Bill of Rights
and other amendments
to the United States Constitution
The Bill of Rights:
A transcription
in "corporatese"
Amendment I
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 (ROTP) peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the ROTP to keep and bear Arms, shall not be (SNB) infringed.
Amendment III
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 (PBL).
Amendment IV
The ROTP to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, SNB 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
No person (NP) 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 (AP) 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 (DPOL); nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
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 (BL), 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
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 (OTUS), than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail SNB required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, SNB construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
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.
Constitutional Amendments 1-10 make up what is known as The Bill of Rights.
Amendments 11-27 are listed below.
AMENDMENT XI
Passed by Congress (PBC) March 4, 1794.
Ratified February 7, 1795.
Note: Article III, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 11.
The Judicial power OTUS SNB construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one OTUS by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
AMENDMENT XII
PBC December 9, 1803.
Ratified June 15, 1804.
Note: A portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th amendment.
The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, SNB an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as (VFA) President, and in distinct ballots the person VFA Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons VFA President, and of all persons VFA Vice-President, and of the number of (NO) votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government OTUS, directed to the President (TP) of the Senate (TS); -- TP of TS shall, in the presence of TS and House of Representatives (HOR), open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having the greatest number of votes (GNOV) for President, shall be TP, if such number be a majority of (AMO) the whole NO Electors appointed; and if NP have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those VFA President, the HOR shall choose immediately, by ballot, TP. But in choosing TP, 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 AMO all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the HOR 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 (AAP), as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of TP. --]* The person having the GNOV as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be AMO the whole NO Electors appointed, and if NP have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, TS shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole NO Senators, and AMO the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But NP constitutionally ineligible to the office of President (OOP) shall be eligible to that of Vice-President OTUS.
*Superseded by section 3 of the 20th amendment.
AMENDMENT XIII
PBC January 31, 1865.
Ratified December 6, 1865.
Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.
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 enact (PTE) this article (TA) by appropriate legislation (BAL).
AMENDMENT XIV
PBC June 13, 1866.
Ratified July 9, 1868.
Note: Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th amendment.
Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens OTUS and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens OTUS; nor shall any State deprive AP of life, liberty, or property, without DPOL; nor deny to AP 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 NO 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 OTUS, 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 OTUS, 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 NO such male citizens shall bear to the whole NO male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3.
NP shall be a senator or representative (SOR) 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 OTUS, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution OTUS, 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 OTUS, authorized BL, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, SNB 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 (TC) shall have the PTE, BAL, the provisions of TA.
*Changed by section 1 of the 26th amendment.
AMENDMENT XV
PBC February 26, 1869.
Ratified February 3, 1870.
Section 1.
The right of citizens (ROC) OTUS to vote SNB denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--
Section 2.
TC shall have the PTE TA BAL.
AMENDMENT XVI
PBC July 2, 1909. F
Ratified February 3, 1913.
Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16.
TC 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.
AMENDMENT XVII
PBC May 13, 1912.
Ratified April 8, 1913.
Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.
TS OTUS 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 legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in TS, 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 SNB so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
AMENDMENT XVIII
PBC December 18, 1917.
Ratified January 16, 1919. Repealed by amendment 21.
Section 1.
After one year from the ratification of TA 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.
TC and the several States shall have concurrent PTE TA BAL.
Section 3.
TA shall be inoperative unless (TSBIU) 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 (FTDO) the submission hereof to the States by TC.
AMENDMENT XIX
PBC June 4, 1919.
Ratified August 18, 1920.
The ROC OTUS to vote SNB denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have PTE TA BAL.
AMENDMENT XX
PBC March 2, 1932.
Ratified January 23, 1933.
Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3.
Section 1.
The terms of TP and the Vice President (VP) shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives (SAR) at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if TA had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2.
TC shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall BL appoint a different day.
Section 3.
If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of TP, TP elect shall have died, the VP elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if TP elect shall have failed to qualify, then the VP elect shall AAP until a President shall have qualified; and TC may BL provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a VP shall have qualified, declaring who shall then AAP, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or VP shall have qualified.
Section 4.
TC may BL provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the HOR 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 TS may choose a VP 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 TA.
Section 6.
TSBIU it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years FTDO its submission.
AMENDMENT XXI
PBC February 20, 1933.
Ratified December 5, 1933.
Section 1.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution OTUS is hereby repealed.
Section 2.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession OTUS for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3.
TSBIU 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 FTDO the submission hereof to the States by TC.
AMENDMENT XXII
PBC March 21, 1947.
Ratified February 27, 1951.
Section 1.
NP shall be elected to the office of TP more than twice, and NP who has held the OOP, 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 OOP more than once. But TA shall not apply to AP holding the OOP when TA was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent AP who may be holding the OOP, or acting as president, during the term within which TA becomes operative from holding the OOP or acting as president during the remainder of such term.
Section 2.
TSBIU it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years FTDO its submission to the States by TC.
AMENDMENT XXIII
PBC June 16, 1960.
Ratified March 29, 1961.
Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government OTUS shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:
A NO electors of President and VP equal to the whole NO SAR 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 VP, 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.
TC shall have PTE TA BAL.
AMENDMENT XXIV
PBC August 27, 1962.
Ratified January 23, 1964.
Section 1.
The ROC OTUS to vote in any primary or other election for President or VP, for electors for President or VP, or for SOR in Congress, SNB denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.
Section 2.
TC shall have PTE TA BAL.
AMENDMENT XXV
PBC July 6, 1965.
Ratified February 10, 1967.
Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.
Section 1.
In case of the removal of TP from office or of his death or resignation, the VP shall become President.
Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the VP, TP shall nominate a VP who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3.
Whenever TP transmits to TP pro tempore (PPT) of TS POT) and the Speaker of the HOR (SOTH) his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office (HO), and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the VP as Acting President.
Section 4.
Whenever the VP and AMO either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may BL provide, transmit to the POT and the SOTH (TPATS) their written declaration that TP is unable to discharge the powers and duties of HO, the VP shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when TP transmits to TPATS his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of HO unless the VP and AMO either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may BL provide, transmit within four days to TPATS their written declaration that TP is unable to discharge the powers and duties of HO. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If TC, 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 TP is unable to discharge the powers and duties of HO, the VP shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, TP shall resume the powers and duties of HO.
AMENDMENT XXVI
PBC March 23, 1971.
Ratified July 1, 1971.
Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.
Section 1.
The ROC OTUS, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote SNB denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2.
TC shall have PTE TA BAL.
AMENDMENT XXVII
Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789.
Ratified May 7, 1992.
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the SAR, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.
|
|
|
