by Dick Mac( with many thanks to Liz for the tip.)
I think I am not alone when I say that we think of boycotters as younger people. Liberals, if you will, for lack of a better word in current vernacular. And perhaps that's pretty accurate. Perhaps not.
It is easy to ignore young people, they suffer from the blindness of youth. So, when a mature person presents a reasonable argument against the policies of a big corporation I find myself paying closer attention.
Recently, Target made a political donation that upset a grandmother in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and here is a video of her reaction and action:
Last week Target Corporation gave $150,000 to Minnesota Forward, which i[s] using the money to run TV ads for Republican Tom Emmer's campaign for Minnesota governor. Emmer has connections to anti-gay groups. This donation, clearly acceptable under the new Citizens United Supreme Court ruling angered many in the state, seeing this as a $150,000 contribution to fund ant[i]-gay politics. One Eden Prairie mom and grandmother took her anger directly to a Target. Her repeated attempts to get to Target executives failed so she took her Target Charge Card. A $226 purchase on that card was immediately returned for credit and she scissored her Target card into little pieces to be used no more[.]
Our nation was saved by a trillion-plus dollar injection of stimulus money after the banking industry ran-off with the free-market.
Those who have not been devastated by the financial disaster of the last few years complain that the government is spending too much money saving the banks.
Well, they didn't complain when the last president did it, because he was THEIR president; but they complain when the current president (clearly not THEIR kind of president - even though he is a pro-business conservative) follows-up with a needed second infusion of cash.
In some ways I wish the feds had let the economy crumble, because it would have exposed today's free-market as the fraud of rich-white-socialism it really is. Sadly, its the job of the federal government to keep the nation intact and a nation without an economy is, well, not really a nation at all.
So, two presidents pumped a bundle into the economy to maintain the status quo at the expense of the working class, and the racists . . . er, I mean the teabaggers, want to blame the black guy for it. White middle-class Americans act all shocked and appalled that this has happened to the economy after voting TWICE to make Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W Bush president. These guys had every intention of this happening to the economy. Obama has the same plan, but because he is black he will be villainized and his predecessor lionized.
Don't get me wrong: I loathe Barack Obama and although I preferred him to Hillary Clinton it was definitely a lesser-of-two-evils decision. Clinton is a monster, Obama is just a creep.
After the supply-siders sacrificed our future to their buddies and left the economy nearly non-existent, George Bush HAD to pump money into the economy and we all knew that another infusion would be necessary by his successor.
If his successor had been John McCain, the teabaggers would be lauding his whiteness, er . . . I mean, his brilliant move of stimulating the economy. But Obama, though; he's a bad guy for doing exactly what everyone knew was needed.
And the teabaggers? Well, they are preparing to elect more republican supply-siders. And the so-called liberals? They will also elect more democratic supply-siders. And the cycle will continue.
Teabaggers have not formed a new party, they have just decided to support their own style of Republicans (also commonly known as racist idiots), and not support the old-school guys (really smart racists) that we are used to seeing.
Liberals who continue to support the Democrats are useless. They are over and irrelevant. Liberals are the end of American liberalism because they cannot break away from the Democrats, who today are exact replicas of c.1978 Republicans.
Our only chance to change the future is to break away from the single party system of Republicans and Democrats.
If the teabaggers and so-called liberals really want change, they are going to have to abandon traditional notions of conservatism and liberalism, because they are no longer valid.
In the meantime, it is important to understand that the stimulus spending was necessary - even if we didn't have it in the bank at that very moment. It was necessary if we wanted the United States to continue existing in its current form, which I think the majority of people want.
Alan S. Blinder, of Princeton University, and Mark Zandi, of Moody's, have statistically and analytically proven that the Bush and Obama stimulus packages succeeded at saving the economy.
So, please people, enough with the complaining about the stimulus? It is necessary and successful; and despite teabagger notions that the rich will stimulate the economy if we cut their taxes, that has never been true. What is true? Federal investment in the market has always been the only way to grow the American economy.
And this has been true ever since the American Revolution.
I have always been a fan of fossils. I love the window they provide to the past.
I learned about evolution because of my interest in fossils. Having attended Catholic school in the 1960s, the only science I was taught was meteorology (weather), a little bit of Earth science, and a tiny bit of astronomy. Science wasn't a big topic in Catholic schools of the day.
I remember learning about copyright dates in books and during a sixth-grade science class about clouds, in 1969, I looked at the copyright date of my slender science book: 1948. Now, I'm not an expert on textbooks or science, but even at the ripe old age of eleven, I knew that a lot of scientific changes had taken place in the 21 years between the publication of my science book and my science lesson of that day.
I took an interest in dinosaurs and fossils outside of school and marvelled at them at museums. They are, indeed, a window to the past.
As an adult, I met people who do not believe in evolution (which is sort of like not believing in gravity). I tried discussing it with them until I realized that their position was rooted in their religious faith and interpretations of the Bible. As a Catholic, I have always been baffled by these people. I read the Bible and I use it as the basis of my personal faith and religious beliefs. I don't use it as a textbook, however, to learn about modern-day scientific analyses or cultural development. I use science for that!
I often wonder if these people have missed the fascinating world of fossils, the amazement of seeing the skeletons of massive dinosaurs, the excitement of deep-ocean discoveries of seemingly pre-historic fish.
Not long ago, I was chatting with a fellow-parishioner after Sunday mass, and "evolution" became the focus of the conversation. She was concerned that America was discussing the importance of the anniversary of Charles Darwins' "The Origin Of The Species," because, she said it was so intrinsically anti-Catholic. I told her I believed that evolution was an obvious reality, that all living things evolve. She was angry that I was saying she was descended from monkeys. I remained silent and listened to the very standard parochialism that is responsible for Catholic stupidity. When she paused and asked "Don'tcha think?" I said I did not share her analysis of evolution, and then I made a big mistake: I asked her why we keep finding fossils that are millions of years old if the world is only 5,000 years old.
"God put them there when he created Adam and Eve."
I didn't sigh audibly, but I had to stop talking to this person. I keep forgetting there are people who think this way.
Today, I feel sorry for those people, and I offer you this link to a nifty article at the New York Times, about the Cambrian Explosion, that is believed to have taken place 500,000,000 years ago:
In the 1980s I read an article about Tony LaRussa, manager of the Oakland Athletics, consulting the team's computer staff about gathering statistics about opposing players. This was after learning about SABRmetrics, the series of measurements created by the brilliant Bill James to statistically analyze the performance of baseball production, past and present.
I am a bit of a geek. I'm not as good at it as many of my geek friends, but there is a soft spot in my heart (and a chunk of my hard drives) reserved for worshiping statistics and analysis. I often thought about working in technology for a sports team.
For a number of years, my buddy Chico and I managed a tabletop APBA Baseball League, and I dutifully kept all the league's statistics on my PC. Most people didn't have personal computers at that time, but my partner thought it was a good investment and we got every penny's worth from it. I would print out league and team statistics weekly and we would discuss trends, changes and team needs. This went on for years. I think I might still have a book of scorecards and a file folder full of printouts along with the APBA set in a box somewhere.
My PC changed our APBA league, for ever and for the better.
Yesterday, I had a different experience of technology changing my experience with sports.
About ten years ago, my friend Liz, from London, gave me a Manchester City Football Club shirt, just like the players wear. She had grown-up in Manchester and she and her dad were life-long City supporters. It was a wonderful gift.
My connection to her team went beyond just the jersey. The first live English soccer match I saw was at Highbury in London, and the home team, Arsenal played host to Liz's Manchester City.
I fell in love with soccer that day as Arsenal, who would become MY team, beat Man City 5 - 0, and the man who would become my all-time favorite soccer player, Thierry Henry, scored a hat-trick.
Over the past four days, my home team, Red Bull New York, hosted the New York Football Challenge and played a series of matches with Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Sporting Lisbon. Since Man City was coming to town, I promised Liz I would wear the City jersey to one of the matches.
Yesterday, before my Red Bulls hosted Man City, Tottenham played Lisbon. I wore my Man City shirt during that match, and wrote to Liz that I would be in the front row at the top of the box at the left-hand goal, and that she should watch for me on television. The match was broadcast in London by ESPN-UK. To make it easier to find me, I hung two red Red Bulls scarves over the wall in front of me.
A few minutes into the game, I received a text message from Liz that she had paused her television on a shot that showed me in the background, snapped a picture with her digital camera, and would post it on the web. Moments later, my wife texted me from Brooklyn to say she just saw a photograph of me from at the game on the internet.
So, using current technology, a friend in London, England, could see me at a soccer match in Harrison, NJ, take a snapshot of the television screen, post it to the internet, and my wife in Brooklyn, NY, could see me enjoying the match.
And here is the picture:
That is me in the blue shirt and white cap, behind the two red scarves!
Thierry Henry made his debut for Red Bull New York last night in a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, one of last year's top four teams in the English Premier League.
Henry's arrival in New York has been anticipated by Red Bull fans for over two years. His actual arrival has been met with glee, and an increase in ticket sales for the team.
Some object to the signing, saying he is an aging star and RBNY needs different skills. Some object to the signing because they pretend to know something about the Irish National Team, or pretend they have some connection to the old sod, and nurse a resentment towards Henry over his handball in a match in 2009. I hope those in the latter camp will spare me your tedious comments about the handball. It's really long past time to move on from that. Find a better reason to hate one of the greatest players of all time.
Most of us, though, are thrilled by the signing. We know that Henry is not washed-up, we know he has a few years left in his legs. We know he is a humble and hard-working player. We know that he leads by example and will be a fantastic addition to an already good Red Bulls side.
He was welcomed with loud cheers last night when he was introduced to the crowd, and his play was beautiful. He even scored the first goal of the match, in the 25th minute. Passing, dribbling, even tackling, he showed us his skills and it was marvelous.
Here is a clip of Henry's goal from SoccerHighlightsTV1:
RBNY is very lucky to have signed Henry, and I am truly grateful to ownership for making the commitment and spending the money to bring him here.
Now that the United States tax rate is at its lowest since 1950, and most Americans still don't want to pay any taxes, we need to find other ways to fund civilization. Not that Americans have any interest in civilization!
For most of us, you need only ensure that the television networks are broadcasting, the booze manufacturers are open for business, there is a free flow of gasoline, and the high-fructose-corn-syrup-laced snacks are easy to reach.
But, the government cannot spend any money ensuring things like roads, airports, seaports, and the protection of commerce are in place. We need our tax cuts first. Well, and if are paying attention to the teabaggers, we need to get rid of the brown immigrants and put the brown citizens in the place they enjoyed in the good-old-days.
So, how are we going to run a government, a civilization, when the overweight, well-paid white guys don't want to pay taxes? Tax the things they don't use, of course! Taxing human brain use would be acceptable I suppose, because most teabaggers aren't using theirs; but that would be hard to measure. We could tax books, because most teabaggers prefer Fox News to the printed word, but taxing books is so unseemly. We could increase the tax on cigarettes, which I think is a great idea. We can't tax the HFCS-laced soft drinks, because most of the teabaggers buy sweetened juices and soda pop. Whatever is a nation to do when it's controlled by a tiny minority with a huge media conglomerate behind it?
Oakland, California, has an idea! They've decided to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and license and tax farms within their municipality.
Most teabaggers, although they pretend to support personal freedom, are opposed to the legalization of marijuana (not all of them, just most of them). So, although Oakland may have found a legitimate and intelligent revenue stream, you can be sure that some chubby white folks will be on the air assailing Oakland for being irresponsible and jeopardizing the safety of all the little white children.
Little white children should have access to booze, prescription drugs, guns and automobiles; but they should never, under any circumstances, have access to marijuana!
Legalization of marijuana is long overdue in the United States and the more cities and states that start the process, the more pressure will be put on the federal government to address the issue.
Kudos to Oakland, California! I hope you successfully beat back the teabaggers who will try to stop your brilliant plan!
Then you can retain and/or re-hire the sixty cops you'll have to fire this year without that revenue stream.
It is the job of a corporation to increase the profits of the companies under its control and, if it is part of their corporate structure, to provide maximum dividends to their shareholders.
In BP's efforts to increase profits, they want to start drilling off the shores of Libya, in the Mediterranean Sea. Their challenge, of course, would be to convince that nation to do business with them. Gaining the favor of a foreign country is never easy, and can often be expensive.
Libya, in particular, is a difficult place for any Western company to do business because their leader, Muammar al-Gaddafi, is neither a fan of the West, and the feeling is mutual.
How to get such a man to cooperate? Ask him what he wants, of course!
It is now alleged that what he wanted from BP was the British prisoner Abdel Baset al-Megrahi. As soon as Megrahi was freed by the British, Libya would talk to BP about drilling contracts.
Megrahi was released and arrived in Tripoli to throngs of cheering supporters.
Why is this guy so popular in Libya? Who is this guy?
Megrahi is the only person convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
In 1988, the bombing of the flight that carried mostly American travellers shocked the United States.
This week, British Prime Minister David Cameron is enjoying his first to Washington, and the senators from New York and New Jersey want the prime minister to investigate BP's role in influencing the release of a bomber who took so many American lives.
Of course, there is no proof of any of this yet. So stay tuned!
Eliza Manningham-Buller was the director of MI5 during most of the time that George W Bush was President of the United States. MI5 is the British equivalent of the FBI, more or less.
Ms. Manningham-Buller has stated that neither Great Britain nor the United States found anything to connect the crimes committed on September 11, 2001, to Saddam Hussein or anyone in his government.
For those who do not know why this is significant, President Bush lied to the American people about the role of Baghdad in the 9/11 crimes, and used those lies to launch an attack on Iraq. Now, seven years later we are mired in an unwinnable war (unwinnable because there is no clear way to define victory), and the only thing to come of the action is that Texas oilmen will now control the flow of oil out of that region.
A cynic might say that President Bush sacrificed thousands of American lives, hundreds of billions of dollars, and millions of Iraqi lives only to secure the control of fossil fuels for his progeny.
Well, perhaps anyone with a mind might say that, irrespective of their cynicism; but, I digress.
Ms. Manningham-Buller has been quoted thus:
There was no credible intelligence to suggest that connection and that was the judgment, I might say, of the CIA. It was not a judgment that found favor with some parts of the American machine.
The CIA, our own foreign intelligence agency found no credible information to conclude that Iraq was involved in 9/11.
Many of us knew this at the time; but the teabaggers of the day (at that time called 'conservatives' although they have no interest in conserving anything but the justification of their own avarice) demanded that we 'support the President' during his difficult time of deciding to annihilate a civilization and cashing-out as quickly as possible.
Ms. Manningham-Buller, goes on to say:
To my mind, Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11 and I have never seen anything to make me change my mind.
And remember that this former MI5 chief is now a member of the House of Lords, and one of our closest allies. She is not some apologist for pacifism or a leftist talking head. This woman is a credible world leader in what was once known as Western Civilization.
The sad outcome of George W Bush's illegal, immoral, and truly sad attack against the Iraqi people is not just the waste of human life and money, but the reality that he personally has radicalized at least one, possibly two, generations of Muslim men. Men who will grow-up to hate America, not because of our freedom as teabaggers like to say, but because we are a vicious, avaricious, militaristic culture who follow insane right-wing leaders like the sheep we have come known to be.
Perhaps we should be promoting good nutrition, instead of junk food fortified with vitamins and minerals!
My disdain for, and loathing of, Nestle Corporation is known by most of my friends and followers.
Not only are Nestle's products generally very low quality, their marketing campaigns are less than acceptable to me. Their breast milk substitute campaigns being singularly the most despicable examples of exploitation ever seen in free-market capitalism.
Nestle has acquired some companies that produce some decent products. The former "Libby's" created Juicy Juice, the first of the kids' juice drinks to avoid added sugar and other sweeteners. Since it's a Nestle product, I have never purchased it, but rumor has it that the company has not taken to adding the bad stuff that Libby's avoided at creation.
Nestle's participation in the world's water wars is insidious, as their behavior in Poland Springs, Maine, proved during a well breakdown a few years back.
The worst thing they do, however, is their marketing. I'm not talking about commercials during The Flintstones, I'm talking about marketing expensive products to second- and third-world nations where the acquisition of basic necessities is a challenge that does not need the shiny bright objects of Nestle as a distraction from basic survival.
Come now, the Nestle Junk Food Barge for the people inhabiting communities along the the Amazon River:
I know the teabagging line is that people shouldn't purchase that which they can neither afford nor need. My point has always been that corporations shouldn't be marketing to those people in the first place. Teabaggers will tell you that this is what is meant by 'freedom.'
This is the end of my week-long tribute to Ike & Tina Turner.
Today's video is the only one of the videos that is an Ike & Tina original. "Nutbush City Limits" was written by Tina, produced by Ike, and the studio recording features the late Marc Bolan, the boyfriend of former Ikette Gloria Jones, on guitar.
You might recognize Bolan's name as the leader of the glam rock group T.Rex, who in the early- and mid-1970s enjoyed success on the US charts. He is known to have played guitar on a number of the band's songs.
Tina was born in Nutbush, Tennessee, and this song was the last charting single for Ike & Tina Turner.
Ike and Tina Turner worked hard in the early seventies. They played hard, they fought hard, and they performed with the enthusiasm and elan of true professionals.
Five years after this performance, Tina would be a single woman hiding from Ike and praying for her life.
Another year later, she was singing her soulful version of The Beatles song "Help," as the opening song of the shows for her first solo tour.
Here, she performs The Beatles song "Get Back" with Ike and the Ikettes:
She may not know about respect, but she sure knows about soul!
Tina Turner applied her unique sound and style to many famous songs. Whether it was a country tune, a British Invasion hit, an American standard, or a soul song, Tina was never afraid to sing it.
Here she performs her version of Otis Redding's "Respect," which is most commonly known as an Aretha Franklin song.
The Rolling Stones' first tour of the United States had them opening for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Mick Jagger says that it was on that tour that Tina Turner taught him to dance.
Here is a long clip from Playboy After Dark featuring Ike & Tina Turner with the Ikettes performing three of their most famous cover versions: Sly's "Dance To The Music," The Beatles' "Come Together," and Creedance's "Proud Mary" for Hugh Hefner and friends.
Tina always had it, and I will post a different video of her each day this week.
My favorite part of watching the religious get upset about the lives, loves, lifestyles, and decisions of other people, is their presumption that they know exactly what God wants.
Instead of accepting the Bible and their other religious writings as spiritual challenges and lessons for themselves, they choose to form a morality they then impose on others.
I'm not talking about criminal matters of murder, rape, larceny, arson or plunder, here; I am talking about life and love and charity.
My experience as a Christian is that most Christians are bigots, and they hide their fears, their manias and phobias, behind a mantle of religiosity (and often conservatism) because they cannot fathom that they might be afraid, or wrong, or homosexual.
Conservative Christians are the most dangerous people in the world not because they kill people, although they would like that to be a legitimate part of their agenda via capital punishment; but because they want to do long-term damage to Western Civilization (if it can still be called that) by enacting laws like DOMA and DADT that have generational implications.
That's why I was so excited to get this message from God:
If you know anyone who opposes gay marriage, avoid them as best you can. If you know anyone who supports the death penalty, give them a wide berth. In general, let the so-called conservatives have their little lives separate from you.
This is my favorite Internet picture of recent time.
Gay marriage is probably the most important socio-political issue facing America today. It is as incendiary as abortion was when it first hit the airwaves.
This issue, for all its emotionalism, really comes down to economic and civil rights issues.
Homosexuals are taxpayers and deserve equal treatment under all laws not because they are homosexuals, but because they are taxpayers, citizens.
The notion that "God" or "god" intended that marriage was supposed to be exclusively heterosexual is no argument in the United States, and the government needs to stop giving that argument the traction it is getting. That is a religious opinion and is not a fact.
It's time for the repeal of Bill Clinton's Defense of Marriage Act, it's time for every state to legalize same-sex marriages, and it's time for homosexuals to pull their support from any "liberal" politician who does not 100% support these two initiatives.
The third paragraph of Article VI of the United States Constitution includes the statement:
. . . no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
So I wonder how religion has become such a huge part of our elections?
I have never heard anyone ask: "If there is no religious test for election to public office, then why does the press test candidates about their religious beliefs?"
Is it a violation of a candidate's Constitutional rights to ask a candidate questions about her religious views during the employment process?
I know that when I apply for a job, the company is not allowed to ask my religion, and the interviewers are wise to avoid any questions about my religion because I could bring suit against them if I do not get the job.
In America, the press is very much part of the hiring process for our officials. Not just the elected officials, but also appointed officials who must appear before Congressional subcommittees for approval before date of hire.
Since the media plays such a massive role in our hiring process, isn't it logical that the media's coverage of a candidate's religion would be interfering with that person's right to hold a job in the United States?
I think it does.
I think that any member of any member of Congress, any employee of the government, and any member of the media who discusses the religion or religious views of a Congressional candidate might be violating that person's Constitutional rights.
If our Constitution guarantees that there is no religious test for employment, why is religion such an integral part of our employment process?
Here is Article VI in its entirety:
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 notwith-standing.
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.
It's time for us to remove religion from our governmental discourse.
Continuing with my thoughts of yesterday when I confirmed that God is not mentioned in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights and Other Amendments, I have learned that there is a legal document, ratified by Congress and President John Adams (perhaps the most parochial and religious of all the founding fathers) in 1796, stating that the United States is specifically NOT a Christian nation.
That's right: not a Christian nation! John Adams ratified a treaty that states the United States is not a Christian nation.
Let me say that one more time for you: The Fifth Congress of the United States, and President John Adams, in 1796 signed a treaty that declares, in black & white, that the United States is not a Christian nation.
Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
Wow! So that's pretty explicit: " . . . the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion . . . ."
So, everyone repeat after me: "The United States is not a Christian nation."
I am adding this tidbit of information to the fact that neither the United States Constitution nor the Bill of Rights and Other Amendments include any mention of God to the points that help me conclude that my country is intended to be a utopia that allows religious and non-religious people alike to exist as a society. Furthermore, I believe the founding fathers intended to protect all citizens from the finagling of the religious to insert their religiosity into the public (governmental) discourse.
Tomorrow, I think I'll discuss Article VI, Section 3 of the Constitution, which ensures there can be no religious test to hold public office.
I love being an American, and I love being a Christian, and I like them really separate from each other. It's just so much more . . . how do you say . . . civilized!
No! Nobody's God or god is in the documents that define the United States of America. So, next time anyone tells you that the USA is a Christian nation, just tell them they are wrong and direct them to the "Constitution of the United States" and "Bill of Rights and Later Amendments."
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. 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, 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 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 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, 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.
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 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.
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.
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;--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 no new States 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 notwith-standing.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
Article VII
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth
In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,
George Washington--President and deputy from Virginia
New Hampshire: John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts: Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King
Connecticut: William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman
New York: Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey: William Livingston, David Brearly, William Paterson, Jonathan Dayton
Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris
Delaware: George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom
Maryland: James McHenry, Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll
Virginia: John Blair, James Madison, Jr.
North Carolina: William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson
South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler
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 Right to bear arms
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 Quartering of soldiers
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 Search and arrest
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 Rights in criminal cases
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 Right to a fair trial
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 Rights in civil cases
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 Bail, fines, punishment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX Rights retained by the People
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X States' rights
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.
Later Amendments
Amendment 11 Lawsuits against states
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.
February 7, 1795.
Amendment 12 Presidential elections
The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.]* 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.
June 15, 1804. Superseded by Section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment.
Amendment 13 Abolition of slavery
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 these article by appropriate legislation.
December 6, 1865.
Amendment 14 Civil rights
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 power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
July 9, 1868.
Amendment 15 Black suffrage
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
February 3, 1870.
Amendment 16 Income taxes
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.
February 3, 1913.
Amendment 17 Senatorial elections
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 legislature.
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.
April 8, 1913.
Amendment 18 Prohibition of liquor
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.
January 16, 1919. Repealed by the Twenty-First, December 5, 1933.
Amendment 19 Women's suffrage
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any States on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
August 18, 1920.
Amendment 20 Terms of office
Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon 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.
January 23, 1933.
Amendment 21 Repeal of Prohibition
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. The 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.
December 5, 1933.
Amendment 22 Term Limits for the Presidency
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.
February 27, 1951.
Amendment 23 Washington, D.C., suffrage
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.
March 29, 1961.
Amendment 24 Abolition of poll taxes
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
January 23, 1964.
Amendment 25 Presidential succession
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.
February 10, 1967.
Amendment 26 18-year-old suffrage
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.
June 30, 1971.
Amendment 27 Congressional pay raises
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
by Dick Mac( with many thanks to Liz for the tip.)
by Dick Mac
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