[Amendment of 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 One
thousand eight hundred
and eight
shall
in any Manner
affect the first
and fourth Clauses
in the Ninth Section
of the first Article;13
and that no State,
without its Consent,
shall be deprived
of its equal Suffrage
in the Senate.
[13. Temporary provision.]
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
before mentioned,
and the Members
of the several
State Legislatures,
and all executive
and judicial Officers,
both
of the United States
and of the several States,
shall be bound
by Oath
or Affirmation,
to support
this Constitution;
but no religious Test
shall be required
as a Qualification
to any Office
or public Trust
under the United States.
[Ratification and Establishment]
The Ratification
of the Conventions
of nine States,
shall be sufficient
for the Establishment
of this Constitution
between the States
so ratifying the Same.14
[14. The Constitution was submitted.]
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
of America
the Twelfth.
In Witness whereof
We have hereunto
subscribed our Names,
George WASHINGTON
-- Presidt. and deputy
from Virginia.