1

THE

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

OF AMERICA 

LITERAL PRINT 

3

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a 

more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, 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. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the 

first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within 

4 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

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, 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 temVerDate Apr 14 2004 11:04 Apr 14, 2004 Jkt 077500 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 8221 Sfmt 8221 C:\CONAN\CON006.XXX PRFM99 PsN: CON006
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 5

porary 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 

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 

6 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

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, 

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 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 7

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 

8 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

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; 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 9

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. 

10 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

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 or 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 of Enumeration herein before directed 

to be taken. 

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. 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 11

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. 

12 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

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 Representatives 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. 

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. 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 13

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. 

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 

14 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

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 on 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. 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 15

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;—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. 

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 appelVerDate Apr 14 2004 11:04 Apr 14, 2004 Jkt 077500 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 8221 Sfmt 8221 C:\CONAN\CON006.XXX PRFM99 PsN: CON006
16 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

late 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. 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 17

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. 

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 

18 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

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. 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 19

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.

done in Convention by the Unanimous 

Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year 

of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In witness whereof We 

have hereunto subscribed our Names, 

Attest WILLIAM JACKSON Go

. WASHINGTON—Presidt.

Secretary and deputy from Virginia 

New Hampshire JOHN LANGDON

NICHOLAS GILMAN

Massachusetts NATHANIEL GORHAM

RUFUS KING

Connecticut WM SAML JOHNSON

ROGER SHERMAN

New York . . . . ALEXANDER HAMILTON

New Jersey WIL: LIVINGSTON

DAVID BREARLEY.

WM PATTERSON.

JONA: DAYTON

Pennsylvania B FRANKLIN

THOMAS MIFFLIN

ROBT MORRIS

GEO. CLYMER

THOS FITZSIMONS

JARED INGERSOL

JAMES WILSON

GOUV MORRIS

20 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

Delaware GEO: READ

GUNNING BEDFORD JUN

JOHN DICKINSON

RICHARD BASSETT

JACO: BROOM

Maryland JAMES MCHENRY

DAN OF ST THOS JENIFER

DANL CARROLL

Virginia JOHN BLAIR— JAMES MADISON JR.

North Carolina WM BLOUNT

RICHD DOBBS SPAIGHT

HU WILLIAMSON

J. RUTLEDGE

South Carolina CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY

CHARLES PINCKNEY

PIERCE BUTLER

Georgia WILLIAM FEW

ABR BALDWIN

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 21

In Convention Monday, September 17th 1787.

Present

The States of 

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, MR Hamilton

from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. 

Resolved,

That the preceeding Constitution be laid before the United 

States in Congress assembled, and that it is the Opinion of this 

Convention, that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of its Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification; and that each Convention assenting to, 

and ratifying the Same, should give Notice thereof to the 

United States in Congress assembled. Resolved, That it is the 

Opinion of this Convention, that as soon as the Conventions of 

nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the United 

States in Congress assembled should fix a Day on which Electors should be appointed by the States which shall have ratified 

the same, and a Day on which the Electors should assemble to 

vote for the President, and the Time and Place for commencing 

Proceedings under this Constitution. That after such Publication the Electors should be appointed, and the Senators and 

Representatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the 

Day fixed for the Election of the President, and should transmit 

their Votes certified, signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and Representatives should 

convene at the Time and Place assigned; that the Senators 

22 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole Purpose 

of receiving, opening and counting the Votes for President; and, 

that after he shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the 

President, should, without Delay, proceed to execute this Constitution.

By the Unanimous Order of the Convention 

Go: WASHINGTON—Presidt.

W. JACKSON Secretary.