhall by law appoint a different day. Se&t. 5. Each houfe fhall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each fhall conftitute a quorum to do bufinefs; but a fmaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of abient members, in fuch manner, and under fuch penalties, as each house may provide. Each houfe may determine the rules of its proceedings, punith its members for diforderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member. Each houfe fhall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the fame, excepting fuch parts as may in their judgment require fecrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the members of either houfe, on any question, fhall, at the defire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal. Neither houfe, during the feffion of congrefs, fhall, without the confent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houfes fhall be fitting. Sect. 6. The fenators and reprefentatives fhall receive a compenfation for their fervices, to be afcertained by law, and paid out of the treafury of the United States. They fhall in all cafes, except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arreft during their attendance at the feffion of their refpective houfes, and in going to and returning from the fame; and for any speech or debate in either house, they shall not be queftioned in any other place. No fenator or reprefentative fhall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which fhall have been created, or the emolument whereof shall have been encreased, during fuch time; and no person, holding any office under the United States, fhall be a member of either houfe during his continuance in office. Sea 7. All bills for raifing revenue fhall originate in the house of reprefentatives; but the fenate may propofe or concur with amendments, as on other bills. Every bill which thall have paffed the houfe of reprefentatives and fenate fhall, before it become a law, be prefented to the prefident of the United States: if he approve, he thall fign it; but, if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that house house in which it shall have originated, who fhall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to re-confider it. If, after fuch re-confideration, two thirds of that houfe fhall agree to pafs the bill, it thall be fent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it fhall likewife be reconfidered, and, if approved by two thirds of that houfe, it fhall become a law. But in all fuch cafes the votes of both houfes fhall be determined by Yeas and Nays; and the names of the perfons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill fhall not be returned by the prefident within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it fhall have been prefented to him, the fame fhall be a law, in like manner as if he had figned it, unlefs the congrefs by their adjournment prevent its return, in which cafe it fhall not be a law. Every order, refolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the fenate and house of reprefentatives may be neceffary (except on a qucf tion of adjournment) fhall be prefented to the prefident of the United States; and, before the fame fhall take effect, fhall be approved by bin, or, being difapproved by him, thall be re-pailed by two thirds of the fenate and houfe of reprefentatives, according to the rules and limitations prefcribed in the cafe of a bill. Sect. 8. The congrefs fhall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, impofts, and excifes, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, impofts, and excifes, fhall 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 feveral ftates, and with the Indian tribes. To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the fubje&tof bankruptcies, throughout the United States. To coin money, regulate the value thereof and of foreign coin, and fix the ftandard of weights and measures. To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the fecurities and current coin of the United States. To eftablish poft-offices and poftroads. To promote the progrefs of fcience and ufefal arts, by fecuring, for limited times, to authors and inventors the exclufive right to their respective writings and difcoveries. To conftitute tribunals inferior to the fupreme court. To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high feas, and offences against the law of nations. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprifal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water. To raife and fupport armies; but no appropriation of money to that ufe fhall 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, fupprefs infurrections, and repel invafions. To provide for organizing, arming, and difciplining the militia, and for governing fuch part of them as may be employed in the fervice of the United States; referving to [7]3 the 1 the states refpectively the appoint ment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia, according to the difcipline prefcribed by congrefs. To exercise exclufive legiflation, in all cafes whatsoever, over fuch diftrict (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cellion of paricular ftates, and the acceptance of congrefs, become the feat of the government of the United States; and to exercife like authority over all places purchased by the confent of the legislature of the ftate, in which the fame fhall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arfenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings. And To make all laws which fhall be neceffary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vefted by this Conftitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or office thereof. Sect. 9. The migration or importation of fuch perfons as any of the ftates now exifting fhall think proper to admit, fhall not be prohibited by the congrefs, prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight; but a tax or duty may be impofed on fuch importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each perfon. The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus thall not be fufpended, unlefs when, in cafes of rebellion or invafion, the public fafety may require it. No bill of attainder, or ex poft facto law, fhall be paffed No capitation, or other direct tax, shall be laid, unless in proportion to the cenfus, or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. No tax or duty thall be laid on articles exported from any ftate. No preference fhall be given, by any regulation of commerce or revenue, to the ports of one ftate over thofe of another nor fhall veffels bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties, in another. No money fhall be drawn from the treasury, but in confequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money fhall be published from time to time. No title of nobility fhall be granted by the United States: and no perfon, holding any office of profit or truft under them, fhall, without the confent of the congrefs, accept of any prefent, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. Sect. 10. No ftate fhall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprifal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make any thing but gold and filver coin a tender in payment of debts; pafs any bill of attainder, ex poft facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts; or grant any title of nobility, No ftate thall, without the confent of the congrefs, lay any impofts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be abfolutely ne ceifary for executing its infpection laws; and the net produce of all duties and impofts, laid by any ftate on imports or exports, fhall be for the ufe of the treasury of the United States; and all fuch law thall be fubject to the revifion and controul of the congrefs. No ftate fhall, without the confent of congrefs, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops or |