The Conservative Constitution - Full Text
We the People of the United States reaffirm that “all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness”
And in reliance on those principles, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure 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 third year by the People of the several States. Each State shall, pursuant to legislation adopted in the year following the national census, allocate the State’s representatives by drawing compact and contiguous districts of as nearly equal number of citizens as is feasible; provided that Congress may by a vote of three fifths of both Houses authorize other equitable methods of allocation.
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 shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers of citizens. The actual enumeration shall be made every ten years, in such manner as Congress shall by law direct. Each State shall have at least one Representative.
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 choose their Speaker and other officers.
SECTION 3
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of one Senator from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof, for nine years, and ineligible to hold office for more than one term. No State shall restrict the legislature’s choice by law or otherwise. Before taking office, each Senator shall pledge by oath or affirmation to promote the common good and long-term welfare of the nation and not the interests of any party or class.
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 third Year, of the second class at the expiration of the sixth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the ninth year, so that one third may be chosen every third 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 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.
SECTION 4
In all elections for federal and State office, all citizens of the United States who are eighteen years of age or older and not currently serving a sentence for commission of a felony shall be entitled to vote.
It shall be the duty of the several States to conduct all such elections and to protect the right of all qualified voters to cast a secure and secret ballot for the qualified candidate of their choice. No State shall impose any test or device that has the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the right to vote. It shall also
be the duty of the several States to protect all qualified voters from violence, threats of violence, or the granting or withholding of any valuable right or benefit in connection with an attempt to influence voting, or dilution of the right to vote by allowing any person not legally eligible to vote. Rules governing the times, places and manner of holding such elections shall be prescribed in each State in accordance with its own constitutional processes; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations.
Congress shall by law establish a tribunal that shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of all elected federal officials, consisting of one member chosen by each of the Speaker and Minority
Leader of the House and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and three members chosen by unanimous vote of those four members. Congress shall provide by law for equitable representation for resolution of disputes involving more than two candidates for office. This tribunal shall apply the law in effect at the time and place the dispute arose and shall not have authority to change or rewrite such laws. The decisions of this commission shall be final, except that any such decision may be overturned by a vote of three fifths of both Houses.
SECTION 5
A majority of each House 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, provided that any change to rules shall take effect three years after adoption, unless repealed in the interim; may punish its Members for disorderly behavior or unwarranted absence; and, with the concurrence of two thirds, may expel a Member.
Congress may by law determine the rules of proceeding for both Houses.
Unless otherwise specified in this Constitution, each House shall approve of resolutions or bills by majority vote of those present. The rules of each House shall provide an effectual means for preventing any filibuster or other dilatory tactic from precluding a vote on any resolution or bill for more than two weeks after any member has called for the question, provided that each Senator shall have one opportunity to speak for an unlimited time on any bill or other matter.
Except for good cause shown, every Member shall be present during the sittings of the House or Senate, respectively, and shall vote for or against each question, unless the Member has a direct or pecuniary interest in the determination of such question.
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 each 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.
The terms of Senators and Representatives shall end at noon on the third day of January; and the terms of their successors shall then begin. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the third day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
SECTION 6
The President and Vice President, the judges of the supreme and inferior courts, and all principal officers of the United States shall be subject to impeachment and removal for serious criminal acts and for gross abuses of the public trust.
The House of Representatives shall have the sole power to impeach, by a vote of three fifths of the members present, and shall set forth specific grounds in written articles of impeachment, which shall be conveyed to the Senate immediately upon adoption.
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments, and shall convict on the votes of three- fifths of the Members present. The Senate may convict only on the grounds set forth in the articles of impeachment. When sitting for that purpose, the Senate shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President or Vice President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside.
The House, upon passage of a resolution initiating an impeachment inquiry by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives plus five percent, and the Senate, upon passage of articles of impeachment, or a committee of the House or Senate thereafter authorized by the House or Senate, respectively, shall have power to summon witnesses and call for papers, subject to privileges grounded in this Constitution. Any refusal to comply with such summons may be prosecuted in federal court as prescribed by law, and a legal officer designated by the House shall have standing to bring such prosecution without involvement by the executive branch.
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 7
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. No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened. All investments made, or sources of income received, by any Senator or Representative from any source other than the Treasury of the United States, shall be publicly disclosed. Senators and Representatives 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.
SECTION 8
Except as provided in the next paragraph, every bill, order, resolution, or vote which shall have passed both Houses by simple majority vote, before it shall become law shall be presented to the President for approval or disapproval. It shall become law if approved by the President or if not disapproved within ten days; or, being disapproved, if it shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Within three months of any law going into effect, such law may be repealed by a vote of three fifths of the Governors of the various States, or by vote of Governors representing three fifths of the population as determined by the preceding census.
Every rule or regulation promulgated by the executive department pursuant to enacted law, must be presented to Congress, and may be disapproved by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress without presentment to the President. Such rules and regulations shall take effect three months after presentment to Congress, unless sooner disapproved, but Congress may at any time thereafter revoke such rule in accordance with this provision. A failure by Congress to act shall not be construed as approval for purposes of judicial interpretation of the Act of Congress pursuant to which the executive department has acted; nor shall such failure to act affect any judicial determination as to whether such Act of Congress impermissibly delegates the legislative power of Congress or otherwise complies with law. If the President designates a regulation as an emergency measure, the regulation shall go into effect immediately unless disapproved by a majority vote of either House.
Each House of Congress shall have power to call for papers and testimony from executive branch officers relevant to their execution of statutory law, subject to claims of executive privilege by the President, which claims of privilege may be overridden by the vote of three fifths of the House issuing the call.
All claims of privilege, and all decisions to override a claim of privilege, shall be accompanied by a written statement of reasons.
SECTION 9
The Congress shall have power:
To lay and collect taxes for the purpose of paying the debts and providing for the common defense and general welfare of the United States, but all taxes shall be uniform throughout the United States; and Congress shall not lay any capitation tax, tax on sales, or tax on real or personal property, which revenue sources are reserved to the States.
To borrow money on the credit of the United States, provided that the public debt of the United States shall not exceed 50 percent of the gross domestic product as defined by law, except during a declared war or Emergency as provided herein.
To spend money for any purpose promoting the national (not local) interests of the United States, provided that, except during a declared war or Emergency, any increase in annual expenditure in excess of one percent more than the increase in gross domestic product during the preceding year shall require a vote of three fifths of both Houses of Congress. 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. Appropriations shall be for a period of three years unless otherwise provided.
No appropriation of money or provision of other public benefit shall be conditioned on the waiver of any constitutional right except insofar as such condition is necessary and proper to achieving the purpose of that benefit. Congress shall not condition any appropriation of money to a State except to specify how the appropriated funds themselves shall be spent, unless such condition is necessary and proper to the carrying out of any of the enumerated powers of Congress.
To determine the method for calculating the gross domestic product; and to regulate the value of foreign money and to fix the standard of weights and measures.
To create a central bank with the authority to issue currency and to make it legal tender for debts, public and private; and to protect the independence of the governors and directors of such bank by reasonable limitations on the President’s power to remove them from office, and by providing for the appointment of a minority of the governors and directors by member banks.
Upon request from the President, by vote of three fifths of the members of each House, to declare a state of Emergency, during which the foregoing limits on increases in spending and borrowing shall be suspended. Any such state of Emergency shall last no longer than six months without a renewed request by the President containing a statement of the reasons for continuation, and reapproval by a vote of three fifths of each House. Congress may by law provide for the suspension of other legislation during the pendency of a state of Emergency. Upon termination of the state of Emergency, it shall be the duty of Congress to return to constitutionally authorized levels of spending and borrowing as quickly as may be practicable.
The existence of a declared Emergency shall not be construed to vest in the President any powers other than those specified in this paragraph.
SECTION 10
Congress shall establish a Board of Treasury with one member appointed by the House, one member appointed by the Senate, and one member appointed by the members appointed by the House and Senate. Such Board shall have authority to judge whether expenditures proposed by the executive department comply with the appropriations laws enacted by Congress, and shall prepare and provide to Congress at the beginning of each Session an accurate estimate of the receipts from taxes and all other sources expected under then-existing law.
Every three years, within two months after the beginning of the Session, the House shall adopt a budget resolution determining the amount of total expenditures for the upcoming three-year budget period, divided into such spending categories as the House may determine. To the extent that this total exceeds the estimate of receipts prepared by the Board of Treasury, the budget resolution shall propose legislation raising revenue or borrowing money, in an amount sufficient to cover the excess of expenditures over anticipated revenues. Bills raising revenue and borrowing money in accordance with this budget resolution shall enjoy legislative priority and shall be enacted before any appropriation for that budget cycle may be enacted. No appropriation bill may be enacted that exceeds the amount specified for any category in this budget resolution without the concurrence of three fifths of the members of the House. No subsequent increase in appropriations shall be enacted without a corresponding increase in revenue.
If Congress fails to enact legislation raising revenue or borrowing money in an amount sufficient to cover any excess of appropriations over estimated revenue under prior law, the President shall have the duty to exercise a line-item veto to bring appropriations down to the sum of the anticipated revenue under prior law, increased revenue, and borrowing.
SECTION 11
The Congress shall have power:
To regulate and promote commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the native tribes, and to regulate the production and sale of goods and services in national markets;
To exercise exclusive legislative power with respect to the native tribes, subject to a trust responsibility to use such power for the welfare of those tribes, and reserving to those tribes all powers of self-government consistent with the national weal;
To establish uniform rules of naturalization and immigration, and enact uniform bankruptcy laws applicable to individuals, corporate and other private entities, States, and municipalities, provided, however, that no State or municipality within a State shall be subject to such bankruptcy laws without the consent of the legislature thereof;
To establish a system for the prompt and efficient delivery of the mail;
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; but no extension or reduction of such times shall apply retroactively;
To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court;
To establish administrative courts for the adjudication of cases involving entitlements to statutory public benefits and other cases of public right, subject to such rights of appeal to the courts of the United States as Congress may direct; and for the adjudication of cases involving the enforcement of federal regulatory measures of a noncriminal nature, subject to de novo review as to both law and fact of specific objections in the courts of the United States. The judges of said courts may be appointed by heads of departments and may serve for fixed terms of no more than four years, subject to removal for cause.
To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and other acts of violence by non-state actors, and to define and determine the applicability of the Law of Nations;
Upon request from the President, to declare or authorize war; to authorize military measures short of war; to grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; to make rules concerning Captures; and to rescind any declaration of or authorization for war by a three-fifths vote of both Houses of Congress;
To raise and support military forces, and to make rules for their government and regulation; provided, that laws compelling military service shall expire at the end of a two year period, and any extension shall require passage of a new law; and no person religiously scrupulous shall be compelled to bear arms in combat;
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, the authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress, and the use of the Militia when not in the service of the United States for purposes authorized by the laws of the State;
To pass criminal laws when necessary and proper for carrying out the national powers specifically enumerated in this Constitution, but such laws shall be narrowly construed;\
To provide by law for the extradition of any person charged in any State with any crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State;
To enforce by appropriate legislation the prohibitions elsewhere in this Constitution on abridging the privileges or immunities of citizenship, denying equal protection of the laws to any person, or depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law;
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, but all residents in such District shall be considered for purposes of voting, apportionment, and representation in federal elections as residents of the particular States from which the territory in which they reside was ceded; and to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of military bases, national parks, and other federal enclaves;
To purchase, dispose of, and regulate the use of property belonging to the United States; to exercise the power of eminent domain when necessary and proper for carrying out the national powers specifically enumerated in this Constitution, subject to the requirement of paying just compensation; to acquire territories and exercise therein the general powers of the type exercised by States within their jurisdictions, directly or through local institutions; but all such territories, the seat of the national government, and other federal enclaves shall be bound to respect all rights of persons as if they were States. — And
To make laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution laws enacted pursuant to the foregoing powers, or to facilitate the execution of powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
SECTION 12
All persons have the inalienable right to the free exercise of religion in accordance with conscience. Neither the States nor the United States shall make or enforce any law requiring or with the specific purpose of inducing any religious practice, or favoring any religion over another, or prohibiting, impeding, or penalizing the free exercise of religion, except where necessary to secure public peace and order or comparably compelling public ends; nor abridging the freedoms of speech, press, or association, or the right of the People peaceably to assemble or to petition the government for a redress of grievances; nor denying to any person or association of persons the same legal right to publish their views at their own expense as is enjoyed by the owners of the media of communications.
Neither a State nor the United States shall make or enforce any law that abridges the right of parents or other legal guardians to control the education and upbringing of their children, including the right to choose education outside of public schools; nor may they discriminate against any non-public school on the basis of its religious, philosophical, or ideological character; nor may the United States use its authority, by appropriations or otherwise, to displace State or local control over educational content.
The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion Congress determines the public safety may require it.
Neither the States nor the United States shall make or enforce any Bill of Attainder or Ex Post Facto Law.
All persons in the United States have the right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, or effects, and neither the States nor the United States shall authorize or conduct unreasonable searches or seizures; 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;
No title of nobility shall be granted by any State or 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 gift, payment for services, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any foreign state.
Neither the States nor the United State shall make or enforce any law infringing the right to keep and bear arms of the sort ordinarily used for self-defense or recreational purposes, provided that States, and the United States in places subject to its general regulatory authority, may enact and enforce reasonable regulations on the bearing of arms, and the keeping of arms by persons determined, with due process, to be dangerous to themselves or others.
Neither the States nor the United States shall make or enforce any law which shall discriminate on the basis of race or other irrelevant characteristic.
Neither the States nor the United States shall deprive any person within their jurisdiction of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, or the equal protection of the laws; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. This prohibition shall not be construed to grant courts a general power to create new rights or to adjudge of the reasonableness or wisdom of laws enacted by the representatives of the People.
The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law; but when not committed within any State, the trial shall be at such place or places as Congress may by law have directed.
The accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State, 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 defense.
No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of life, liberty, or property within the United States for the same offense; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The enumeration in this Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed, by negative implication, to deny or abrogate rights, privileges, or immunities arising from other sources of law, which shall be retained by the People; or to enlarge the powers of the state or federal governments.
SECTION 13
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 other than money created under the authority of the United States a tender in payment of debts; or pass any law impairing the obligation of contracts.
Except as may be necessary to the exercise of its police powers over health and safety, no State shall regulate commerce with foreign nations or with the native tribes, or bar, tax, or discriminate against commerce arising in other States; provided that States may impose on imports from other States regulations also imposed on in-state products to protect the People of the State from effects of those imports within the State.
No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any taxes or discriminatory regulations or restrictions on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws.
No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, 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.
No State shall deny full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other States, as defined and regulated by Congress.
The powers not delegated to the United States by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the People.
Congress shall have power to enforce the provisions of this section, and of the preceding section as applicable to the States, by appropriate legislation.
Article II
SECTION 1
The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America, who shall hold office for a term of six years and be ineligible for reelection, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, as follows:
On the second Tuesday of September of the sixth year of a President’s term, each member of the respective State legislatures may cast one vote for a person eligible to be elected President, and the two persons receiving the most votes from each branch of the legislature (or the four persons receiving the most votes in the case of a unicameral legislature) shall receive that State’s nominations. No State shall restrict the legislature’s choice by law or otherwise. The two nominees receiving the most nominations by the State legislatures shall be candidates for President. In addition, any eligible person may become a candidate on petition signed by one percent of the number of votes cast in the preceding presidential election in at least a majority of the States by October 10 of that year. On the first Tuesday of November of that year, the States shall conduct a national popular vote among the candidates so qualifying. The candidate who obtains the majority of popular votes by method of ranked choice voting shall be elected President. Congress shall by three fifths vote set the rules and procedures for ranked choice voting.
Each candidate for President shall select a candidate for Vice President from among the persons receiving one or more nominations for President by a State legislature, or from among the sitting Governors of the respective States. The President and Vice President shall be elected as a single ticket.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
Any citizen shall be eligible to the office of President who has attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.
The President shall, at stated times, receive a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the presidential term, and shall not receive within that Period any other gift, payment for services, office, or title from any other source, but may receive any inheritance or return on investments, provided that any such inheritance or return shall be publicly disclosed.
Before entering on the execution of the office, the President 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
In case of the President’s removal from office, death, resignation, or inability to discharge the duties of the office, the Vice President shall become President. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office unless, within three weeks of nomination, the nomination is disapproved by a vote of three fifths of either House of Congress. The Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what principal officer of the executive department shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office, and until the President transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, if the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that no inability exists, the President shall resume the powers of the office unless within one month Congress by two-thirds vote of both Houses determines the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, in which case the Vice President shall discharge the same as Acting President.
SECTION 3
The President shall perform the duties of Head of State, representing the nation with dignity and impartiality on ceremonial occasions; conduct the relations of the United States with foreign nations and international organizations; and superintend the execution of the laws. The President may issue executive orders carrying into effect the powers vested in the President by the Constitution and laws of the United States, which orders shall be binding on all executive branch officers on penalty of removal, and may enter into executive agreements with foreign nations and international organizations, provided that no executive order or agreement shall have the force and effect of law, or bind future executives, unless authorized by this Constitution, by act of Congress, or by treaty.
The President shall be commander in chief of the military forces of the United States, and of the Militia when called into the actual service of the United States; and is empowered to conduct War when declared by Congress, or when the nation or territories are actually invaded, or are in such imminent Danger of invasion as will not admit of delay; and may take defensive or proportionally offensive military actions when necessary for the defense of the nation, its territories, its enclaves, and its instrumentalities, or as required by treaty; but any military action not authorized by Congress shall cease within thirty days unless Congress declares war or authorizes military action as provided in Article I of this Constitution.
The President may require a written statement from executive branch officers upon subjects pertaining to their respective offices, and may direct such officers in the execution of their duties and may remove them at will; and shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for criminal Offences against the United States, except self-pardons and pardons of the Vice President. The President shall be immune from criminal prosecution by the United States or any state during the term of office; provided that any statute of limitation shall be correspondingly extended, and the factual basis for any such prosecutions shall be reported to the Speaker of the House for possible impeachment proceedings.
The President shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided that three fifths of the Senators present concur; and shall nominate, and with the concurrence of the Senate shall appoint, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the supreme and inferior courts, 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 officers under the control and supervision of other such officers, as they think proper, in the officer with supervisory authority. Nominations shall be deemed to have received the advice and consent of the Senate unless disapproved by majority vote within three months of the nomination; but any Senator shall have the right to bring any nomination to the floor for debate and vote prior to that time. Any nomination made within the last three months of the President’s term shall lapse at the end of the President’s term, unless sooner approved by the Senate.
Congress shall by law provide for the designation of persons currently holding an executive branch office as interim officers in vacant positions.
SECTION 4
The President shall from time to time give to the Congress information on the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration necessary and expedient measures; and 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, may adjourn them until a later time; and shall send and receive ambassadors and other public ministers; and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. The President shall not direct the prosecution or non-prosecution of any person in a specific matter, but shall leave such decisions to the discretion of the relevant officer.
SECTION 5
No member of the armed forces 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; nor shall the armed forces be used within the United States for the enforcement of criminal law except when ordinary means of law enforcement, supplemented by the Militia, are manifestly incapable of keeping order, and any such use may be disapproved by either House of Congress by majority vote
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 of the inferior courts shall hold their offices during good behavior. Congress may by law provide for a process within the judiciary branch for the suspension from duty of inferior court judges on grounds of disability.
There shall be nine judges of the supreme court, who shall hold their offices for staggered terms of eighteen years, such that every two years there shall be a vacancy. In the event of a vacancy resulting from death, resignation, impeachment, or other inability to perform the duties of the office, a new judge shall be appointed for the duration of the term only. After a term of office has expired, the judge whose term has expired may elect to sit on an inferior court during good behavior, which court is to be determined by the Chief Justice or as Congress shall direct.
Congress shall determine the number of judges to sit on each of the inferior courts, provided that any diminution in number shall be effectuated by attrition, and any increase in that number shall be effectuated by the addition of no more than one new seat on any court every two years.
Both the judges of the supreme and inferior courts shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, the real value of 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.
SECTION 3
In cases in which an ambassador or other public minister, native tribe, or the United States is a party, the federal courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction. In controversies between two or more States, the Supreme Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction. In all other cases and controversies to which the federal judicial power extends, Congress may regulate the respective jurisdictions of the State and federal courts. The Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction in all cases from the inferior courts of the United States, and in cases from the State courts involving this Constitution, the laws made in pursuance thereof, and the treaties made or which shall be made under the authority of the United States. Neither the United States nor any State shall enjoy immunity from suit in the courts of the United States.
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed ten thousand dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
SECTION 4
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
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, and the children of a citizen of the United States wherever born, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States.
SECTION 2
New States may be admitted into this Union by a vote of three fifths of both Houses of Congress, with presentment to the President; 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.
SECTION 3
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 domestic violence. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
SECTION 4
Each State in this Union shall be on an equal footing; and no law shall discriminate against any State or States unless it is predicated on a real and substantial difference relevant to the power under which the law is enacted.
SECTION 5
The Congress shall have power to enforce the provisions of this Article by appropriate legislation.
Article V
The Congress by three-fifths vote of both Houses, or the legislatures of a majority of the States, may propose amendments to this Constitution, which shall be valid as part of this Constitution if ratified within seven years of being submitted by the legislatures or ratifying conventions of two thirds of the several States in accordance with the constitutional processes of each State. Upon the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the States, there shall be a general convention authorized to propose revisions to the Constitution, to be conducted in accordance with procedures enacted by Congress, which revisions shall be valid as part of this Constitution if ratified in like manner as amendments.
Article VI
This Constitution, and the laws and treaties of the United States made in conformity with this Constitution, 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; and no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
