On the part and behalf of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. William Ellery, Henry Marchant, John Collins. On the part and behalf of the state of Connecticut. Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, Oliver Wolcott, Titus Hosmer, Andrew Adams. On the part and behalf of the state of New York. Jas. Duane, Wm. Duer, On the part and behalf of the state of New Jersey. Jno. Witherspoon, Nov. 26, 1778. Nath. Scudder, do. On the part and behalf of the state of Pennsylvania. Robt. Morris, William Clingan, On the part and behalf of the state of Delaware. Thos. M'Kean, Feb. 13, 1779. Nicholas Van Dyke, John Dickinson, May 5th, 1779. On the part and behalf of the state of Maryland. John Hanson, March 1, 1781. On the part and behalf of the Daniel Carroll, do. state of Virginia. On the part and behalf of the state of North Carolina. John Penn, July 21st, 1778. Jno. Williams. Corns. Harnett, them. And the articles of this confederation shall be inviolably observed by every state, and the union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every state. And whereas it hath pleased the great governor of the world to incliue the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in congress, to approve of and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual union. KNOW YE That we the undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained: and we do further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents, that they shall abide by the determinations of the United States in congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said confederation are submitted to them. And that the articles thereof shall be inviolably observed by the states we respectively represent, and that the union shall be perpetual. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in congress. Done at Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania the ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventyeight, and in the third year of the independence of America. On the part and behalf of the state of New Hampshire. Josiah Bartlett, John Wentworth, jun. August 8, 1778. On the part and behalf of the state of Massachusetts John Hancock, Bay. Francis Dana, James Lovell, Samuel Holten. On the part and behalf of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. William Ellery, Henry Marchant, John Collins. On the part and behalf of the state of Connecticut. Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, Oliver Wolcott, Titus Hosmer, Andrew Adams. On the part and behalf of the state of New York. Jas. Duane, Wm. Duer, On the part and behalf of the state of New Jersey. Jno. Witherspoon, Nov. 26, 1778. Nath. Scudder, do. On the part and behalf of the state of Pennsylvania. Robt. Morris, Daniel Roberdeau, Jona. Bayard Smith, William Clingan, On the part and behalf of the state of Delaware. Thos. M'Kean, Feb. 13, 1779. Nicholas Van Dyke, John Dickinson, May 5th, 1779. On the part and behalf of the state of Maryland. John Hanson, March 1, 1781. Daniel Carroll, do. On the part and behalf of the state of Virginia. Richard Henry Lee, John Banister, Thomas Adams, Jno. Harvie, Francis Lightfoot Lee. On the part and behalf of the state of North Carolina. John Penn, July 21st, 1778. Corns. Harnett, Jno. Williams. On the part and behalf of the state of South Carolina. Henry Laurens, William Henry Drayton, Jno. Mathews, Richard Hutson, Thos. Heyward, jun. On the part and behalf of the state of Georgia. Edw. Langworthy. [NOTE....From the circumstance of delegates from the same state having signed the articles of confederation at different times, as appears by the dates, it is probable they affixed their names as they happened to be present in congress, after they had been authorized by their constituents.] CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. WE the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America. ARTICLE I. SEC. 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. SEC. 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 |