Rights Come From God!
.
.
LINCOLN said "Study the Constitution!"
"Let it be preached from the pulpit,
proclaimed in legislatures, and
enforced in courts of justice."
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"You have rights antecedent to all earthly governments; rights that
cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; rights derived from
the Great Legislator of the Universe."
-John Adams, Second President of the United States
Jury Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 You are above the Law! . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Jury Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Law of the Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Ten Commandments . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Communist Manifesto . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Give Up Rights? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Jury Tampering? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11SEC. II GIVE ME LIBERTY ...
Patrick Henry Shocked . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Jury of Peers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Freedom for William Penn . . . . . . . . . . 18 Jefferson's Warnings! . . . . . . . . . . . 20SEC. III ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
Index to the documents . . . . . . . . . . . 21
The Declaration of Independence . . . . . . . . . 26
(Original Title -- Page 26)
The Constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
The Bill of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Page 1
SEC. 1 A HANDBOOK FOR JURORS
"...That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of Freedom..."
-Abraham Lincoln
JURY DUTY!
The purpose of this booklet is to revive, as Jefferson put it,
"The Ancient Principles." It is not designed to promote lawlessness or
a return to the jungle. The "Ancient Principles" refer to the Ten
Commandments and the Common Law. The Common Law is, in simple terms,
just plain common sense and has its roots in the Ten Commandments.
In 1776 we came out of BONDAGE with FAITH, UNDERSTANDING and COURAGE.
Even against great odds, and with much bloodshed, we battled our way to
achieve LIBERTY. LIBERTY is that delicate balance between the force of
government and FREEWILL of man. LIBERTY brings FREEDOM of choice to
work, to trade, to go and live where one wishes; it leads to ABUNDANCE.
ABUNDANCE, if made an end to itself, will result in COMPLACENCY which
leads to APATHY. APATHY is the "let George do it" philosophy. THis
always brings DEPENDENCY. For a period of time, dependents are often
not aware they are dependent. They delude themselves by thinking that
they are still free -- "We never had it so good." -- "We can still vote,
can't we?" Eventually abundance diminishes and DEPENDENCY becomes known
by its true nature: BONDAGE!!!
There are few ways out of bondage. Bloodshed and war often result,
but our founding fathers learned of a better way. Realizing that a
CREATOR is always above and greater than that which He creates, they
established a three vote system by which an informed citizenry can
control those acting in the name of the government. To be a good master
you must always remember the true "pecking order" or chain of command in
this nation:
1. GOD created man . . .
2. Man (that's you) created the Constitution . . .
3. Constitution created government . . .
4. Government created corporations . . . etc.
The base of power was to remain in WE THE PEOPLE but unfortunately,
it was lost to those leaders acting in the name of the government, such
as politicians, bureaucrats, judges, lawyers, etc.
As a result America began to function like a democracy instead of
a REPUBLIC. A democracy is dangerous because it is a one-vote system
as opposed to a Republic, which is a three-vote system: Three votes to
check tyranny, not just one. American citizens have not been informed of
their other two votes.
Our first vote is at the polls on election day when we pick those
who are to represent us in the seats of government. But what can be done
if those elected officials just don't perform as promised or expected?
Well, the second two votes are the most effective means by which the
common people of any nation on earth have even had in controlling those
appointed to serve them in government.
The second vote comes when you serve on a Grand Jury. Before anyone
can be brought to trial for a capital or infamous crime by those acting
in the name of the government, permission must be obtained from people
serving on the Grand Jury! The Minneapolis Star and Tribune in March 27,
1987, edition noted a purpose of the grand Jury in this way:
"A Grand Jury's purpose is to protect
the public from an overzealous prosecutor."
The third is the most powerful vote: this is when you are acting as
a jury member during a courtroom trial. At this point, "the buck stops"
with you! It is in this setting that each JUROR has MORE POWER than the
President, all of Congress, and all of the judges combined! Congress
can legislate (make law), the President or some other bureaucrat can
make an order or issue regulations, and judges may instruct or make a
decision, but no JUROR can ever be punished for voting "Not Guilty!"
Any juror can, with impunity, choose to disregard the instructions of
any judge or attorney in rendering his vote. If only one JUROR should
vote "Not Guilty" for any reason, there is no conviction and no
punishment at the end of the trial. THus, those acting in the name of
government must come before the common man to get permission to enforce
law.
YOU ARE ABOVE THE LAW!
As a JUROR in a trial setting, when it comes to your individual vote
of innocent or guilty, you are truly answerable to GOD ALMIGHTY. The
First Amendment to the Constitution was born out of this great concept.
However, judges of today refuse to inform JURORS of their RIGHTS.
The Minneapolis Star and Tribune in a news paper article appearing
in its November 30, 1984 edition, entitled: "What Judges Don't Tell
Juries" stated:
"At the time of adoption of the Constitution, the jury's role
as a defense against political oppression was unquestioned in
American jurisprudence. This nation survived until the 1850's,
when prosecutions under the Fugitive Slave Act were largely
unsuccessful because juries refused to convict"
"Then judges began to erode the institution of free juries,
leading to the absurd compromise that is the current state of the
law. While our courts uniformly state juries have the power to
return a verdict of not guilty whatever the facts, they routinely
tell jurors the opposite."
"Further, the courts will not allow the defendants or their
counsel to inform the jurors of their true power. A lawyer who
made . . . Hamilton's argument would face professional discipline
and charges of contempt of court."
"By what logic should juries have the power to acquit a
defendant but no right to know about that power? The court
decisions that have suppressed the notion of jury nullification
cannot resolve this paradox."
"More than logic has suffered. As originally conceived,
juries were to be made a safety valve way to soften the
bureaucratic rigidity of the judicial system by introducing the
common sense of the community. If they are to function
effectively as the `conscience of the community,' jurors must be
told that they have the power and the right to say no to a
prosecution in order to achieve a greater good. To cut jurors off
from this information is to undermine one of our most important
institutions."
"Perhaps the community should educate itself. Then citizens
called for jury duty could teach the judges a needed lesson in
civics."
This booklet is designed to bring to your attention one important
way our nation's founders provided to insure that you, (not the growing
army of politicians, judges, lawyers, and bureaucrats) rule this nation.
It will focus on the rule of power you possess as a JUROR, how you got
it, why you have it, and remind you of the basis on which you must decide
not only the facts placed in evidence but also the validity or
applicability of every law, rule, regulation, ordinance, or instruction
given by any man seated as a judge or attorney when you serve as a JUROR.
One JUROR can stop tyranny with a "NOT GUILTILY VOTE!" He can
nullify bad law in any case, by "HANGING THE JURY!"
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I
can do something. What I can do, I should do and, with the help of
God, I will do!"
-Everett Hale
+-----------------------------------+
| The only power the judge has over |
| the JURY is their ignorance! |
+-----------------------------------+
JURY RIGHTS
"The jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the
fact in controversy."
-John Jay, 1st Chief Justice
U.S. supreme Court, 1789
"The jury has the right to determine both the law and the
facts."
-Samuel Chase, U.S. supreme
Court Justice, 1796, Signer
of the unanimous Declaration
"The jury has the power to bring a verdict in the teeth of
both law and fact."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes, U.S.
supreme Court Justice, 1902
"The law itself is on trial quite as much as the cause which
is to be decided."
-Harlan F. Stone, 12th Chief
Justice U.S. supreme Court,
1941
"The pages of history shine on instances of the jury's
exercise of its prerogative to disregard instructions of the
judge..."
-U.S. vs. Dougherty, 473 F 2nd
1113, 1139. (1972)
LAW OF THE LAND
The general misconception is that any statute passed by legislators
bearing bearing the appearance of law constitutes the law of the land.
The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any statute,
to be valid, must be in agreement. It is impossible for a law which
violates the Constitution to be valid. This is succinctly stated as
follows:
"All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution are null and
void." Marbury vs. Madison, 5 US (2 Cranch) 137, 174, 176, (1803)
"When rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there
can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate them."
Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 US 436 p. 491.
"An unconstitutional act is not law; it confers no rights; it
imposes no duties; affords no protection; it creates no office; it
is in legal contemplation, as inoperative as though it had never
been passed." Norton vs. Shelby County 118 US 425 p. 442
"The general rule is that an unconstitutional statute, though
having the form and name of law, is in reality no law, but is
wholly void, and ineffective for any purpose; since
unconstitutionality dates from the time of its enactment, and not
merely from the date of the decision so branding it.
"No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts
are bound to enforce it." 16 Am Jur 2nd, Sec 177 late 2d, Sec 256
A SUMMARY OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
The TEN COMMANDMENTS represent GOD'S GOVERNMENT OVER MAN! GOD
commands us for our own good to give up wrongs and not rights! HIS
system always results in LIBERTY and FREEDOM! The Constitution and the
Bill of Rights are built on this foundation, which provides for punitive
justice. It is not until one damages another persons property that he
can be punished. The Marxist system leads to bondage and GOD'S system
leads to LIBERTY! Read very carefully:
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not murder.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
10. Thou shalt not covet.
Directly above the Chief Justice's chair is a tablet signifying the
TEN COMMANDMENTS. When the Speaker of the House in the U.S. Congress
looks up, his eyes look into the face of Moses.
"The Bible is the Book upon which this Republic rests."
-Andrew Jackson, Seventh
President of the United States
"The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures
ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.
All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime,
ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from
their despising or neglecting the precepts of the Bible."
-Noah Webster
A SUMMARY OF THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO
The Communist Manifesto represents a misguided philosophy, which
teaches the citizens to give up their RIGHTS for the sake of the "common
good," but it always ends in a police state. This is called preventive
justice. Control is the key concept. Read carefully:
1. Abolition of private property.
2. Heavy progressive income tax.
3. Abolition of all rights on inheritance.
4. Confiscation of property of all emigrants and rebels.
5. Central bank.
6. Government control of Communications & Transportation.
7. Government ownership of factories and agriculture.
8. Government control of labor.
9. Corporate farms, regional planning.
10. Government control of education.
GIVE UP RIGHTS FOR THE "COMMON GOOD"?
+--------------------------------------+
| Where people fear the government you |
| have tyranny; where the government |
| fears the people, you have liberty. |
+--------------------------------------+
Politicians, bureaucrats and especially judges would have you
believe that too much freedom will result in chaos. Therefore, we should
gladly give up some of our RIGHTS for the good of the community. In
other words, people acting in the name of the government, say we need
_more laws_ and more JURORS to enforce these laws -- even if we have to
give up some RIGHTS in the process. They believe the more laws we have,
the more control, thus a better society. This theory may sound good on
paper, and apparently many of our leaders think this way, as evidenced by
the thousands of new laws that are added to the books each year in this
country. But, no matter how cleverly this Marxist argument is made, the
hard fact is that whenever you give up a RIGHT you lose a "FREE CHOICE"!
This adds another control. Control's real name is BONDAGE! The
logical conclusion would be, if giving up some RIGHTS produces a better
society, then by giving up all RIGHTS we could produce a perfect society.
We could chain everybody to a tree, for lack of TRUST. This may prevent
crime, but it would destroy PRIVACY, which is the heartbeat of FREEDOM!
It would also destroy TRUST which is the foundation for DIGNITY. Rather
than giving up RIGHTS, we should be giving up wrongs! The opposite of
control is not chaos. More laws do not make less criminals! We must
give up wrongs, not rights, for a better society! William Pitt of the
British House of Commons once proclaimed,
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human
liberty; it is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
INALIENABLE, [UNALIENABLE] OR NATURAL RIGHTS!
NATURAL RIGHTS ARE THOSE RIGHTS such as life (from conception), LIBERTY
and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS eg. FREEDOM of RELIGION, SPEECH, LEARNING,
TRAVEL, SELF-DEFENSE, ETC. Hence laws and statutes which violate NATURAL
RIGHTS, though they may have the color of law, are not law but impostors!
The U.S. Constitution was written to protect these NATURAL RIGHTS from
being tampered with by legislators. * Further, our forefathers also
wisely knew that the U.S. Constitution would be utterly worthless to
restrain government legislators unless it was clearly understood that
the people had the right to compel the government to keep within the
Constitutional limits.
+-----------------------------------+
| In a jury trial the real judges |
| are the JURORS! Surprisingly, |
| judges are actually just referees |
| bound by the Constitution! |
+-----------------------------------+
*Lysander Spooner wrote as follows:
"Government is established for the protection of the weak
against the strong. This is the principal, if not the sole motive
for the establishment of all legitimate government. It is only
the weaker party that loses their liberties, when a government
becomes oppressive. The stronger party, in all governments are
free by virtue of their superior strength. They never oppress
themselves. Legislation is the work of the stronger party; and
if, in addition to the sole power of legislation, they have the
sole power of determining what legislation shall be enforced, they
have all power in their hands, and the weaker party are the
subjects of an absolute government. Unless the weaker party have
veto, they have no power whatever in the government . . . no
liberties . . . The trial by jury is the only institution that
gives the weaker party any veto upon the power of the stronger.
Consequently it is the only institution that gives them any
effective voice in the government, or any guaranty against
oppression.
ESSAY on the TRIAL by Jury
--------------------------
JURY TAMPERING?
A JURY's Rights, Powers and Duties:
The Charge to the JURY in the First JURY Trial before the supreme*
Court of the U.S. Illustrates the TRUE POWER OF THE JURY. In the
February term of 1794, the supreme Court conducted a JURY trial and
said ". . . it is presumed, that the juries are the best judges of facts;
it is, on the other hand, presumed that the courts are the best judges
of law. But still both objects are within our power of decision."
"You have a right to take upon yourselves to judge of both,
and to determine the law as well as the fact in controversy."
-(State of Georgia vs.
Brailsford, et al, 3 Dall. 1)
"The JURY has an unreviewable and unreversible power . . . to
acquit in disregard of the instructions on the law given by the
trial judge . . ." (emphasis added)
-U.S. vs. Dougherty, 473 F 2nd
1113, 1139 (1972)
Hence, JURY disregard of the limited and generally conviction-
oriented evidence presented for its consideration, and JURY disregard
for what the trial judge wants them to believe is the controlling law
in particular case (sometimes referred to as "JURY lawlessness")* is not
something to be scrupulously avoided, but rather encouraged. Witness the
following quotation from the eminent legal authority above-mentioned:
"Jury lawlessness is the greatest corrective of law in its actual
administration. The will of the state at large imposed on a reluctant
community, the will of a majority imposed on a vigorous and determined
minority, find the same obstacle in the local JURY that formerly
confronted kings and ministers." (emphasis added) (Dougherty cited above,
note 32 at 1130)
*Supreme is not capitalized in the Constitution, however Behavior is.
*Jury lawlessness means willingness to nullify bad law.
The Right of the JURY to be Told of Its Power
Almost every JURY in the land is falsely instructed by the judge
when it is told it must accept as the law that which is given to them by
the court, and that the JURY can decide only the facts of the case.
This is to destroy the purpose of a Common Law JURY, and to permit the
imposition of tyranny upon a people.
"There is nothing more terrifying than ignorance in action."
-Goethe (engraved on a plaque
at the Naval War College)
"To embarrass justice by a multiplicity of laws, or to hazard
it by confidence in judges, are the opposite rocks on which all
civil instructions have been wrecked."
-Johnson (engraved in
Minnesota State Capitol
Outside the Supreme Court
Chambers)
". . . The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
-II Corinthians 3:6
"It is error alone which needs the support of government.
truth can stand by itself."
-Thomas Jefferson
The JURY'S options are by no means limited to the choices presented
to it in the courtroom. "The jury gets its understanding as to the
arrangements in the legal system from more than one voice. There is
the formal communication from the 'judge.' There is informal
communication from the total culture -- literature; current comment,
conversation; and, of course, history and tradition." (Dougherty cited
above, at 1135)
LAWS, FACTS AND EVIDENCE!
Without the power to decide what facts, law and evidence are
applicable, JURIES cannot be a protection to the accused. If people
acting in the name of government are permitted by JURORS to dictate any
law whatever, they can also unfairly dictate what evidence is admissible
or inadmissible and thereby prevent the WHOLE TRUTH from being
considered. Thus if government can manipulate and control both the law
and the evidence, the issue of fact becomes virtually irrelevant. In
reality, true JUSTICE would be denied leaving us with a trial by
government and not a trial by JURY!
HOW DOES TYRANNY BEGIN?
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY LAWS?
Heroes are men of glory who are so honored because of some heroic
deed. People often out of gratitude yield allegiance to them. Honor
and allegiance are nice words for power! Power and allegiance can only
be held rightfully by trust as a result of continued character.
When people acting in the name of government violate ethics, they
break trust with "WE THE PEOPLE." The natural result is for "WE THE
PEOPLE" to pull back power (honor and allegiance).
The loss of power creates fear for those losing the power. Fearing
loss of power, people acting in the name of government often seek to
regain or at least hold their power. Hence, to legitimize their quest
for control, laws and force are often instituted.
Unchecked power is the foundation of tyranny. It is the JUROR'S duty
to use the JURY ROOM as a vehicle to stem the tide of oppression and
tyranny: To prevent bloodshed by peacefully removing power from those who
have abused it. The JURY is the primary vehicle for peaceful restoration
of LIBERTY, POWER AND HONOR TO "WE THE PEOPLE!"
YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Your vote of NOT Guilty must be respected by all members of the
JURY -- it is the RIGHT and DUTY of a JUROR to Never, Never, Never yield
his or her sacred vote -- for you are not there as a fool, merely to
agree with the majority, but as an officer of the court and a qualified
judge in your own right. Regardless of the pressures or abuse that may
be heaped on you by any other members of the JURY with whom you may be
in good conscience to disagree, you can await the reading of the verdict
secure in the knowledge you have voted your own conscience and
convictions -- and not those of someone else.
YOU ARE NOT A RUBBER STAMP!
By what logic do we send our youth to battle tyranny on foreign
soil, while we refuse to do so in our courts? Did you know that many
of the planks of the "Communist Manifesto" are now represented by law
in the U.S.? How is it possible for Americans to denounce communism and
practice it simultaneously.
The JURY judges the Spirit, Motive and Intent of both law and the
Accused, whereas the prosecutor only represents the letter of the law.
Therein lies the opportunity for the accomplishment of "LIBERTY
and JUSTICE for ALL." If you, and numerous other JURORS throughout the
State and nation begin and continue to bring in verdicts of NOT GUILTY
in such cases where nam-made statute is defective or oppressive, these
statutes will become as ineffective as if they had never been written.
"If we love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of
servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home
from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch
down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set
lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our
countrymen."
-Samuel Adams
.
PATRICK HENRY SHOCKED!
Young Christian attorney Patrick Henry saw why a JURY of PEERS is
so vital to FREEDOM! It was March 1775 when he rode into the small town
of Culpeper, Va. he was totally shocked by what he saw! There, in the
middle of the town square was a minister tied to a whipping post, his
back laid bare and bloody with the bones of his ribs showing. He had
been scourged like JESUS, with whips laced with metal.
Patrick henry is quoted as saying: "When they stopped beating him, I
could see the bones of his rib cage. I turned to someone and asked what
the man had done to deserve a beating such as this."
SCOURGED FOR NOT TAKING A LICENSE!
The reply given him was that the man being scourged was a minister
who refused to take a license. He was one of twelve who were locked in
jail because they refused to take a license. A license often becomes an
arbitrary control by the government that makes a crime out of what
ordinarily would not be a crime. IT TURNS A RIGHT INTO A PRIVILEGE!
Three days later they scourged him to death.
This was the incident which sparked Christian attorney Patrick Henry
to write the famous words which later would become the rallying cry of
the Revolution. "What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course
others may take, but as for me, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!" Later
he made this part of his famous speech at St. John's Episcopal Church in
Williamsburg, Va.
JURY OF PEERS
Our forefathers felt that in order to have JUSTICE, it is obvious
that a JURY of "PEERS" must be people who actually know the defendant.
How else would they be able to judge motive and intent?
"PEERS" of the defendant, like RIGHTS of the JURY have also been
severely tarnished. Originally, it meant people of "equals in station
and rank," (Black's 1910), "free-holders of a neighborhood," (Bouvier's
1886), or "A companion; a fellow; an associate. (Webster's 1828).
WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO SIT ON A JURY?
Patrick Henry, along with others, was deeply concerned as to who has
a right to sit on a JURY. Listen to our forefathers wisdom on the
subject of "PEERS."
MR. HENRY
"By the bill of rights of England, a subject has a right to a trial
by his peers. What is meant by peers? Those who reside near him, his
neighbors, and who are well acquainted with his character and situation
in life." Patrick Henry (Elliot, "The Debates in Several State
Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, 3:579)
Patrick Henry also knew that originally the JURY of PEERS was
designed as a protection for Neighbors from outside governmental
oppression. Henry states the following, "Why do we love this trial by
jury? Because it prevents that hand of oppression from cutting you
off . . . This gives me comfort -- that, as long as I have existence,
my neighbors will protect me." (Elliot, 3:545, 546).
MR. HOLMES
Mr. Holmes, from Massachusetts, argued strenuously that for JUSTICE
to prevail, the case must be heard in the vicinity where the fact was
committed by a JURY of PEERS. " . . . a jury of peers would, from their
local situation, have an opportunity to form a judgement of the CHARACTER
of the person charged with the crime, and also to judge of the
CREDIBILITY of the witnesses." (Elliot, 2:110).
+-----------------------------------------+
| The people are masters of both Congress |
| and courts, not to overthrow the |
| Constitution, but to overthrow the men |
| who pervert it! |
| -Abraham Lincoln |
+-----------------------------------------+
MR. WILSON
Mr. Wilson, signer of "The unanimous Declaration," who also later
became a supreme Court Justice, stressed the importance of the JURORS
knowing personally both the defendant and the witnesses. "Where jurors
can be acquainted with the characters of the parties and the witnesses --
where the whole cause can be brought within their knowledge and view -- I
know no mode of investigation equal to that by a trial by jury: they hear
every thing that is alleged; they not only hear the words, but they see
and mark the features of the countenance; they can judge of weight due to
such testimony; and moreover, it is a cheap and expeditious manner of
distributing justice. There is another advantage annexed to the trial by
jury; the jurors may indeed return a mistaken or ill-founded verdict' but
their errors cannot be systematical." (Elliot, 2:516)
FREEDOM FOR WILLIAM PENN
"Those people who are not governed by GOD will be ruled by
tyrants."
-William Penn
Edward Bushnell and three fellow JURORS learned this lesson well.
They refused to bow to the court. They believed in the absolute power
of the JURY, though their eight companions cowered to the court. The
four JURORS spent nine weeks of torture in prison, often without food
and water, soaked with urine, smeared with feces, barely able to stand,
and even threatened with fines, yet they would not give in to the judge.
Edward Bushnell said, "My liberty is not for sale," though he had great
wealth and commanded an international shipping enterprise. These "bumble
heads", so the court thought, proved the power of the people was stronger
than any power of government. They emerged total victors.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT
The year was 1670, and the case Bushnell sat on was that of William
Penn, who was on trial for violation of a "Conventicle Act." This was
an elaborate Act which made the Church of England the only legal church.
The Act was struck down by their not guilty vote. Freedom of Religion
was established and became part of the English Bill of Rights and later
it became the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In addition, the
Right to peaceful assembly was founded, Freedom of Speech, and also
habeas corpus. The first such writ of habeas corpus ever issued by the
Court of Common Pleas was issued to free Edward Bushnell. Later this
trial gave birth to the concept of Freedom of the press.
Had Bushnell and his colleagues yielded to the guilty verdict sought
by the judge and prosecutor, William Penn most likely would have been
executed as he clearly broke the law.
HE BROKE THE LAW!
There would have been no Liberty Bell, no Independence Hall, no city
of Philadelphia, and no state called Pennsylvania, for young William
Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, and leader of the Quakers, was on trial
for his life. His alleged crime was preaching and teaching a different
view of the Bible than that of the Church of England. This appears
innocent today, but then, one could be executed for such actions. He
believed in freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the right to
peaceful assembly. He had broken to government's law, but he had injured
no one. The four heroic JURORS knew that only when actual injury to
someone's person or property take place is there a real crime. No law
is broken when no injury can be shown. Thus there can be no loss or
termination of rights unless actual damage is proven. Many imposter
laws were repealed as a result of this.
IT IS ALMOST UNFAIR!
The trial made such an impact the every colony but one established
the jury as the first liberty to maintain all other liberties. It was
felt that the liberties of people could never be wholly lost as long as
the jury remained strong and independent, and that unjust laws and
statutes could not stand when confronted by conscientious JURORS. JURORS
today face an avalanche of imposter laws. JURORS not only still have the
power and the RIGHT, but also the DUTY, to nullify bad laws by voting
"not guilty." At first glance it appears that it is almost unfair, the
power JURORS have over government, but necessary when considering the
historical track record of oppression that governments have wielded over
private citizens.
JEFFERSON'S WARNINGS!
In 1789 Thomas Jefferson warned that the judiciary if given too much
power might ruin our REPUBLIC, and destroy our RIGHTS!
"The new Constitution has secured these [individual rights] in the
Executive and legislative departments: but not in the Judiciary. It
should have established trials by the people themselves, that is to say,
by jury."
The Judiciary of the United States is the subtle corps of sappers
and miners constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations
of our confederated fabric." (1820)
". . . the Federal Judiciary; an irresponsible body (for impeachment
is scarcely a scarecrow), working like gravity by night and by day,
gaining a little to-day and a little to-morrow, and advancing its
noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all
shall be usurped from the States, and the government of all be
consolidated into one.
. . . when all government . . . in little as in great things, shall
be drawn to Washington as the centre of all power, it will render
powerless the checks provided of one government on another and will
become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated.
(1821)
"The opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws
are constitutional and what are not, not only for themselves in their own
sphere of action, but for the legislative and executive also in their
spheres, would make the judiciary a despotic branch.
". . . judges should be withdrawn from the bench whose erroneous
biases are leading us to dissolution. It may, indeed, injure them in
fame or fortune; but it saves the Republic. . ."
.
GENERAL INDEX TO:
THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION
I. Need to dissolve certain political relationships.
II. Need to assume powers which God entitles man.
III. Declaring separation from an unjust government.
IV. Self-evident truths elaborated.
A. All men are created equal.
B. God our Creator gives to each unalienable Rights
1. Life, Liberty, Happiness, property, safety, respect, privacy,
etc.
C. The purpose of government is to protect the weak from the strong.
1. Fact: The Revolution was not out of rebellion by the colonies,
but rather England rebelled against God's Law by repeated
injuries of usurpation and tyranny. The young colonies were
forced to defend themselves against England's tyranny.
a. eg. Bad laws, bad courts, police state (swarms of
soldiers), taxes without consent, deprived of trial by
jury, deporting people for trial, England declared the
colonies out of their protection, rights of individuals
plundered.
b. The colonies repeatedly petitioned England, but only
received repeated injury.
c. England was warned from time to time.
d. England was deaf to the voice of justice.
V. The colonies appealed to God the Supreme Judge of the world.
VI. The colonies right to be free and independent.
VII. Under the protection of God they pledged their lives, fortunes
and honor.
GENERAL INDEX TO:
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
Preamble: The people hold the power: "We the People . . . in order to form
a more perfect union, . . . and secure the blessing of liberty . . ."
ARTICLE I.
SECTION.
1. Legislative powers.
2. House of representatives; qualifications of members; appointment of
representatives and direct taxes; census; first appointment;
vacancies; officers of the house; impeachments.
3. Senate, classification of senators; qualifications of; vice president
to preside; other officers; trial of impeachments.
4. Election of members of congress; time assembling of congress.
5. Powers of each house; punishment for disorderly Behaviour; journal;
adjournments.
6. Compensation and privileges; disabilities of members.
7. Revenue bills; passage and approval of bills; orders and resolutions.
8. General powers of congress; borrowing money; regulating commerce;
naturalization and bankruptcy; money; weights and measures;
counterfeiting; post offices; patents and copyrights; inferior
courts; piracies and felonies; war; marque and reprisal; armies;
navy; land and naval forces; calling the militia; District of
Columbia; to enact laws necessary to enforce the Constitution.
9. Limitations of congress; migration; writ; of habeas corpus; bills
of attainder and ex post facto laws prohibited; direct taxes; exports
not to be taxed; interstate shipping; drawing money from the
treasury; financial statements to be published; titles of nobility
and favors from foreign powers prohibited.
10. Limitations of the individual states; no treaties; letters of marque
and reprisal; no coining of money; bills of credit; not allowed to
make any Thing but gold and silver Coin for payment of debts; no
bills of attainder; ex post facto Law or law impairing the obligation
of contracts; no title of nobility; state imposts and duties;
further restrictions on state powers.
ARTICLE II.
SECTION
1. Executive powers; electors; qualifications, vacancy, compensation
and Oath of the president.
2. Powers and duties of the president; making of treaties; powers of
appointments.
3. Other powers and duties.
4. All government officers are liable to impeachment.
ARTICLE III.
SECTION
1. Judicial powers; all judges must have good Behaviour to stay in
office; compensation not to be diminished.
2. Jurisdiction of federal courts and supreme court; trials for crime
by jury except impeachment.
3. Treason defined; trial for and punishment.
ARTICLE IV.
SECTION
1. Message to the states; each state is to give full faith and credit
to public acts and records of other states.
2. Citizens of each state shall be entitled; fleeing from justice.
3. Admission of new states; power of congress over territories.
4. Republican form of government guaranteed to every state; protection
from invasion or domestic violence.
ARTICLE V.
SECTION
1. Amending the Constitution.
ARTICLE VI.
SECTION
1. National obligations; Public debt; Constitution to be the supreme
Law of the land; Constitutional Oath of office; no religious test
required.
ARTICLE VII.
SECTION
1. Ratification of the Constitution; George Washington signs
Twelfhindi, the highest ranking Saxon government, eg. He was equal of
1200 King Georges, or you as a juror are equal to 1200 presidents,
congressmen or judges, local, federal or of the supreme Court.
GENERAL INDEX TO:
THE BILL OF RIGHTS
and Amendments
PREAMBLE: Limiting the federal government: An expressed desire to prevent
abuse of federal powers!
ARTICLES -- COMMON LAW
I. Religious freedom, both to an establishment as well as the free
exercise thereof; freedom of speech, press; right of petition.
II. Right to bear arms.
III. Quartering of soldiers.
IV. The right to privacy and security against unreasonable search
and seizures; search warrants.
V. Grand Jury, double jeopardy, no one must witness against himself,
no loss of life, liberty or property without due process.
VI. Speedy and public trials, impartial jury; nature and cause,
right to confront; compulsory witnesses, assistance of Counsel
-- note, does not say attorney.
VII. Right to trial by jury according to the rules of common law --
Ten Commandments are the foundation of Common Law.
VIII. Excessive bail, fines, punishment etc. prohibited.
IX. Rights beyond Bill of Rights belong to the people.
X. Undelegated powers belong to the people unless given by the
people to the states.
Articles I-X were proposed Sept. 25, 1789, ratified Dec. 15, 1791.
AMENDMENTS -- EQUITY LAW
XI. Restriction of judicial powers, proposed Mar. 5, 1794, adopted
Jan. 8, 1798.
XII. Manner of electing the president and vice president, proposed
Dec. 12, 1803, adopted Sept. 25, 1904.
XIII. Slavery and involuntary servitude prohibited, took effect*
Dec. 18, 1865.
XIV. Citizenship and status defined, privilege of 2nd, 3rd, or
whatever status of citizenship one selects for oneself, as
opposed to Freeholder with full sovereign rights; apportionment
of representatives; who is prohibited from holding office;
public debt. Caution: There is serious doubt as to the legality
of this amendment because of the manner of ratification which
was highly suspect. At least 10 States were held by force of
arms until the proper authorities agreed to vote for this
amendment. An excellent overview of this was written by the
Utah Supreme Court -- 439 Pacific Reporter 2d Series pp 266-276,
and for a more detailed account of how the 14th amendment was
forced upon the Nation see articles in 11 S.C. L. Q. 484 and
28 Tul. L. Rev. 22., took effect July 28, 1868.
XV. Non Freeholders given right to vote, took effect Mar. 30, 1870.
XVI. Income tax, took effect Feb. 25, 1913, possibly only four states
ratified it properly.
XVII. Direct elections of senators; electors; vacancies in the senate,
took effect May 31, 1913. This moved us from a complex Republic
to a simple Republic much like the style of government of the
Soviet Union. State rights were lost and we were plunged
headlong into a democracy of which our forefathers warned was the
vilest form of government because it always ends in oppression.
XVIII. Prohibition of liquor traffic, took effect Jan. 29, 1920.
XIX. Voting for women, took effect Aug. 27, 1920.
XX. Terms of the president, vice president, senators and
representatives; date of assembling of congress, vacancies of
the president, power of congress in presidential succession,
took effect Feb. 6, 1933.
XXI. Eighteenth Article repealed; took effect Dec. 5, 1933.
XXII. Limits of the presidential term, took effect mar. 1, 1951.
XXIII. Electors for the District of Columbia, took effect April 3, 1961.
XXIV. Failure to pay any tax does not deny one the right to vote, took
effect Feb. 4, 1964.
XXV. Filling the office of the president or vice president during a
vacancy, took effect Feb. 23, 1967.
XXVI. Right to vote at 18, took effect July 5, 1971.
* Took effect is used as there is a great deal of suspicion as to the
nature of these amendments (common law vs equity), also whether the
last 16 amendments are legal, how many were ratified correctly, do
they create a federal constitution in opposition to the original, etc.
For further studies a good place to begin is with the article by the
Utah Supreme Court on the 14th amendment, 439 Pacific Reporter 2d
Series, pp 266-276, and Senate Doc. 240.
.
.
In Congress, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of
the thirteen united States
of America
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people
to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,
and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal
station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that
Governments long established should not be changed for light and
transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind
are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right
themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when
a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same
Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it
is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to
provide new Guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now
the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of
Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history
of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this,
let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for
the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing
importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should
be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend
to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large
districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of
Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and
formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual,
uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records,
for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with
manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause
others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of
Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise;
the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of
invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that
purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing
to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the
conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent
to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their
offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of
Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the
Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to
the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to
our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to
their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders
which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring
Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging
its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and 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 whatsoever.
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
compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with
circumstances of Cruelty & 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 executioners of their
friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured
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 attention 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
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.
SIGNERS OF THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION
According to the Authenticated List printed by
Order of Congress of January 18, 1877
JOHN HANCOCK.
New Hampshire
JOSIAH BARTLETT
WILLIAM WHIPPLE
MATTHEW THORNTON
Massachusetts-Bay
SAMUEL ADAMS
JOHN ADAMS
ROBERT TREAT PAINE
ELBRIDGE GERRY
Rhode Island
STEPHEN HOPKINS
WILLIAM ELLERY
Connecticut
ROGER SHERMAN
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
WILLIAM WILLIAMS
OLIVER WOLCOTT
Georgia
BUTTON GWINNETT
LYMAN HALL
GEO. WALTON
Maryland
SAMUEL CHASE
WILLIAM PACA
THOMAS STONE
CHARLES CARROLL
OF CARROLLTON
Virginia
GEORGE WYTHE
RICHARD HENRY LEE
THOMAS JEFFERSON
BENJAMIN HARRISON
THOMAS NELSON, JR.
FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE
CARTER BRAXTON.
New York
WILLIAM FLOYD
PHILIP LIVINGSTON
FRANCIS LEWIS
LEWIS MORRIS
Pennsylvania
ROBERT MORRIS
BENJAMIN RUSH
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
JOHN MORTON
GEORGE CLYMER
JAMES SMITH
GEORGE TAYLOR
JAMES WILSON
GEORGE ROSS
Delaware
CAESAR RODNEY
GEORGE READ
THOMAS M'KEAN
North Carolina
WILLIAM HOOPER
JOSEPH HEWES
JOHN PENN
South Carolina
EDWARD RUTLEDGE
THOMAS HEYWARD, JR.
THOMAS LYNCH, JR.
ARTHUR MIDDLETON
New Jersey
RICHARD STOCKTON
JOHN WITHERSPOON
FRANCIS HOPKINS
JOHN HART
ABRAHAM CLARK
YOUR TURN!
You -- as a juror -- armed merely with the knowledge of what a
COMMON LAW JURY really is and what your common law rights, powers and
duties really are, can do more to re-establish "liberty and justice for
all" in this State and ultimately throughout all of the United States
than all out Senators and Representatives put together. Why? Because
even without the concurrence of any of your fellow jurors in a criminal
trial, you, with your single vote of "NOT GUILTY" can nullify every rule
or "law" that is not in accordance with the principles of natural,
God-given, Common, or Constitutional Law. It is precisely this power of
nullification that makes the trial by JURY one of our most important
RIGHTS. It can protect and preserve all of the citizen's other RIGHTS.
.
.
The CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES
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 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.
* Originally, the Constitution had no title but simply began "We the
People..."
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1. ALL LEGISLATIVE POWERS HEREIN GRANTED SHALL BE VESTED IN A
CONGRESS of the UnitedStates, which shall consist of a Senate and a
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, 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] 3 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.
Judgement in case 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, judgement and
punishment, according to law.
Sect. 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.
Sect. 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 shall
provide.
Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members
for disorderly behavior, 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 judgement 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 sessions 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.
Sect. 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.
Sect. 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 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 it 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.
Sect. 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 square miles) as may, by cession of
particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of
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.
Sect. 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 for 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.
Sect. 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 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
Sect. 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, 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 vote shall be taken by states, the representation 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 senator 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."
Sect. 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.
Sect. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of
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.
Sect. 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
Sect. 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 behavior, and shall,
at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall
not be diminished during their continuance in office.
Sect. 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 a 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.
Sect. 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 open 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
Sect. 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.
Sect. 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.
Sect. 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.
Sect. 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
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 beforementioned, 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.
Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the states present, the
seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independence of the United States
the twelfth. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our Names.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, president,
And Deputy from Virginia.
In CONVENTION,
Monday, September 17th, 1787.
PRESENT
The States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr.
Hamilton from New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia:
RESOLVED,
That the preceding Constitution be laid before the United States in
Congress assembled, and that it is the opinion of this Convention, that
it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in
each State by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of its
legislature, for their Assent and Ratification; and that each Convention
assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should give Notice thereof to the
United States in Congress assembled.
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that as soon as
the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the
United States in Congress assembled should fix a Day on which Electors
should be appointed by the States which shall have ratified the same, and
a Day on which the Electors should assemble to vote for the President,
and the Time and Place for commencing Proceedings under this
Constitution. That after such Publication the Electors should be
appointed, and the Senators and Representatives elected: That the
Electors should meet on the Day fixed for the Election of the President,
and should transmit their Votes certified, signed, sealed and directed,
as the Constitution requires, to the Secretary of the United States in
Congress assembled, that the Senators and Representatives should convene
at the Time and Place assigned; that the Senators should appoint a
President of the Senate, for the sole Purpose of receiving, opening and
counting the Votes for President; and, that after he shall be chosen, the
Congress, together with the President, should, without Delay, proceed to
execute this Constitution.
By the Unanimous Order of the Convention,
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President,
WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary
New-Hampshire John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King
Connecticut William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman
New-York Alexander Hamilton
New-Jersey William Livingston, David Brearley, William Paterson,
Jonathan Dayton,
Pennsylvania Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Miffin, Robert Morris,
George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll,
James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris,
Delaware George Read, Gunning Bedford, Junior, John Dickinson,
Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom.
Maryland James M'Henry, Daniel of St. Tho. Jenifer, Daniel Carrol
Virginia John Blair, James Madison, Junior
North-Carolina William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson.
South-Carolina John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney,
Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler.
Georgia William Few, Abraham Baldwin.
attest, William Jackson, Secretary
The BILL OF RIGHTS
As provided in the FIRST TEN
AMENDMENTS
TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES
Effective December 15, 1791
Preamble to the bill of rights of the Constitution of the United
States of America
Conventions of a number of States, having at the time of their adopting
the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction
or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses
should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the
Government, will but ensure the beneficent ends of its institution
RESOLVED...the following articles be ... part of the said
Constitution;
NOTE: THIS PREAMBLE IS NOT OFFICIALLY A PART OF THE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE
LEGISLATURES OF THE SEVERAL STATES, PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF
THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION
AMENDMENT I
(1791)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
AMENDMENT II
(1791)
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State,the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed.
AMENDMENT III
(1791)
No soldier 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.
AMENDMENT IV
(1791)
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
violated, 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.
AMENDMENT V
(1791)
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in
actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be
subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb;
nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against
himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.
AMENDMENT VI
(1791)
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have
been previously ascertained by law, 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.
AMENDMENT VII
(1791)
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty 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.
AMENDMENT VIII
(1791)
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
AMENDMENT IX
(1791)
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
AMENDMENT X
(1791)
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively,
or to the people.
AMENDMENT XI
(1795)
The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend
to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the
United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of
any Foreign State.
AMENDMENT XII
(1804)
The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot
for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an
inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their
ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the
person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists
of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as
Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists 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 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 for President,
shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number
of the Electors appointed; and if no person have such a majority, then
from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the
list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall
choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the
President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation 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. [And if the House of
Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice
shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day 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. -] The person
having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the
Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of
Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two
highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President;
a quorum for the 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. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of
President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United
States.
AMENDMENT XIII
(1865)
SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted,
shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their
jurisdiction.
SECTION 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
AMENDMENT XIV
(1868)
SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States
and the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any
law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty,
or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
SECTION 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several
States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number
of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the
right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President
and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress,
the Executive and Judicial officers of a State or the members of the
Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such
State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States,
or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other
crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the
whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
SECTION 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or
elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or
military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having
previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of
the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an
executive or Judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution
of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But
Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such
disability.
SECTION 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States,
authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and
bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not
be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion
against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of
any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held
illegal and void.
SECTION 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of this article.
AMENDMENT XV
(1870)
SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to 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.
SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
AMENDMENT XVI
(1913)
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on income, from
whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States,
and without regard to any census or enumeration.
AMENDMENT XVII
(1913)
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from
each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator
shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the
State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate,
the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to
fill such vacancies: Provide, That the legislature of any State may
empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the
people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or
term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the
Constitution.
AMENDMENT XVIII
(1919)
SECTION 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the
manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within,
the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United
States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage
purposes is hereby prohibited.
SECTION 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been
ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the
several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from
the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
AMENDMENT XIX
(1920)
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
AMENDMENT XX
(1933)
SECTION 1. The terms of the President and Vice-President shall end at
noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of senators and
Representatives at noon on the 3rd day of January, of the years in which
such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and
the terms of their successors shall then begin.
SECTION 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and
such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they
shall by law appoint a different day.
SECTION 3. 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 then 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.
SECTION 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of
any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a
President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and
for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may
choose a Vice-President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved
upon them.
SECTION 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October
following the ratification of this article.
SECTION 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been
ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of
its submission.
AMENDMENT XXI
(1933)
SECTION 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of
the United States is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory,
or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of
intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby
prohibited.
SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been
ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the
several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from
the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
AMENDMENT XXII
(1951)
SECTION 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President
more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or
acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other
person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President
more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding
the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress,
and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of
President, or acting as President, during the term within which this
Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting
as President during the remainder of such term.
SECTION 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been
ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of
its submission to the States by the Congress.
AMENDMENT XXIII
(1961)
SECTION 1. The District constituting the seat of government of the
United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice-President equal to the whole
number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District
would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the
least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by
the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the
election of President and Vice-President, to be electors appointed by
a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as
provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this amendment by
appropriate legislation.
AMENDMENT XXIV
(1964)
SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any
primary or other election for President or Vice-President, or for
Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll
tax or other tax.
SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this amendment by
appropriate legislation.
AMENDMENT XXV
(1967)
SECTION 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of
his death or resignation, the Vice-President shall become President.
SECTION 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice-
President, the President shall nominate a Vice-President who shall take
office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
SECTION 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro
tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and
duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written
declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged
by the Vice-President as acting President.
SECTION 4. Whenever the Vice-President and a majority of either the
principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body
as Congress may by law provide, 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 his office, the Vice-President shall immediately assume the
powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of
the senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written
declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and
duties of his office unless the Vice-President and a majority of either
the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body
as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days 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 his office. Thereupon, Congress shall
decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose
if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after the
receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in
session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble,
determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable
to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice-President
shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the
President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
AMENDMENT XXVI
(1971)
SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are (18)
eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or by any State on account of age.
SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
AMENDMENT XXVII
(1992)
No law, varying the compensation for the services of Senators and
Representatives, shall take effect until an election of Representatives
have intervened.
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"The poorest man may, in his cottage, bid defiance to all the
forces of the Crown. It may be frail, its roof may shake; the
wind may blow through it; the storm may enter; the rain may
enter; but the King of England may not enter; all his force dares
not cross the threshhold of the ruined tenement."
This neglected warning, was sounded by William Pitt before the
British House of Commons addressing the need for PRIVACY -- the
protection of LIFE, LIBERTY and HAPPINESS. Will it go unheeded?
PROCLAIM LIBERTY!
Inscribed on our hallowed LIBERTY BELL are these words "PROCLAIM
LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF."
-Lev. XXV X
"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like
fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
-George Washington
"Woe to those who decree unjust statutes and to those who
continually record unjust decisions, to deprive the needy of
justice, and to rob the poor of My people of their rights..."
-Isaiah 10:1,2
TAKING THE PLUNGE!
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...!"
-Hosea 4:6
"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to
do nothing."
-Edmund Burke 1729-1797
"If My people which are called by My name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked
ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land."
-II Chron. 7:14
"We must obey GOD rather than men."
-Acts 5:29
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| WARNING: |
| THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO BAD |
| LAWS. Courts may not welcome or approve |
| of these truths, neither are they to be |
| considered as legal advice. Therefore, |
| to act on these facts is to do so at |
| your own risk or opportunity. |
+------------------------------------------+
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Whitten Press Citizen's Rule Book -- Revision 4.
Back to Patrick Henry Skrule of Law or
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