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. OF STATE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT. Republican form of Government Guaranteed to the Several States. SECT. IV. 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. OF AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or on the application of the Legislatures 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 eighteen 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. OF PUBLIC DEBT. SECT. I. All debts contracted, and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitu tion shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as under the confederation. OF THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. SECT. II. 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, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OATH, AND RELIGIOUS TEST. SECT. III. 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 of public trust under the United States. ARTICLE VII. RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION. The ratification of the Conventions of nine States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution, between the States so ratifying the same. [5 Wheat., 422.] DONE in the 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 of America the twelfth. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto sub scribed our names. GEO. WASHINGTON, President, MARYLAND. DAN'L OF ST. THOS. IFER, JAMES MCHENRY, DANIEL CARROLL. NEW JERSEY. JEN-WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE. JOHN LANGDON, MASSACHUSETTS. NATHANIEL GORMAN, CONNECTICUT. WILLIAM SAMUEL JOHN WILLIAM PATTERSON, NEW YORK. ALEXANDER HAMILTON. DELAWARE. GEORGE REED, GUNNING BEDFORD,Jun., JOHN DICKINSON, SOUTH CAROLINA. JOHN RUTLEDGE, CHARLES COATESWORTH CHARLES PINCKNEY, NORTH CAROLINA. WILLIAM BLUNT, RICH'D DOBBS SPAIGHT, GEORGIA. WILLIAM FEW, ABRAHAM BALDWIN, Attest-WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. Amendments. The following articles proposed by Congress, in addition to and amendments of the Constitution of the United States, having been ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the States, are become a part of the Constitution. First Congress. First Session, March 5, 1789. Of the Right of Conscience, Freedom of the Press, &c. ART. I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. [See 3 Yates, 520.] Of the Right to Bear Arms. ART. 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. Of Quartering Troops. ART. III. 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. Of the Right to be Secure from Search, &c. ART. 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 warrant 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. [2 Cranch, 448, 453. 6 Binn., 316.] Of Indictment, Punishment, &c. ART. 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 or public danger, nor shall any person be subject, for the same offense, to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be 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. 18 John., 187, 201. 3 Yeates, 362. 6 Binn., 509. 2 Dall., 312. 2 Johns., Ch. R., 164. 2 S. & R., 382. 8 Wend., 85. 7 Pet., 243.] 6 Cowen, 530. Of Trial in Criminal Cases, and the Rights of a Defendant. ART. 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 defense. Of Trial in Civil Cases. ART. VII. 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 re-examined in any court of the United States, than accord |