to the constitution of the united states, ratified
according to the provisions of the fifth
article of the foregoing constitution.
article i.—congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of the speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.
article ii.—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.
article iii.—no soldiers 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.
article iv.—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,[188] supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
article v.—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 and 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 to be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
article vi.—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 defence.
article vii.—in suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the[189] right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the united states than according to the rules of the common law.
article viii.—excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
article ix.—the enumeration in the constitution of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
article x.—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.
article xi.—the judicial power of the united states shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecute against one of the united states by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.
article xii.—see page 176.
article xiii.—section 1. neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the person 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.
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article xiv.—section 1. all persons born or naturalized in the united states, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the united states and of 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 appointed 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 or 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.
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section 3. no person shall be a senator or representative in congress, or elector of president or 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. congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
article xv.—section 1. the rights of citizens of[192] 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. congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.