Constitution of the United States

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Contents

Preamble

We the People of the United States of America, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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 1

Section 1

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in the people by way of plebiscites propositions or by their representatives which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives].

Section 2

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen for a term of three years by the People of the several States. At least a third the number of representatives shall be elected by proportional representation; with the cut off being 5%[for example,if a state shall be entitled to 60 representatives,20 representatives shall be elected by proportional representation;5% of the total vote shall be the cut off to be elected (i.e in this case 1 rep.)].

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of eighteen years, and been five years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall 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 all free Persons. 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 one hundred twenty thousand citizens. Each State, commonwealths and territory shall have at least one Representative, who shall the right to vote.

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.

No member may serve more than seven consecutive terms.

Any member is subject to recall [unless there being only 210 days or less left to their term] and if a three fifths majority of those voting in the last election in his or her district shall have petitioned the court for a recall.

Section 3

The Senate of the United States shall be composed at least Four Senators from each State, chosen by the people thereof for Eight 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 two classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the fourth year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the eight year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the citizens of any State, shall vote for a replacement, which shall then fill such vacancies.

After the first census after this amendment, the number of senate seats shall be apportioned according to population; but in no case shall any state have less than four senators.

If there be only 240 days or less left to the vacant seat, the governor, with the approval of the State Legislative body may appoint a replacement.If there be more than 240 days the state shall choose to either allow the people to vote for whom them wish to fill the seat or the above former method.

No Senator shall be eligible for re-election after serving three terms. Any member is subject to recall [unless there being only 240 days or less left to their term] and if a three fifths majority of those voting in the last election in his or her State shall have petitioned the court.

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of 27 Years, and been eleven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Senate,shall appoint a pro tempore chairperson but he/she 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 United States.

The Senate and the House shall have the Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President, or vice President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of three fifths 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 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 under 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 three fifth, 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 tenth 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 five days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section 6

They shall receive Compensation for their Services. 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 increased 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. But they shall not have any veto power over any revenue bill and shall only have one hundred and eighty days to review said revenue bill.

Every other type of 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 three fifths 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 three fifths 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 re-passed by three fifths of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill. The president shall not have any authority to modify or amend any bill thus presented to him or her. To do so shall be considered a criminal offense.

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 Defense 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;

The Federal District shall have at least one member in the House of Representives (not exceeding sixteen miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, which District shall otherwise be treated as if a state for purposes of this document, and to exercise like Authority, by a simple majority vote of both houses, 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

[void]

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.

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; 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 the People through the President of the United States of America. He/she shall hold his Office during his/her Term, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:

The president shall be elected by the citizens; if no person shall have received at least 44% of the vote, a run-off election shall be held within four weeks among the top three.

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 three years, and is a citizen of 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, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability 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 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 uphold the constitution and 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."

For the President to have a five year term, three fourths of the citizens shall have to have voted;if in the election only two thirds of the citizens voted his/her [and the vice president] term shall be for four years; if only 51% of the citizens shall have voted, their term shall be for three years.

The President shall have NO power or right to amend any bill submitted to him/her; he/she may veto or sign it.To subvert this shall be considered an impeachable offense.If the president refuses to enforce a law, that to shall be considered an impeachable offense.

Section 2

The President shall appoint with the consent of Congress,Temporary Commanders of the Army, Navy and of the Air Force of the United States. He/she shall also have the authority to dismiss any commander.He/she shall have the authority to ask the governors of of a state or states to call up the Militia, when called into the actual Service of the United States; the president 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 Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

The president shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided four sevenths 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.

[deleted]

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,lying under the color of office, violating their sworn oath of office, Allowing Torture and other high Crimes.

Article III

Section 1

The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested the People through The Supreme Court, which shall consist of not less than 15 members [and this number can be higher if both houses of Congress approve],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. No judge of the Supreme Court shall serve a term of more than fifteen years, but may eligible for one re-appointment of ten years or less if on the approval of three fifths of Congress.

Section 2

The judicial Power shall extent under this Constitution to: 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 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.

Section 3

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but any new State may be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State, commonwealth or territory,provided a majority of citizens in such state, commonwealth or territory shall agree on it and after petitioning the said State,Commonwealth or territory' highest court

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 democratic 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 three fifths of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of three fifths 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 fifths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fifths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

The Government shall never have any involvement whatsoever with any religion,faith or sect;this shall not be interpreted as infringing with any person's belief or lack there of.

The right to privacy is a right under this constitution.

The citizens of this country shall have the right to propose legislation(lesser than constitutional amendments), when eleven percent of those voting in the last election, shall propose a bill. This shall be brought before the entire citizens of all states and if it shall receive 51% of the vote in three fifths of the states, shall become a bill [unless ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. No bill may deny the rights granted or infringe on this constitution. The President may either sign it or veto it like any other legislation.

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.

=article VIII

There shall be a fourth branch of government, known as the Comptroller General, whose job shall be to ensure that the people's monies are spent according to law. He/she shall have the right to audit any of the other branches and can be called on for advice by any branch. If he/she finds evidence of embezzlement,theft or misuse, he/she shall have the right to freeze the monies and call for an investigation. The Comptroller General must be at least 40 years old and a citizen of the United States. He/she shall be elected directly by the People and shall serve only one term of nine years.

Historical Signatures

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

G°. Washington Presidt and deputy from Virginia

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

South Carolina J. Rutledge Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Charles Pinckney Pierce Butler

Georgia William Few Abr Baldwin

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. Paterson Jona: Dayton

Pennsylvania B Franklin Thomas Mifflin Robt. Morris Geo. Clymer Thos. FitzSimons Jared Ingersoll James Wilson Gouv Morris

Sign Your Own Name To This Document!

--Timothy 09:42, 24 March 2006 (CST)

--Avinashjoshi 23:01, 20 March 2007 (CDT)

--lavisod 12:15, 24 November 2007 (PST) --user:jackson 19:16, 20 January 2008 (EST)

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