The Constitution of the
United States of America
No~: The ~assages that have been amended or superseded have been struck our
sections with more than one paragraph, paragraph numbers have been added in In
ets to help you locate passages easily.
PREAMBLE
We the people of the United States, 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
[descendants], do ordain [issue] and
establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.
ARTICLE I. CONGRESS
--------------
Section 1. Legislative Power 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. House of Representatives
[I] The House of Representatives
shall be composed of members
chosen every second year by the
people of the several states, and the
electors [voters] in each state shall
have the qualifications requisite
[required] for electors of the most
numerous branch of the state
legislature.
[2] No person shall be a
representative who shall not have
attained to the age of twenty-fr;~
years, and been seven years a c1t1zen
b
rack.
of the United States, and who shall
not, when elected, be an inhabit
that state in which he shall be chant of
osen.
[3] Representatives and direet-
truces shall be ap~ortioned ant~
several states v~htch 111ay be htdttdcd-
within this Union according to thcir-
1especti ve numbers [populationt,-
which shall be determined by adding-
to the vv hole ntttnbe1 of ft cc per som;-
induding those bound to sci vice f-or-
a te1 m of 'J eats [indentm ed ser vantst,
and excluding It1dians not taxed,
three-fifths of all other persons. The
actual enumeration [census] 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 llampshire
sha-1-1 be entitled to choose three,
.Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island
and Providence Plantations one,
Connecticnt five, New 101 k stx
'lT .
,
New Jersey four, Pennsyharua og~1: . . ht-
Delaware one, .Marylartd stx • , '!if
~
gtnrct
ten, North Carolina five, South--
Carolina b:ve, and Georgia tltree:
 When vacancies happen in
[4] . f
the representation rom any state,
he executive authority [governor]
t ereof shall issue writs of election t
th . 0
fill such vacancies.
[S] The House of Representatives
shall choose their Speaker and other
officers; and shall have the sole power
of impeachment.
section 3. Senate
[l] Toe Senate of the United States
shall be composed of two senators
from each state, chosen 1,-y the
legislatttre thereof, for six years; and
each senator shall have one vote.
[2] Immediately after they shall
be assembled in consequence of the
first election, they shall be divided
as equally as may be into three
classes. The seats of the senators of
the first class shall be vacated at the
expiration of the second year, of the
second class at the expiration of the
fourth year, and of the third class
at the expiration of the sixth year,
so that one-third may be chosen
every second year; and if vacancies
happen by resignation, or otherwise,
during the recess of the legislature of
any state, the executive [governor]
thereof may make temporary
appointments until the next meeting
of the legislature, which shall then fill
such vacancies.
[3] 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.
[4] lhe Vi
United Stat ce president of th
S es shall b e
enate, but shall h e president of the
theyb e equally d. ave
.d no Vote, unless
[5] lh 1v1 ed [tied].
e Senate hall
other offi.c s choose their
ers, and al
pro tempore [t so a president
officer], in the ::porary presiding
president o h sence of the vice
the office'o/ w ~n he shall exercise
States. president of the United
[6] The Senate shall have sole
t?
~er ~ry all impeachments.
sh n sitting for that purpose, they
all be on oath or affirmation.
When the president of the United
Sta~es is tried, the chief justice [of the
Umted States] shall preside; and no
person shall be convicted without
the concurrence of two-thirds of the
members present.
[7] 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. Elections and Meetings of
Congress
[I] The times, places, and manner
of holding elections for senators and •
representatives shall be prescribed
[designated] 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.
SOURCEBOOK 701

[2] The Congress shall assemble
at least once in every year, and snch
m eeting shall be 011 the fir st ~fonda}'
in December, unless they shall by law
appoint a different day.
Section s. Rules and Procedures of
the Two Houses
[1] Each house shall be the
judge of the elections, returns,
and qualifications of its own
members, and a majority of each
shall constitute a quoru m to do
business; but a smaller numb er may
adjou rn from day to day, and may be
authorized to compel the attendance
of absent members, in such manne r,
and under such penalties, as each
house may provide.
[2] Each house may determ ine the
rules of its proceedings, punis h its
memb ers for disord erly behavior, and
with the concu rrence of two-th irds,
expel a·memb er.
[3] Each house shall keep a journa l
of its proce eding s, and from time
to time publis h the same, excepting
such parts as may in their judgm ent
require secrecy; and the yeas
[affirmative votes] and nays [negative
votes] of the memb ers of either house
on any questi on shall, at the desire of
one-fifth of those presen t, be entere d
on the journa l.
[4] Neith er house, durin g the
session of Congr ess, shall, witho ut
the conse nt of the other, adjou rn
for more than three days, nor to any
other place than that in which the
two house s shall be sitting.
Section 6. Members' Privileges and
Restrictions
[ 1] The senators and
representatives shall receive a
compe nsatio n for their services, to
be ascertained [fixed] by law and
paid out of the treasury of the Unit d
States. They shall in all cases excep:
treason, felony [serious crime],
and breach of the peace [disorderly
condu ct], be privileged [immune]
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 questi oned in any other place.
[2] No senato r or representative
shall, durin g the time for which he
was elected, be appoi nted to any
civil office under the authority of the
Unite d States, which shall have been
created, or the emolu ments [salary]
where of shall have been increased,
durin g such time; and no person
holdin g any office under the United
States shall be a memb er of either
house durin g his continuance in
office.
Section 7. Lawmaking Procedures
[ 1] All bills for raising revenue
shall origin ate in the House of
Representatives; but the Senate may
propo se or concu r with amendments
as on other bills.
[2] Every bill which shall have .
passe d the House of Representatives
and the Senat e shall, before it
becom es a law, be presen ted to
the presid ent of the United states;
· 1·t but
if he appro ve, he shall_ sig~ 'his
if not, he shall return it, with . h
· whic
objec tions, to that house in
 all have originated, who shall
it sb the objections at large on
their
eotet al and proceed to reconsider it.
·oorJl , .d . th gh out thee uni
J {tet such recons1 era
tion two-
If :ds of that house shall agree to
till the bill, it shall be sent, together
P~; the objections, to the other
likewise
wt e by which it shall . £ .
us'
ho onsidered, and, 1f approved
be rec
two-thirds of that house, it shall
es
!~come a law. But in all such cas
the votes of both houses shall be
d
determined by yeas and nays, an
the names of the persons voting
for and against the bill shall be
use
entered on the journal of each ho
be
respectively. If any bill shall not
ten
returned by the president within
shall
days (Sundays excepted) after it
same
have been presented to him, the
if he
shall be a law, in like manner as
had signed it, unless the Congres
s by
their adjournment prevent its ret
urn,
in which case it shall no t be a
law.
[3] Every order, resolution, or
the
vote to which the concurrence of
ives
Senate and House of Representat
may be necessary (except on a
question of adjournment) shall be
presented to the president of the
United States; and before the sam
e respective writings and discoveries;
d by
shall take effect, shall be approve
,
him, or, being disapproved by him
the
shall be repassed by two-thirds of
ives,
Senate and House of Representat
tions
according to the rules and limita
prescribed in the case of a bill.
e
Section 8. Powers of Congress Th
Congress shall have power:
ties,
_[I] To lay and collect taxes, du
debts
llllposts, and excises, to pay the
se
au<l provide for the common defen
and general Wei£
States; but all dUh~re of the United
. es ·
excises shall b . ' impos ts, and
[th
form e same J
rou U.
ntted States;
[2]
To borrow mo
of the United States; ney on the cre
dit
[3] To reguI ate commerce with
ore1gn nations, and among the
.
s~veral states, and with the Ind1an
tribes;
[4] To establish a uniform rule
o_f ~aturalization [admitting to
c1ti~enshipJ, and uniform laws on
the
subject of bankruptcies throughou
t
the United States;
[SJ To coin money, regulate the
value thereof, and of foreign coin,
ts
and fix [set] the standard of weigh
and measures;
[6J To provide for the punishment
of counterfeiting the securities and
current coin of the United States;
[71 To establish post offices and
post roads;
[8J To promote the progress of
science and useful arts by securing
for limited times to authors and
ir
inventors the exclusive right to the
[9J To constitute tribunals
[establish courts] inferior to [lowe
r
than] the Supreme Court;
es
[ 10J To define and punish pirac~
h
and felonies committed on the hig
of
seas and offenses against the law
nations [international law];
ers of
[ 1J To declare war, grant lett
1 es
marque and reprisal, and make rul
SOURCEBOOK 703
concerning captures on land and
water;
, into execution the foregoing powe~~
[12] To raise and support armies
but no appropriation of money to
that use shall be for a longer term
than two years;
(13] To provide and maintain a
navy;
[ 14J To make rules for the
government and regulation of the
land and naval forces;
the
(15] To provide for calling forth
s Cong1 ess ptiot to the yea1 1808, bttt-
militia to execute [carry out] the law
s a tax 01 duty may be imposed mr
of the Union, suppress insurrection
(rebellions], and repel invasions;
(16] To provide for organizing,
arming, and disciplining (training]
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
;
(regulations] prescribed by Congress
(17] To exercise exclusive legislation
in all cases whatsoever, over such
district (not exceeding ten miles
square) as may, by cession of
e
particular states, and the acceptanc
of Congress, become the seat of
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 (warehouses for
explosives], arsenals, dockyards, and
other needful buildings; and
f'l \/l=R NMENT & POLITICS: AP'
[18] To make all laws which shall
be necessary and proper for carryi
and all other powers vested by this
Constitution in the government
of the United States, or in any
department or officer thereof.
Section 9. Powers Denied to the
Federal Government
[ 1J TI'le migt ation 01 impot tatiorr
of such pe1sons as any of the stattt-
now existing shaH think ptopct to--
admit shaH not be prnhibited by the-
such irnpot tation, not exceeding texr
doHats fot each pet son.
[2] 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.
[3] No bill of attainder or ex post
facto law shall be passed.
[4] No capitation [head] or other
direct tax shall be laid, unless
in pt opot tion to the census 01
enumeration hetcin befo1e directed
to be taken.
[5] No tax or duty shall be laid on
articles exported from any state.
[6] No preference shall be given
by any regulation of commerce or
revenue to the ports of one state over
those of another;
[7] 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
EDITION
 bli' ,money shall be published
ptl ti.rne to time.
frof11
J No title of nobility shall be
~te d 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 prese~t, emolument, office, or
title, of any kind whatever, from any
king, prince, or foreign state.
section 1O. Powers Denied to the
States
[11 No _state shall enter into any
treaty, alliance, or confederation.
grant letters of marque and reprisal;
coin money; emit bills of credit;
make anything but gold and silver
coin a tender [legal money] 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.
[21 No state shall, without the
consent of the Congress, lay any
imposts or duties on imports
or exports, except what may be
absolutely necessary for executing
its inspection laws; and the net
produce [income] 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 control of the Congress.
f3] 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
st ate or with a foreign power, or
engage in war unless actually invaded
or in such .
d unm·
anger as . •nent [th
Will not ad . reatening]
nut of del
1. fldentify four I ay.
or co re evant
the S rnparing the h categories
. enate and ouse and
s1?1ilarities' an ~Xplain the
Within thos d differences
e categories.
2. Explain the
diffi reasons for th
erences betw e
and Senate Wh een the House
framers ac~om a~ did the
structures? phsh with these
3. !ila in the significance of the
I erence between th
ofC e powers
I o~gress descri in Article
bed
, Sect10n 8, paragraphs 1-17
ao d th e power described in
Article I, Section 8, paragraph
18.
ARTICLE II. THE PRESIDENCY
Section 1. Executive Power
[I] 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:
[2] 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
be entitled in the Congress;
.
maY ve, or
but no senat or or representati
!ding an office of trust or
h°
person der the United States, shall
profitun
be appointed an elector.
70 5
soURCEBOOK
 [3] 1he electors shal
l meet in their Senate shall choose fr
respective states, and om thttn-by-
vote by ballot ballot tt1e vice presiden
for two persons, of w t.
hom one at least
shall not be an inhabi [4] The Congress m
tant of the same ay determine
state with themselves the time of ch~osing
. And they shall the electors, and
make a list of all the the day on which they
per sons votcd
for, and of the numbe shall give their
r of votcs for votes; which day shal
each, vrlxieh list they l be the same
shall sign and throughout the Unite
certify, and transmit d States. j'1
scaled to the [5] No person exce
scat of the governmen pt a natural- ~
t of the United born citizen, or a citil
States, directed to the en of the-
president of United States at the tin
IJ
the Senate. Tixc presid ic of the- A
ent of the adoption of this Const
Senate shall, in the pr itution,
esence of the shall be eligible to the
Senate and llonsc of office of the ,,
Representatives, president; neither shal
open all the certificat l any person
es, and the be eligible to that offic
votes shall then be co e who shall not
unted. The have attained to the ag
person having the gr e of thirty-
eatest rmmber five years and been fo l
of votes shall be the pr urteen years a ),
esident, if such resident within the U
nttntber be a majoriry nited States. ~
of the whole
rmntber of electors ap [6] In case of the re
pointed, and moval of the
if there be more than presiderrt &om office,
one who ha:ve or of his death,
such nxajorit)i, and ha resignation, or inabili
:ve an eqttal ty to discharge
rm.utber of votes, then the powers and dutie
the l lottse of s of the said
Representatives shal office, the sa.1ne shall
l inunediately de v0h e on the
d1oose by ballot one vice pr esiderrt, and th
of them for e Congress
president, and if no pe tnay by law provide fu
rson ha:ve a r the ease
majoriry, then from th of removal, death, resi
e five highest gnation, 01
on the list the said H inabilitji, both of the
onse shall in presiderrt and
like manner d1oose vice presiderrt, deda-r
the president. ing what officer
But in choosing the pr shall then act as presid
esident, the ent, and such
votes shall be taken by officer shall act accord
states, ttxe ingly, tmtil the
representation from disabi:lit), be removed
each state , or a president
ha:v ing one vote, a qu shall be elected.
orum for tttis
pnr pose shall consist
of a nxentber [7] The president sh
or mentbers from tw all, at stated
o-thirds of times, receive for his
ttxe states, and a major services, a
it), of all the compensation, which
sta:tcs shall be ncccss shall neither
ar y to a choice be increased nor dim
In c ver "I case, after th inished during
e choice of the period for which
the presiderrt, ttxc pe he shall have
rson having been elected, and he
the greatest nnntbcr shall not
of votes of ttxc receive within that pe
electors shall be the riod any other
vice pr csidcrrt. emolument from the
But if there shottld re United States,
main two or or any of them.
more who have equa
l votes, the

70 6 UNITED STATES GO
VERNMENT & P
 efore he enter on the
[SI ~ of his office, he shall take
uuon . epartments
e'f.ec Uowing oath or affirmation:
the fo temnly swear (or affirm) that
~r ~o }:ithfuilY execute the office
Iwill .dent of the United States,
0f pres1 f b'l'
..:11 to the best o my a 1 1ty,
dww,
aI1 e protect, and defend the
Preserv·tution
, h U . dS
oft e mte tates.
,,
cons 1 t
secti.On 2• Powers of the President
I 1he president shall be
[l mander in chief of the army
com
dnavy [all the armed forces] of
:e 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 foroffenses
against the United States except in
cases of impeachment.
[2] 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 d
3
[ ] The preside t h ·
to fill up all v n. s all have power
h acanc1es that may
Sappen during the recess of the
e~ate, by granting commissions
which shall expire at the end of their
next session.
Section 3. Duties and
Responsibilities of the President 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
[advisable]; he may, on extraordinary
[special] 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 [appoint] all the officers
of the United States.
Section 4. Impeachment The
president, vice president, and all
civil officers of the United States,
shall be removed from office on
impeachment for, and con~ctio~ of,
treason, bribery, or other high cnmes
and misdemeanors [offenses].
On September 8, 1974, President
1. Gerald Ford issued f?rm~~
President Richard Nixon ~ full,
free, and absolute pa_rdon for
any wrongdoings while he IA'.as
pres1'd ent, especially in relation
t the Watergate scanda 1.
o 'be the executive power
oescn . h'
d used to accomplish t is
For d the relationship of that
act an
SOURCEBOOK 70 7
 power to the du ty outlined in
Section 3 to "take care that the
laws be faithfully executed:'
2. Co mp are the pow ers of the
pre sid ent wi th tho se of the
legislature, an d explain ho w
tho se differences affect the
gov ern me nt.
ARTICLE Ill. THE SUPREME
CO UR T
AND OTHER COURTS
Section 1. Federal Courts The
judicial pow er of the Un ite d States
shall be vested in one Supreme
Co urt , and in suc h inferior [lowe
r]
cou rts as the Congress ma y fro m
tim e to tim e ord ain and establish
. by
The judges, bo th of the Supreme
and
inferior courts, shall ho ld the ir off
ices
du rin g go od behavior, and shall,
at
stated tim es, receive for the ir ser
vices
a com pen sat ion , wh ich shall no t
be
dim ini she d du rin g the ir con tin uan
ce
in office.
Section 2. Jurisdiction of Federal
Court
[ 1] The judicial po we r shall
ext end to all cases in law an d equ
ity
arising un der thi s Co nst itu tio n,
the laws of the Un ite d States, and
treaties ma de, or wh ich shall be
ma de, un der the ir aut hor ity ; to all
cases affecting ambassadors, oth
er
public ministers, and consuls; to
all cases of adm ira lty and ma riti
me
jur isd ict ion ; to controversies to
wh ich the Un ite d States shall be
a son,
par ty; to controversies bet we en
two
or mo re states, bet we en a sta te an
d
citizens of ano the r state, betvveen
citi2:ens of different states , bet we en
citizens of the sam e state cla im ing
?0 8 UN ITED STATES GO VER NM
EN T & POLITICS: AP" EDITIO
W
lands un der gra nts of different sta
tes
and bet we en a state, or the citizen
s ,
thereof, and foreign states, citizen
s,
or subjects.
[2] In all cases affecting
ambassadors, oth er public ministe
rs,
and consuls, and tho se in which
a
state shall be a party, the Supreme
Co urt shall have ori gin al jurisdicti
on.
In all the oth er cases before
me nti one d, the Su pre me Co urt sha
ll
have appellate jur isd ict ion , bo th
as
to law and fact, wi th suc h except
ions
and un der suc h regulations as the
Congress shall ma ke.
[3] The tria l of all cri me s, except
in cases of im pea chm ent , shall be
jury; an d suc h tria l shall be hel d
in
the state wh ere the sai d cri me s sha
ll
have bee n com mi tte d; bu t wh en
not
com mi tte d wi thi n any state, the
trial
shall be at suc h place or places as
the
Congress ma y by law have direct
ed.
Section 3. Treason
[l] Tre aso n aga ins t the Un ite d
States shall con sis t on ly in levyin
g
[car ryi ng on] wa r against the m,
or in
adh eri ng to [assisting] the ir ene
mies,
giving the m aid an d com for t. No
per son shall be con vic ted of treaso
n
unless on the tes tim on y of two
witnesses to the sam e ov ert [ope
n;
public] act, or on confession in ope
n
cou rt.
[2] Th e Co ngr ess shall have pow
er
to declare the pu nis hm ent of trea
bu t no att ain der of tre aso n shall
work
cor rup tio n of blo od or forfeiture
exc ept du rin g the life of the person
att ain ted.
N
 sed on Article Ill, under what
1, ~~isdiction did the Supreme
court hear the_ cases that are
required for this course? Explain
how the cases reached the
court.
. compare the process for settling
2 dischar gcd-
disputes between states outlined
in the Articles of Confederation
with the process outlined in the
Constitution. Draw a conclusion
about the purpose of the plan
for the courts outlined in the
Constitutio~ that was lacking
in the plan m the Articles of
Confederation.
ARTICLE IV. INTERSTATE
RELATIONS
Section 1. Official Acts and
Records 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. Mutual Obligations of
States
[1] The citizens of each state shall
?e entitled to all privileges and
immunities of citizens in the several
states.
[2_] 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
de1ivered
· up, to be removed to the
state haVi .
ngJurisd· .
[3] iction of the .
crime.
regulati a,} aw Or
ddiv cr ed u labor, but shaH-
tt> l P on clah
h tom sud . " 0 f he¼
party-
1 SCI VlCC O lab
. ' or may-
Section 3 New S
. tates and Territor'
[I] ies
t New states may be admitted b
he Congress into th. U . y
new state h is mon; but no
. . s all be formed or erected
w1thm the jurisdiction of any other
~tate; _nor any state be formed by the
Junction [joining] 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.
[ 2] 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 [interpreted] as to
prejudice [damage] any claims of the
United States, or of any particular
state.
Section 4. Federal Guarantees to
the States 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
[riots].

SOURCEBOOK 709
 1. Describe ways in whi ch the
United States gov ern me nt can
"guarantee to every state in
this Union a republican form of
government:'
2. Mu ch of the rem ain ing conflict
related to Article IV centers
on family law issues. For
example, the legal ado ptio n of
a chi ld by unm arri ed par tne rs
in one state is not reco gni zed
in ano the r state tha t does not
allow unm arri ed par tne rs to
ado pt. Based on the example
of Obergefell v. Hodges (2015),
wh at mig ht be nec ess ary to
mak e suc h ado ptio ns uni form ly
recognized?
ARTICLE V. AM EN DIN G THE
CO NS TIT UTI ON
The Con gre ss, whe nev er two-
thir ds of bot h hou ses shall dee m
[thi nk] it necessary, shall pro pos e
am end me nts to this Con stit utio n, or,
on the app lica tion of the legislatures
of two -thi rds of the several states,
shall call a con ven tion for pro pos ing
am end me nts, whi ch, in eith er case,
shall be valid, to all inte nts and
pur pos es, as par t of this Con stit utio n
wh en ratified by the legislatures of
thre e-fo urth s of the several states,
or by con ven tion s in thre e-fo urth s
the reo f, as the one or the oth er mo de
[me tho d] of ratification ma y be
pro pos ed by the Con gre ss; pro vid ed
tha t no am end me nt which tna-y be
ma de pt iot to the 'Y eat 1808 sha ll
in arry tna nne r affect the fir st and
four th clauses in the nin th sec tion
of the fir st ar tide , and tha t no state,
1
without its consent, shall be deprived
of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
1. Describe the steps in one of the
legal processes for amending
the Con stitu tion .
2. Des crib e the steps in ano ther
legal pro ces s for ame ndi ng the
Con stit utio n.
ARTICLE VI. MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
Section 1. Public Debts All debts
con trac ted and engagements
[agreements] ent ere d into before the
ado ptio n of this Con stit utio n shall be
as valid [binding] against the United
States und er this Con stit utio n as
und er the Con fed era tion .
Section 2. Federal Supremacy This
Con stit utio n, and the laws of the
Uni ted States wh ich shall be made
in pur sua nce the reo f, and all treaties
mad e, or wh ich shall be made, under
the aut hor ity of the Uni ted States,
shall be the sup rem e law of the land;
and the jud ges in every state shall
be bou nd thereby, any thin g in the
Con stit utio n or laws of any state to
the con trar y not wit hsta ndi ng.
Section 3. Oaths of Office The
sen ato rs and representatives before
me ntio ned , and the mem ber s of
the several stat e legislatures, and
all executive and judicial officers,
bot h of the Un ited States and of
the several states, shall be bou nd
by oat h or affi rma tion to sup por t
this Con stit utio n; but no religious
test sha ll eve r be req uire d as a
qua lific atio n to any office ~r public
tru st und er the Un ited States.
 ho no ra bl y towards th e pu
blic:'
VII, RATIFICATION
~~ ------ ha s th e electorate lived up
Parsons's expectations? Pr
to
ovide
an example to explain your
po sit io n.

an im ou s AMENDMENTS TO THE
, -·neonvention ' by th e un CONSTITUTION
e 17 th
po11e 1 t of the states pr es en t, th
of ou r
co11se7S ptember, in th e ye ar Note: The first ten amendmen
ts to
nd en ce
daY O17: 7 an d of th e in de pe th e Constitution, adopted
in 1791,
er ic a th e
L0rd United States of Am m ak e up the Bill of Rights.
The year
we have
of thfthe In witness w he re of of adoption of later am en dm
en ts (11
rwe1 .to subscribed ou r names. s.
hereun to ~7) is given in parenthese

Signed by religion,
Am en dm en t I. Freedom of
George Washington d pe tit io n
[President and De pu ty from
Virginia] speech, press, assembly, an
w
and 38 other delegates Congress shall make no la
t of
respecting an establishmen
free
e religion, or prohibiting th e
1. Explain th e reasons th ng
Constitution, in co nt ra st
to th e exercise thereof; or abridgi
speech
Articles of Co nf ed er at ion
, m ad e [reducing] th e freedom of
of th e
the federal go ve rn m en t th
e or of th e press; or th e rig ht
ble, an d to
"supreme la w of th e land:
' people peaceably to assem
r a redress
us te st pe tit io n th e go ve rn m en t fo
2. The absence of a religio [correction] of grievances.
an y
was a m at te r of de ba te in m
state ratification co nv en tio
ns . ar ar m s
Am en dm en t II. Ri gh t to be
At the 1788 co nv en tio n in in g
s A well-regulated militia be
Massachusetts, Th eo ph ilu a free
: necessary to th e security of
Parsons expressed hi s views le to keep
state, th e right of th e pe op
"But what se cu rit y is it to an d be ar ar m s shall no t be
in fri ng ed
bl ic
government, th at ev er y pu
is a [weakened].
officer shall sw ea r th at he
id en ce
Christian? Sir, th e on ly ev Am en dm en t III . Qu ar te rin
g of
y an d
we can have of th e sin ce rit troops
ion,
excellency of a man's relig peace, be
th at No soldier shall, in tim e of
is a good life- an d I tru st in an y
ire d qu ar te re d [assigned to live]
such evidence will be re qu t of th e
y house without th e co ns en
of every ca nd id at e by ev er bu t in a
an owner, no r in time of war,
elector. That m an wh o acts law.
rt to hi s neighbor, m an ne r to be prescribed by