Changes to t/text/constitution.txt. All files

t/text/constitution.txt

new file mode 100644@@ -0,0 +1,529 @@+# 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, 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 of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth+Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies+happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature+of any State, the Executive thereof may make 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 the+Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from+time to time.++No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no+Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without+the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office,+or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.++## Section 10++No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation;+grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; 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 its 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 Control 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 Representatives from each State having one Vote; a quorum+for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds+of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to+a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person+having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice+President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes,+the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice-President.++The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the+Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same+throughout the United States.++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 on the State+of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he+shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions,+convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement+between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them+to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and+other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully+executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.++## 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+State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other+State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States,+or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States+concerned as well as of the Congress.++The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and+Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the+United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as+to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.++## Section 4++The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a+Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against+Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive+(when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.++# Article V++The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary,+shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application+of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a+Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be+valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when+ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or+by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of+Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment+which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight+shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth+Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent,+shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.++# Article VI++All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption+of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under+this Constitution, as under the Confederation.++This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made+in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made,+under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of+the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing+in the Constitution or Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding.++The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of+the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers,+both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by+Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test+shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust+under the United States.++# 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.