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fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering, fundamentally, the forms of our governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsover.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection, and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun, with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens, taken captive on the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the execu tioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts, by their Legislature, to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind-enemies in war; in peace, friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in general Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine

Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

The foregoing declaration was, by order of Congress, engrossed, and signed by the following members:

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STATES

WE, the People of the United States, in order to form a more Preamble. perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, 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

SECTION 1.

1. All legislative powers herein granted, shall be vested in a Legislative Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and powers. House of Representatives.

SECTION 2.

tives; its

by whom

1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members House of rechosen every second year by the people of the several states, and presenta the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for members; electors of the most numerous branch of the state Legislature. chosen. 2. No person shall be a representative who shall not have at- Qualificatained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a cien presentaof the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhab- tives. itant of that state in which he shall be chosen.

tions of re

and

taxes to be

3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among Representa the several states which may be included within this Union accord- tives ing to their respective numbers; which shall be determined by apportioned adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound numbers. to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed,

according to

Actual enu- three-fifths of all other persons.

meration every years.

tionment of

The actual enumeration shall be ten 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 repreFirst appor- sentatives shall not.exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each representa state shall have at least one representative; and, until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose 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.

tives.

Vacancies,

how filled.

Powers

the house..

Senators,

4.When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill sich vacancies.

5. The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

SECTION 3.

1. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two how chosen. senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years; and each senator shall have one vote.

divided into

cated filled.

The Senate 2. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of three classes, 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 When va- vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at and the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of thesixth year-so that one-third may be chosen every Vacancies. 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.

Qualifica

tions of senators.

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.

President of 4. The vice-president of the United States shall be president of the Senate. the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. Ib. and other 5. The Senate shall choose 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.

officers.

The

power to try

sole 6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments: impeach- when sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. ments, in the 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.

Senate, &c.

Extent of judgment in

7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further cases of im than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy peachment. 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.

senators and

1. The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators Elections for and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the Legis- representalature thereof; but the Congress may at any time, by law, make or tives, how alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing sena

tors.

regulated.

Congress.

2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and Meetings of such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

SECTION 5.

judge of the

Own mem

1. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and Each house qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall election of its constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may ad- bers. journ from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attend- Quorum. ance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties, as each house may provide.

ine its own

Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish To determits members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of rules, &c. two-thirds, expel a member.

publish jour

3. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and, from To keep and time to time, publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in nals, &c. their judgment, require secresy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house, on any question, shall, at the desire of onefifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

ment.

4. Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without Adjournthe 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.

paid,

&c.

Privileges.

1. The senators and representatives shall receive a compensation Senators and for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the rives to be They shall, in all cases except treasury of the United States. 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.

hold offices.

2. No senator or representative shall, during the time for which Disability to 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 increased 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.

bills.

1. All bills for raising revenues shall originate in the House of Revenue Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills.

2. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to

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