Supreme Court. The judges of the Supreme and inferior courts shall hold their offices during good behavior The compensation of the judges shall not be diminished during their continuance in office Shall have original jurisdiction. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and in which a State may be a party, the. Shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and the fact, with such exceptions and regulations as Congress may make. The Supreme law of the land. This Constitution, the laws made in pursuance thereof, and the treaties of the United States, shall be the The judges in every State shall be bound thereby. Suppress insurrections and repel invasions. Congress shall provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws. Suppression of insurrection or rebellion shall not be questioned. The public debt, including the debt for pensions and bounties, incurred in the [Amendments]. T. Tax shall be laid unless in proportion to the census or enumeration. No capitation or other Tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. No Taxes, duties, imposts, and excises. Congress shall have power to lay Tender in payment of debts. No State shall make anything but but gold and silver coin a. Territory or other property of the United States. Congress shall dispose of and make all Test as a qualification for any office or public trust shall ever be required. No religious. No person But Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators Title of any kind, from any king, prince, or foreign state, without the consent of Congress. Treason shall consist only in levying war against the United States, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall, unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court, be convicted of. Shall not work forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted. Attainder of ... Treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers shall be removed from office on impeachment for and conviction of . . . . Treason, felony, and breach of the peace. Senators and Representatives shall be privileged from arrest while attending, or while going to or returning from the sessions of Congress, except in cases of. Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law. No money shall be drawn from the Treaties. The President shall have power, with the advice and consent of the Senate, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur, to make. The judicial power shall extend to all cases arising under the Constitution, laws, and They shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby. ........... Treaty, alliance, or confederation. No State shall enter into any. Trial, judgment, and punishment according to law. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from, and disqualification for, office; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment. Trial by jury. All crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be tried by jury. Such trial shall be held in the State within which the crime shall have been committed But when not committed within a State, the trial shall be at such a place as Congress may by law have directed. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have a speedy and public. [Amend- Suits at common law, when the amount exceeds $20, shall be by [Amendments] Trust or profit under the United States, shall be an elector for President and Vice-President. Two-thirds of the members present. No person shall be convicted on an impeachment with- Two-thirds, may expel a member. Each House, with the concurrence of. Two-thirds. A bill returned by the President with his objections, may be repassed by each Two-thirds of the Senators present concur. The President shall have power, by and with the Two-thirds of the States. When the choice of a President shall devolve on the House of Two-thirds, may remove the disabilities imposed by the third section of the fourteenth amend- U. Union. To establish a more perfect [Preamble] The President shall, from time to time, give to Congress information of the state of the. But no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of another. Unreasonable searches and seizures. The people shall be secured in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against [Amendments]. And no warrants shall be issued but upon probable cause, supported by oath or afirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. [Amendments]. Unusual punishments inflicted. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and [Amendments] Use without just compensation. Private property shall not be taken for public [Amend ments] .. 5 18 Useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their writings and inventions. Congress shall have power to promote the progress of science and the I V. Vacancies happening in the representation of a State. The executive thereof shall issue writs of election to fill. Vacancies happening in the Senate in the recess of the legislature of a State. How filled. Veto of a bill by the President. Proceedings of the two Houses upon the He shall have no vote unless the Senate be equally divided The Senate shall choose a President pro tempore in the absence of the In case of the removal, death, resignation, or inability of the President, the powers and duties of his office shall devolve on the Congress may provide by law for the case of the removal, death, resignation, or inability both of the President and The number and the manner of appointing electors for President and On impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors, shall be removed from office. The. Vice-President. The manner of choosing the. The electors shall meet in their respective They shall make distinct lists of the persons voted for as Vice-President, which lists The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall be then counted. [Amendments]. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors. [Amendments]. If no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list the Senate shall choose the Vice-President. [Amendments]. A quorum for this 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. [Amendments] But if the House shall make no choice of a President before the 4th 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 [Amendments]. No person constitutionally ineligible as President shall be eligible as. [Amendments]. Violence. The United States shall guarantee to every State a republican form of government, and shall protect each State against invasion and domestic. Virginia entitled to ten Representatives in the first Congress. Vote. Each Senator shall have one. The Vice-President, unless the Senate be equally divided, shall have no Vote requiring the concurrence of the two Houses (except upon a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President. Every order, resolution, or 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. The right of citizens of the United [Amendments) States to. Vote of two-thirds. Each House may expel a member by a. A bill vetoed by the President may be repassed in each House by a. No person shall be convicted on an impeachment except by a. Vote of two-thirds. Whenever both Houses shall deem it neceessary, Congress may propose amendments to the Constitution by a. The President may make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate, by a 14 3 20 W. War, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water. Congress shall have power to declare For governing the land and naval forces. Congress shall have power to make rules and articles of No State shall, without the consent of Congress, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay, engage in War against the United States, adhering to their enemies, and giving them aid and comfort. Weights and measures. Congress shall fix the standard of Welfare and to secure the blessings of liberty, &c. To promote the general. [Preamble]. Witnesses against him. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall be confronted with the [Amendments] . . Witnesses in his favor. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have compulsory pro cess for obtaining [Amendments] . Witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two Writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless in case of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. Writs of election to fill vacancies in the representation of any State. The executive of the Written opinion of the principal officer in each of the Executive Departments on any subject relating to the duties of his office. The President may require the Yeas and nays of the members of either House shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journals.. The votes of both Houses upon the reconsideration of a bill returned by the President with his objections shall be determined by. ORDINANCE OF 1787. [THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS, JULY 13, 1787.] An Ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio. SECTION 1. Be it ordained by the United States in Congress assembled, That the said territory, for the purpose of temporary government, be one district, subject, however, to be divided into two districts, as future circumstances may, in the opinion of Congress, make it expedient. SEC. 2. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the estates both of resident and non-resident proprietors in the said territory, dying intestate, shall descend to, and be distributed among, their children and the descendants of a deceased child in equal parts, the descendants of a deceased child or grandchild to take the share of their deceased parent in equal parts among them; and where there shall be no children or descendants, then in equal parts to the next of kin, in equal degree; and among collaterals, the children of a deceased brother or sister of the intestate shall have, in equal parts among them, their deceased parent's share; and there shall, in no case, be a distinction between kindred of the whole and half blood; saving in all cases to the widow of the intestate, her third part of the real estate for life, and one-third part of the personal estate; and this law relative to descents and dower, shall remain in full force until altered by the legislature of the district. And until the governor and judges shall adopt laws as hereinafter mentioned, estates in the said territory may be devised or bequeathed by wills in writing, signed and sealed by him or her in whom the estate may be, (being of full age,) and attested by three witnesses; and real estates may be conveyed by lease and release, or bargain and sale, signed, sealed, and delivered by the person, being of full age, in whom the estate may be, and attested by two witnesses, provided such wills be duly proved, and such conveyances be acknowledged. or the execution thereof duly proved, and be recorded within one year after proper magistrates, courts, and registers, shall be appointed for that purpose; and personal property may be transferred by delivery, saving, however, to the French and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers of the Kaskaskies, Saint Vincents, and the neighboring villages, who have heretofore professed themselves citizens of Virginia, their laws and customs now in force among them, relative to the descent and conveyance of property. SEC. 3. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That there shall be appointed, from time to time, by Congress, a governor, whose commission shall continue in force for the term of three years, unless sooner revoked by Congress; he shall reside in the district, and have a freehold estate therein, in one thousand acres of land, while in the exercise of his office. SEC. 4. There shall be appointed from time to time, by Congress, a secretary, whose commission shall continue in force for four years, unless sooner revoked; he shall reside in the district, and have a freehold estate therein, in five hundred acres of land, while in the exercise of his office. It shall be his duty to keep and preserve the acts and laws passed by the legislature, and the public records of the district, and the proceedings of the governor in his executive department, and transmit authentic copies of such acts and proceedings every six months to the Secretary of Congress. There shall also be appointed a court, to consist of three judges, any two of whom to form a court, who shall have a common-law jurisdiction, and reside in the district, and have each therein a freehold estate, in five hundred acres of land, while in the exercise of their offices; and their commissions shall continue in force during good behavior. SEC. 5. The governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original States, criminal and civil, as may be necessary, and best suited to the circumstances of the district, and report them to Congress from time to time, which laws shall be in force in the district until the organization of the general assembly therein, unless disapproved of by Congress; but afterwards the legis lature shall have authority to alter them as they shall think fit. SEC. 6. The governor, for the time being, shall be commander-in-chief of the militia, appoint and commission all officers in the same below the rank of general officers; all general officers shall be appointed and commissioned by Congress. SEC. 7. Previous to the organization of the general assembly the governor shall appoint such magistrates, and other civil officers, in each county or township, as he shall find necessary for the preservation of the peace and good order in the same. After the general assembly shall be organized the powers and duties of magistrates and other civil officers shall be regulated and defined by the said assembly; but all magistrates and other civil officers, not herein otherwise directed, shall, during the continuance of this temporary government, be appointed by the governor. SEC. 8. For the prevention of crimes and injuries, the laws to be adopted or made shall have force in all parts of the district, and for the execution of process, criminal and civil, the governor shall make proper divisions thereof; and he shall proceed, from time to time, as circumstances may require, to lay out the parts of the district in which the Indian titles shall have been extinguished, into counties and townships, subject, however, to such alterations as may thereafter be made by the legislature. SEC. 9. So soon as there shall be five thousand free male inhabitants, of full age, in the district, upon giving proof thereof to the governor, they shall receive authority, with time and place, to elect representatives from their counties or townships, to represent them in the general assembly: Provided, That for every five hundred free male inhabitants there shall be one representative, and so on, progressively, with the number of free male inhabitants, shall the right of representation increase, until the number of representatives shall amount to twenty-five; after which the number and proportion of representatives shall be regulated by the legislature: Provided, That no person be eligible or qualified to act as a representative, unless he shall have been a citizen of one of the United States three years, and be a resident in the district, or unless he shall have resided in the district three years; and, in either case, shall likewise hold in his own right, in fee-simple, two hundred acres of land within the same: Provided also, That a freehold in fifty acres of land in the district, having been a citizen of one of the States, and being resident in the district, or the like freehold and two years' residence in the the district, shall be necessary to qualify a man as an elector of a representative. SEC. 10. The representatives thus elected shall serve for the term of two years; and in case of the death of a representative, or removal from office, the governor shall issue a writ to the county or township, for which he was a member, to elect another in his stead, to serve for the residue of the term. SEC. 11. The general assembly, or legislature, shall consist of the governor, legislative council, and a house of representatives. The legislative council shall consist of five members, to continue in office five years, unless sooner removed by Congress; any three of whom to be a quorum; and the members of the council shall be nominated and appointed in the following manner, to wit: As soon as representatives shall be elected the governor shall appoint a time and place for them to meet together, and when met they shall nominate ten persons, resident in the district, and each posessed of a freehold in five hundred acres of land, and return their names to Congress, five of whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as aforesaid; and whenever a vacancy shall happen in the council, by death or removal from office, the house of represetatives shall nominate two persons, qualified as aforesaid, for each vacancy, and return their names to Congress, one of whom Congress shall appoint and commission for the residue of the term; and every five years, four months |