Thug Life

Why Children Are Increasingly Engaging In Risky Behaviours

Yes. I think this is a big problem. Young people today are encouraged by their peers and by the media (tv, movies, music, the internet) to engage in risky behaviours (sex, porn, drinking, etc.) and discouraged from taking responsibility for their own actions. Society needs to stop encouraging scapegoating and passing the buck and encourage everyone, but especially children, to accept responsibility for their own actions. Parents, teachers, schools, churches, the media, and the government all bear some responsibility for this situation. Parents need to teach their children right from wrong, schools and teachers need to stop indoctrinating our children into believing that there is no such thing as right and wrong and resume teaching citizenship, character building, and ethics. Churches need to help parents train their children according to the Bible. They also need to preach morality, ethics, and accountability. The media needs to stop promoting smut as "art" -- this does not just apply to porn, but to tv shows, movies, music lyrics and videos, and the Internet. They need to start promoting purity. The government needs to gain the courage to determine right and wrong when it comes to sexuality and risky behaviour in general. We need to return to the days of the Comstock Laws. The government needs to rid itself of its "theyr're going to do it anyway, so there's no point in trying to prevent it" mentality -- the same goes for the rest of society. Society as a whole has a responsibility to keep our children innocent. Children can be informed, but do so in an age and developmentally appropriate manner.

My Hiatus And My Take On Current Events

I have been laid up with a broken ankle, but I have not been out of the loop. I have been following all of the latest events and below is my take:

On BHO’s Cabinet appointments:

• Hillary Clinton: As immoral and corrupt as President and Senator Clinton are, I can sleep well at night knowing that a true American is the head of the State Department. Say what you want about the Clintons, but at the end of the day, they will do anything to secure personal power, but they will NOT do so at the expense of the Country (at least on purpose). Also, Hillary will likely stand up to BHO if his policy ideas will hurt the country. She is not afraid to speak her mind or pursue her own agenda, for better or worse.
• Retired General Shinseki: I have no problem with his appointment to Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He is a wounded warrior himself and therefore has personal experience to help him improve the VA and the lives of our Wounded Warriors.
• Tom Daschle: I really have no opinion, but from what I have seen and heard, both sides of the aisle are happy and comfortable with his appointment. He himself is also very happy with the appointment because that is his “dream post”. My one reservation is that since he is a Democrat, he may want to socialize our health care system. In the near term, that is not feasible due to the current economic situation; but, in the medium and long term, there is a higher risk of Mr. Daschle endorsing or pushing such a program. We shall wait and see.

On the Auto Industry:

• The bottom line is that the Auto Industry is broken and in trouble and if it fails, it may be catastrophic for the workers and the satellite industries and their workers. Either way, the economy will recover, but we shall not let the Auto Industry fail. Granted, this has been coming for a long time, and the Auto Industry should have acted a LONG time ago. I don’t think that Government is the answer, nor have I turned Democrat, but SOMEONE needs to hold these companies’ feet to the fire. Unfortunately, the government seems to be the only group that is willing to do so. This is what I think should be done:
o Give the auto makers a “bridge loan” so that there is still an American Auto Industry to save, but have many strings attached such as:
 Mandatory restructuring
 Limits on executive compensation
 Slash labour costs by cutting or shrinking unsustainable pension and benefit programs and reducing wages to the level of the foreign auto makers who have factories here in America. Unions must be willing to make these concessions.
 Mandatory modernization
 Implement streamlining programs such as AIRSPEED and/or Lean Six Sigma to cut manufacturing costs
 Some kind of oversight and accountability. Unfortunately, that may mean Government oversight unless the BIG 3 are willing to police themselves effectively. If oversight is provided by the Government, it must only be for the purpose of making sure that changes are actually being made and that those changes are effective. The Government MUST NOT take over decision making for the BIG 3.

On the situation in Washington State:

• To the atheists: If Christmas and other displays of religious devotion offend you and give you feelings that we are “pushing our religious beliefs down your throat,” I hate to break it to you but your offensive denouncement of our beliefs makes us Christians feel the same way. You are NOT tolerant and NOT open minded. You are hypocrites. You are guilty of the same crimes of which you accuse Christians. If you truly possessed the reason that you claim to possess, then you would see that, but you do not. This is the last straw. Christians will NOT sit idly by and let the Godless minority silence the Christian majority.
• We must contact Governor Gregoire and tell her that she needs to move that awful display to another part of the State House, away from any Christmas displays. Go to billoreilly.com to get her contact info.

Some Comfort

Thanks to Tod K for the inspiration to write this.

God is still at the helm, and as far as I can tell so far, He has been mitigating the damage. Even though we are going through economic turmoil, I can see the silver lining — as long as times are tough, BHO & Co. will be kept at bay and will be prevented from wreaking havoc on our economy by hiking taxes and implementing crippling environmental fees and regulations. Granted, other chaos may ensue from “bailouts”, but I really think that if the American people (and Republicans) keep voicing their disdain for bailouts, the Dems will keep themselves in-check. The Dems are campaigning for 2010 by their actions now. They know that the American people are watching (hence the closed-door meetings). They can’t do anything too radical without risking their prospects in 2010. Also, BHO has to play it cool until 2012. If he becomes too radical, he will pay for it next election. God is still in control!!!

Why I Don't Vote Democrat

Contrary to the assertions of Obamunists, I vote Republican because the GOP best represents my values, NOT because I am a racist. The same goes for all Republicans. The Democrat party goes against everything that I hold dear. I value the sanctity of life and the sanctity of traditional, heterosexual marriage. I believe that life begins at conception and that holding this belief is not above my paygrade. I value honesty and integrity, characteristics that Barack Hussein Obama does not possess. I believe in small government and that the government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. I believe that the Constitution should be upheld by our judges as written, and not interpreted based on feelings. I believe in concrete policies, not just abstract ideas. I believe in necessary regulation, not over regulation. I believe in low taxes and the value of a dollar. I believe that capitalism is what makes our economy great and that the trickle-down theory works both ways. I believe that Socialism is a failed system that is inherently flawed and inherently evil. I believe that "economic equality" is just a euphemism for Socialism. I believe in equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. Above all, I believe in Dr. Martin Luther King's dream that one should be judged not by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character. If that makes me a racist, then I shall wear that label with pride and as a badge of honour.

John McCain, Patriot

Choices

The Unfairness Doctrine

How To Mitigate The Damage

Now that Barack Hussein Obama has been elected as the new President we as Christians can mitigate the damage by warring in the Spirit.

1. Do NOT accept defeat. This is America's wake-up call, not necessarily a judgement, but a warning that if the Church does not effectively rise up against the demonic realm and reclaim its authority, the worst is yet to come.

2. Continue to follow politics. Come against the power of the government by praying against their evil plans (i.e. The fairness Doctrine, Freedom of Choice Act, repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, crippling taxes, etc.). Take dominion over your locality.

3. Hone your spiritual weapons. Read and study the Bible, especially on the subject of spiritual warfare and discernment of the spiritual realm. For a good primer and continued support in your "training," go to Prophet.tv and study the BTWs and watch Pastor Don's weekly live broadcast. Pray and ask God to show you how to become a spiritual warrior.

4. Pray. Pray for protection over our land. Pray that the light of truth will be shone on BHO and will reveal his true intentions and his true nature. Pray that all those with eyes to see and ears to hear will receive the truth -- and act on it.

5. Do NOT forget all of the information learned about BHO during his campaign and this past election cycle. It will come in handy during the next election cycle in 2012. Download and archive as many videos, websites, blogs, etc. Do not throw or give away any of your anti-Obama books. They will be just as relevant come 2012.

6. Petition the government for a full investigation into BHO's background and eligibility to hold the office of President. If enough people contact their Senators, maybe they will act. Even if this happens after Inauguration Day, there is still the possibility of impeachment. After all, BHO did seek the nomination and win the election under false pretenses. Go to RallyCongress.com and sign the petition. The petitions will be delivered to your Representative and Senators. For maximum impact, you can also have them hand delivered for a small fee. Hand delivered letters are more difficult to ignore than e-mails, and if they see your letter twice, they may be more inclined to act.

RIP United States of America 1776-2008

We have just witnessed the death of what was once the greatest country in the world. It is sad and scary that so many people were deceived by the flowery rhetoric and lack of substance of Barack Hussein Obama. What was once a Constitutional Republic will now become a Socialist Hellhole. This may be the wake-up call that America needs. Thus far, we have only seen Socialism and Communism from afar. We never believed that it would actually reach our shores. We had leaders who were stridently against Socialism and who worked very hard to prevent it on a massive scale. We had an electorate who rejected Socialism with their votes. Then the 1960s happened. Once JFK was assassinated, it left this country vulnerable to further Socialist infiltration, as that was happening since Wilson's presidency. May God save this country.

An Open Letter to Barack Hussein Obama

From Michael Master of McLean, VA

To Barack Hussein Obama,

The New York Times carried a story on Saturday, October 4, 2008, that proved you had a significantly closer relationship with Bill Ayers than what you previously admitted. While the issue of your relationship is of concern, the greater concern is that you lied to America about it.

The Chicago Sun reported on May 8, 2008, that FBI records showed that you had a significantly closer relationship with Tony Rezko 20 than what you previously admitted. In the interview, you said that you only saw Mr. Rezko a couple of times a year. The FBI files showed that you saw him weekly. While the issue of your relationship is of concern, the greater concern is that you lied to America about it.

Your speech in Philadelphia on March 18, 2008, about “race” contradicted your statement to Anderson Cooper on March 14 when you said that you never heard Reverend Wright make his negative statements about white America . While your attendance at Trinity Church for 20 years is of concern, the greater concern is that you lied to America on March 14.

In your 1st debate with John McCain, you said that you never said that you would meet with the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and North Korea without “preparations” at lower levels … Joe Biden repeated your words in his debate with Sarah Palin … while the video tape from your debate last February clearly shows that you answered “I would” to the question of meeting with those leaders within 12 months without “any” preconditions. While your judgement about meeting with enemies of the USA without pre-conditions is of concern, the greater concern is that you lied to America in the debate with McCain.

On July 14, 2008, you said that you always knew that the surge would work while the video tapes of you from more than a year ago show that you stated that the surge would not work. While your judgement about military strategy as a potential commander-in-chief is of concern, the greater concern is that you lied to America on July 14.

You now claim that your reason for voting against funding for the troops was because the bill did not include a time line for withdrawal, while the video tapes of you from more than a year ago show that you voted against additional funding because you wanted our troops to be removed immediately … not in 16 months after the 2008 election as you now claim. While your judgment about removing our troops unilaterally in 2007 is of concern, the greater concern is that you lied to America about your previous position.

You claim to have a record of working with Republicans while the record shows that the only bill that you sponsored with a Republican was with Chuck Lugar … and it failed. The record shows that you vote 97% in concert with the Democrat party and that you have the most liberal voting record in the Senate. You joined Republic ans only 13% of the time in your votes and those 13% were only after agreement from the Democrat party. While it is of concern that you fail to include conservatives in your actions and that you are such a liberal, the greater concern is that you distorted the truth.

In the primary debates of last February, 2008, you claimed to have talked with a “Captain” of a platoon in Afghanistan “the other day” when in fact you had a discussion in 2003 with a In your debates last spring, you claimed to have been a “professor of Constitutional law” when in fact you have never been a professor of Constitutional law. In this last debate, you were careful to say that you “taught a law class” and never mentioned being a “professor of Constitutional law.” You lied last spring.

You and Joe Biden both claimed that John McCain voted against additional funding for our troops when the actual records show the opposite. You distorted the truth.

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted against funding for alternate energy sources 20 times when the record shows that John McCain specifically voted against funding for bio fuels, especially corn … and he was right ….. corn is too expensive at producing ethanol, and using corn to make ethanol increased the price of corn from $2 a bushel to $6 a bushel for food. You distorted the truth.

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted like both of you for a tax increase on those making as little as $42,000 per year while the voting record clearly shows that John McCain did not vote as you and Joe Biden. You lied to America .

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted with George W. Bush 90% of the time when you know that Democrats also vote 90% of the time with the President (including Joe Biden) because the vast majority of the votes are procedural. You are one of the few who has not voted 90% of the time with the president because you have been missing from the Senate since the day you got elected. While your absence from your job in the Senate is of concern, the greater concern is that you spin the facts.

You did not take an active role in the rescue plan. You claimed that the Senate did not need you while the real reason that you abstained was because of your close relationships with the executives of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Countrywide, and Acorn … who all helped cause the financial problems of today .. and they all made major contributions to your campaign. While your relationship with these executives and your protection of them for your brief 3 years in the Senate (along with Barney Frank, Chuck Schumer, Maxine Waters, and Chris Dodd) is of concern, the greater concern is that you are being deceitful.

You forgot to mention that you personally represented Tony Rezko and Acorn. Tony Rezko, an Arab and close friend to you, was convicted of fraud in Chicago real estate transactions that bilked millions of tax dollars from the Illinois government for renovation projects that you sponsored as a state senator … and Acorn has been convicted of voter fraud, real estate sub prime loan intimidation, and illegal campaign contributions. Tony Rezko has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to your political campaigns. You personally used your political positions to steer money to both Tony Rezko and Acorn and you used Acorn to register thousands of phony voters for Democrats and you. While your relationships with Rezko and Acorn are of concern, the greater concern is that you omitted important facts about your relationships with them to America .

During your campaign, you said: “typical white person.” “They cling to their guns and religion.” “They will say that I am black.” You played the race card. You tried to label any criticism about you as racist. You divide America .

You claim that you will reduce taxes for 95% of America , but you forgot to tell America that those reductions are after you remove the Bush tax reductions. You have requested close to $1 billion in earmarks and several million for Acorn. Your social programs will cost America $1 trillion per year and you claim that a reduction in military spending ($100 billion for Iraq ) can pay for it. While your economic plan of adding 30% to the size of our federal government is of concern, the greater concern is that you are deceiving America .

The drain to America ’s economy by foreign supplied oil is $700 billion per year (5% of GDP) while the war in Iraq is $100 billion (less than 1% of GDP). You voted against any increases to oil exploration for the last 3 years and any expansion of nuclear facilities. Yet today, you say that you have always been for more oil and more nuclear. You are lying to America .

Mr. Obama, you claimed that you “changed” your mind about public financing for your campaign because of the money spent by Republican PACs in 2004. The truth is that the Democrat PACs in 2004, 2006, and 2008 spent twice as much as the Republicans (especially George Soros and MoveOn.org). You are lying to America .

Mr. Obama, you have done nothing to stop the actions of the teachers union and college professors in the USA . They eliminated religion from our history. They teach pro gay agendas and discuss sex with students as young as first grade. They bring their personal politics into the classrooms. They disparage conservatives. They brainwash our children. They are in it for themselves ….. not America . Are you reluctant to condemn their actions because teachers/professors and the NEA contribute 2 5% of all money donated to Democrats and none to Republicans? You are deceiving America .

Oh, Mr. Obama, Teddy Roosevelt said about a hundred years ago that we Americans should first look at the character of our leaders before anything else.

Your character looks horrible. While you make good speeches, motivating speeches, your character does not match your rhetoric. You talk the talk, but do not walk the walk.

1. You lied to America . You lied many times. You distorted facts. You parsed your answers like a lawyer.

2. You distorted the record of John McCain in your words and in your advertisements.

3. You had associations with some very bad people for your personal political gains and then lied about those associations.

4. You divide America about race and about class.

Now let me compare your record of lies, distortions, race baiting, and associations to John McCain: War hero. Annapolis graduate with “Country first.” Operational leadership experience like all 43 previously elected presidents of the USA as a Navy officer for 22 years. 26 years in the Senate. Straight talk. Maverick. 54% of the time participated on bills with Democrats. Never asked for an earmark. The only blemish on his record is his part in the Keating 5 debacle about 25 years ago.

Mr. Obama, at Harvard Law School , you learned that the end does not justify the means. You learned that perjury, false witness, dishonesty, distortion of truth are never tolerated. Yet, your dishonesty is overwhelming. Your dishonesty is tremendously greater than the dishonesty that caused the impeachment and disbarment of Bill Clinton. Your dishonesty is tremendously greater than the dishonesty of Scooter Libby. You should be ashamed.

Mr. Obama, it is time for us Americans to put aside our differences on political issues and vote against you because of your dishonest character. It is time for all of us Americans to put aside our political issues and vote for America first. It is time for America to vote for honesty.

Any people who vote for you after understanding that you are dishonest should be ashamed of themselves for making their personal political issues more important than character. Would these same people vote for the anti-Christ if the anti-Christ promised them riches ? Would they make a golden calf while Moses was up the mountain? Would they hire someone for a job if that someone lied in an interview? Of course not. So why do some of these people justify their votes for you even though they know you are dishonest? Why do they excuse your dishonesty?

Because some of these people are frightened about the future, the economy, and their financial security …. and you are preying on their fears with empty promises … and because some (especially our young people) are consumed by your wonderful style and promises for “change” like the Germans who voted for Adolf Hitler in 1932. The greed/envy by Germans in 1932 kept them from recognizing Hitler for who he was. They loved his style. Greed and envy are keeping many Americans from recognizing you .. your style has camouflaged your dishonesty …. but many of us see you for who you really are … and we will not stop exposing who you are every day, forever if it is necessary.

Mr. Obama, you are dishonest. Anyone who votes for you is enabling dishonesty.

Mr. Obama , America cannot trust that you will put America first in your decisions about the future.

Mr. Obama, you are not the “change” that America deserves. We cannot trust you.

Mr. Obama, You are not ready and not fit to be commander-in-chief.

Mr. Obama, John McCain does not have as much money as your campaign to refute all of your false statements. And for whatever reasons, the mainstream media will not give adequate coverage or research about your lies, distortions, word parsing, bad associations, race baiting, lack of operational leadership experience, and generally dishonest character. The media is diverting our attention from your relationships and ignoring the fact that you lied about those relationships. The fact that you lied is much more important than the relationships themselves …. just like with Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon … Monica Lewinski and Watergate were not nearly as bad as the fact that those men lied about the events … false witness … perjury … your relationships and bad judgements are bad on their own …. but your lies are even worse.

Therefore, by copy of this memo, all who read this memo are asked to send it to everyone else in America before it is too late. We need to do the job that the media will not do. We need to expose your dishonesty so that every person in America understands who you really are before election day.

Mr. Obama, in a democracy, we get what we deserve. And God help America if we deserve you.

Michael Master

McLean , Virginia

Martial Law Explained

A while back, right after the $700 Billion bailout was being worked out, someone pointed out that they thought they heard Nancy Pelosi mention “Martial Law” in one of her speeches. If the government was to impose Martial Law, it would only apply to banks and financial institutions. Most likely what would happen is that the government would impose strict withdrawal limits (in amounts withdrawn and number of withdrawals per day or week or month) on bank accounts, 401(k)s, money markets, CDs, stock sales, etc. They would also restrict banking hours and may even limit the number of days the Stock Market is open for trading. Europe is already doing this to some extent. Some European stock markets have suspended trading (on and off) and some banks are imposing withdrawal limits (2 withdrawals per day, and I believe there is a total amount limit as well) and limited banking hours in order to prevent a run on banks a la The Great Depression. This is a drastic step, but I do not think it is necessarily a bad thing because banks and markets collapse when hoardes of people make a run on them. I do not like the thought of Martial Law on any level, but this may truly be for our own good — as long as it remains limited to banks and financial institutions and is imposed for a very limited time (and BHO is NOT involved).

The Constitution Of The United States Of America, The Bill Of Rights And Amendments

I have seen one too many Moonbats take our beloved Constitution out of context and distort it lately. So in the public interest I have posted it here. The original link can be found here.

[Constitution for the United States of America][1]

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.

Article. I.
Section. 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every 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 [Modified by Amendment XIV]. 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, Massachusetts eight, 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 [Modified by Amendment XVII], 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 [Modified by Amendment XVII].

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.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section. 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 [Modified by Amendment XX], unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section. 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 may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, 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 Judgment 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 Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section. 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.

Section. 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 a Law, be presented to the President of the United States;[2] If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in 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.

Section. 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 Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the 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.

Section. 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 by 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.

Section. 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 the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's 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 Controul 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.
Section. 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, then 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 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. 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 Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President [Modified by Amendment XII].

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 [Modified by Amendment XXV].

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased 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."

Section. 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.

Section. 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.

Section. 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.
Section. 1. The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section. 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; — to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; — to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; — to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; — to Controversies between two or more States; — between a State and Citizens of another State [Modified by Amendment XI]; — 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 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.

Section. 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 Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Article. IV.
Section. 1. 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.

Section. 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 [Modified by Amendment XIII].

Section. 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.

Section. 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 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; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate [Possibly abrogated by Amendment XVII].

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 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 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.

The Word, "the," being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, The Word "Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words "is tried" being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word "the" being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.

Attest William Jackson
Secretary

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,

Go. WASHINGTON — Presidt.
and deputy from Virginia

New Hampshire {
JOHN LANGDON
NICHOLAS GILMAN
Massachusetts {
NATHANIEL GORHAM
RUFUS KING
Connecticut {
WM. SAML. JOHNSON
ROGER SHERMAN
New York . . . .
ALEXANDER HAMILTON
New Jersey {
WIL: LIVINGSTON
DAVID BREARLEY.
WM. PATERSON.
JONA: DAYTON
Pennsylvania {
B FRANKLIN
THOMAS MIFFLIN
ROBT MORRIS
GEO. CLYMER
THOS. FITZ SIMONS
JARED INGERSOLL
JAMES WILSON
GOUV MORRIS
Delaware {
GEO: READ
GUNNING BEDFORD jun
JOHN DICKINSON
RICHARD BASSETT
JACO: BROOM
Maryland {
JAMES MCHENRY
DAN OF ST THOS. JENIFER
DANL CARROLL
Virginia {
JOHN BLAIR
JAMES MADISON jr
North Carolina {
WM. BLOUNT
RICHD. DOBBS SPAIGHT
HU WILLIAMSON
South Carolina {
J. RUTLEDGE
CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY
CHARLES PINCKNEY
PIERCE BUTLER
Georgia {
WILLIAM FEW
ABR BALDWIN
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 preceeding 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 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

Go. WASHINGTON — Presidt.
W. JACKSON Secretary.

Notes:
1. The title was not a part of the original document. It was added when the document was printed.

2. Our scanned images show this as a semi-colon, but an image at a congressional site shows a comma.

[Bill of Rights]
The conventions of a number of the 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.



Article the first [Not Ratified]

After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.


Article the second [Amendment XXVII - Ratified 1992]

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.


Article the third [Amendment 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.


Article the fourth [Amendment II][4]

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 the fifth [Amendment 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.


Article the sixth [Amendment 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, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


Article the seventh [Amendment 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 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.


Article the eighth [Amendment 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 the ninth [Amendment 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 according to the rules of the common law.


Article the tenth [Amendment VIII]

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.


Article the eleventh [Amendment IX]

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.


Article the twelfth [Amendment 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.

Notes:

4. In the Congressional Statutes at Large, Vol. 1, Page 97, at the first and third commas are omitted, so that it reads:

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.

The question remains open of where those additional, and grammatically spurious, commas came from, but they do not change the legal meaning of the provision, and it would not be erroneous to omit them.

[Additional Amendments to 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.

[Article. XI.]
[Proposed 1794; Ratified 1798]
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.

[Article. XII.]
[Proposed 1803; Ratified 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 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 for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such 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.

[Contested Article.]
[Proposed 1810; Possibly Ratified 1819, but evidence lacking, and it seems most likely that the number of ratifying states did not reach 3/4 of the states as new states were admitted.]
If any Citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive or retain any Title of Nobility or Honour, or shall, without the Consent of Congress, accept and retain any present, Pension, Office or Emolument of any kind whatever, from any Emperor, King, Prince or foreign Power, such Person shall cease to be a Citizen of the United States, and shall be incapable of holding any Office of Trust or Profit under them, or either of them.

[Unratified Article.]
[Proposed 1861; Endorsed by Lincoln while president-elect; Unratified][1]
Article Thirteen.

No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State.

Article. XIII.
[Proposed 1865; Ratified 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.

Article. XIV.
[Proposed 1866; Allegedly ratified 1868. See Fourteenth Amendment Law Library for argument it was not ratified.]
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 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.

Article. XV.
[Proposed 1869; Ratified 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.

Article. XVI.
[Proposed 1909; Questionably Ratified 1913]
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

[Article. XVII.]
[Proposed 1912; Ratified 1913; Possibly Unconstitutional (See Article V, Clause 3 of the Constitution)]
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: Provided, 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.

Article. [XVIII.]
[Proposed 1917; Ratified 1919; Repealed 1933 (See Amendment XXI, Section 1
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.

Article. [XIX.]
[Proposed 1919; Ratified 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.

[Unratified Article.]
[Proposed 1926; Unratified]
Article —

Section. 1. The Congress shall have power to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons under eighteen years of age.

Section. 2. The power of the several States is unimpaired by this article except that the operation of State laws shall be suspended to the extent necessary to give effect to legislation enacted by the Congress.

Article. [XX.]
[Proposed 1932; Ratified 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 3d 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 3d 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 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.

Article. [XXI.]
[Proposed 1933; Ratified 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.

Article. [XXII.]
[Proposed 1947; Ratified 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 the 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.

Article. [XXIII.]
[Proposed 1960; Ratified 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 article by appropriate legislation.

Article. [XXIV.]
[Proposed 1962; Ratified 1964]
Section. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors 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 article by appropriate legislation.

Article. [XXV.]
[Proposed 1965; Ratified 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 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.

Article. [XXVI.]
[Proposed 1971; Ratified 1971]
Section. 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are 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.

[Inoperative Article.]
[Proposed 1972; Expired Unratified 1982]
Article —

Section. 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Section. 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section. 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

[Inoperative Article.]
[Proposed 1978; Expired Unratified 1985]
Article —

Section. 1. For purposes of representation in the Congress, election of the President and Vice President, and article V of this Constitution, the District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall be treated as though it were a State.

Section. 2. The exercise of the rights and powers conferred under this article shall be by the people of the District constituting the seat of government, and as shall be provided by the Congress.

Section. 3. The twenty-third article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section. 4. 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.

Article. [XXVII.]
[Proposed 1789; Ratified 1992; Second of twelve Articles comprising the Bill of Rights]
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

Notes:

1. See R. Alton Lee, "The Corwin Amendment In the Secession Crisis", Ohio Historical Quarterly, Vol. 70 No. 1, Jan. 1961. Link

A Letter To An Obamazombie: Why BHO Is Bad For The Country

Dear Obamazombie,

Please read this blog and my friend Larry’s blog No Left Turnz. They both will provide you with more information. I love you and I want you to make a truly informed decision. All of the information that I have provided can be researched on the Internet. Another good website for information is Moonbattery. Why do you like Barack Obama so much??? I really want to know. No one I have asked can tell me why they blindly support such a dangerous and inexperienced candidate. I really want you to wake up, turn off the television, and stop drinking the Kool-Aid.

Life begins at conception and if it ain’t a baby, you ain’t pregnant. Barack Obama does not believe this – except for his own kids. He NEVER would have asked or encouraged Michelle to abort their kids, yet he has no problem with others aborting theirs – including encouraging his own daughters to abort instead of being “punished with a baby”. There is no “choice” in being “pro-choice”. The truth about abortion providers is that they deceive women into thinking that killing their baby is their only option. They also fail to outline the physical and mental side-effects. I may go through a lot of pain in adopting Izzie out, but at least I know that she is alive. I do not have to live knowing that I killed my child. Every woman knows that they are carrying a baby. They just delude themselves into thinking that they’re not in order to rationalize their decision. Abortion is selfish and self-serving. There is NO WAY that an abortion would make a woman feel better about getting pregnant (the “mental health of the mother” argument). It would only make her feel worse knowing that she killed her baby. Barack Obama has no problem making Down’s syndrome babies extinct or endangered. Most babies that are aborted are either minorities (including his own race) or have Down’s. He was the ONLY state senator to argue that it is OKAY to let babies who survive a botched abortion DIE. His excuse for his vote and argument was the bill introduced did not mimic the federal legislation exactly. When it was reintroduced, this time EXACTLY mimicking the federal legislation, he still voted either “no” or “present” (essentially a “no” vote in Illinois).
Barack Obama has never taken a stand on anything – except abortion. He voted “present” over 140 times while in the Illinois State Senate. He avoids controversial votes to this day.
Do you really want someone who has no experience in the White House??? Never mind that Barack Obama has not held a real job since he flipped burgers in high school. He is clueless on how the presidency works and fancies himself a dictator. He’ll just ignore all treaties and the Constitution and make his own rules — if we the people let him. For a Constitutional lawyer with a fancy degree from Harvard, Barack Obama has no clue what the Constitution actually says. He was absent or drunk and high the day they taught the Constitution in Con Law class.
Do you really want a President with the middle name Hussein???
If you hate CHAMPUS or TriCare, you’ll REALLY hate HusseinCare. If my sister Allison was born into a country with socialized medicine, she would have died waiting for her heart surgery.
When my grandmother died, my mom hated paying Capital Gains tax on her inheritance. Do you really want your children to have to pay an exorbitant amount of tax on theirs???
Barack Obama despises “rich” people, yet he is himself “rich” by his own standard. He is a hypocrite.
If Barack Obama has surrounded himself with despicable people (Frank Marshall Davis, William Ayers, Tony Rezko, Jeremiah Wright, et al.) for the last thirty years, how can you trust or expect him to make good character judgments in choosing his Cabinet and advisors??? Also, Obama could never get a security clearance from any US intelligence agency. He could never be an employee at the White House. He could never be anywhere near a nuclear weapon or a nuclear submarine. He could never pass a basic background check by the FBI. Why? Because his relationships with Ayers and Rezko would immediately surface and could never explain away those relationships in a manner that would satisfy our security requirements. Yet, he is on the verge of being handed the keys to White House by uninformed voters and, more importantly, ACORN registered illegals.
Barack Obama will say anything to get elected – more so than John McCain. Barack Obama claims to be blue collar in rural Pennsylvania, and then turns around and tells fellow elitists in San Francisco that rural Pennsylvanians “cling to their guns and religion.” He will say whatever appeals to the particular constituency to whom he is speaking – whether or not he truly believes what he is saying. At least John McCain is consistent across constituencies.
If you hate it when blacks and Puerto Ricans move into the neighborhood, why do you want a black guy in the White House??? (saying he is half white does not count)
Barack Obama is a racist. His church, Trinity United Church of Christ, which he attended for over 20 years, espouses “Black Liberation Theology”, a “black supremacist”, Marxist, radical form of “Christianity”. It is more like a heresy. Contrary to what Barack Obama would have you believe, it is impossible to attend a church every day for 20 years, be featured in its bulletin and magazine, be mentored by its pastor, work with “community organizers” to raise funds for its “charities”, and NOT be influenced by its racist doctrine. Barack Obama is playing the American people for fools.
It is impossible that Barack Obama and William Ayers only had a casual, “he’s a guy in my neighborhood” relationship. Ayers gave Barack Obama his start in politics – at his house. Most people do not host swanky parties in their house for a stranger or acquaintance. Also, Barack Obama and Ayers have a LONG history together. They have served on many high-profile boards and organizations together through the last twenty years. Ayers is an UNREPENTANT terrorist. He stated right after 9/11 that he regrets that he didn’t do enough bombings back in the ‘60s. Most people would be turned off by those revelations. Barack Obama is not. If the past was truly in the past, and irrelevant as Barack Obama claims, then why is Ayers unrepentant and why are they friends???
How can someone with no character make character judgments???
Do you want your military member to be unemployed??? If Barack Obama becomes President, he will not disband the military, but he definitely would a) reduce its ranks considerably a la Bill Clinton in the ’90s and b) pull us out of ALL foreign countries (including NATO countries — aren’t we obligated to be in NATO countries by treaty??? — oh well, I doubt that would matter much to Barack Obama, anyway. If Barack Obama pulls us out of all foreign countries, then the US military will be nothing more than a “peacekeeping force” only brought out during national emergencies and natural disasters. Barack Obama will emasculate our military by culling the ranks, and forcing ridiculous rules of engagement and foolish liberal peacenik policies.
Barack Obama squelches free speech. His campaign has employed “Truth Squads” in Missouri to stop any legitimate criticism that does not conform to what Barack Obama and his campaign wants the country to believe. The Soviet Union did this. China does this. This is America. Again, apparently Mr. Constitutional Lawyer has failed to actually read the Constitution.
Barack Obama is in violation of the Logan Act. He illegally negotiated with Iraqi leaders to delay any agreement on a reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq until the next U.S. president takes office. The Logan Act specifically prohibits and makes it a felony for unauthorized US citizens to negotiate with foreign governments.
If “Hope” and “Change” are the themes (they CANNOT be policy positions or framework) of Barack Obama’s campaign, then why did he choose Joe Biden, a thirty-year veteran of the US Senate and a Washington insider, as his Vice President??? Most likely it is because Barack Obama (and Biden) knows that he needs his hand held while in office. Joe Biden even admitted that during the VP debate.
Barack Obama may not be a US citizen. Some of his family in Kenya claim that he was born there, while his mom was not of age long enough to qualify Obama to be an automatic US citizen according to a Hawaiian residency law that was on the books when Obama was born. Also, all attempts to properly vet him as a candidate have been met with accusations, criticism, evasion, and lack of cooperation on the part of Obama and his campaign. Again, Obama is ignoring the Constitution in his quest to become President.
Barack Obama takes credit for other people’s accomplishments. While in the Illinois Senate, Obama was handed bills that were written by other people and took the credit for crafting them and passing them – as if he is the only one in the Senate. He also has tried to take credit for John McCain’s 2005 attempt at reigning in Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. He may have written a letter, but John McCain wrote LEGISLATION. Big Difference.
Barack Obama accepted money from Fannie and Freddie. He received the SECOND HIGHEST amount of contributions. It took Chris Dodd over 20 years to accumulate the highest amount. Obama did it in less than 2 years!!!
You despised Hillary Clinton as First Lady, yet you support Barack Obama. Michelle Obama is an Ice Queen. She makes Hillary Clinton look like Donna Reed. Michelle Obama may be more radical and more hateful than her husband.
Barack Obama’s promise of a tax cut on 95% of taxpayers is a lie. The first move Barack Obama will make as President will be to ALLOW THE BUSH TAX CUTS TO EXPIRE. That will instantly raise the taxes on the 100% of ALL working Americans who pay taxes and don’t get those payroll taxes back in full when they file those dastardly IRS forms on/before April 15th. So there’s the fallacy of his first tax lie: 95% of Americans - with emphasis on the Middle Class, of course - will get a TAX CUT. NOPE, NO WE WON’T!! That’s the big lie - “95% of Americans” or “those making less than $250,000″ [more class warfare] getting tax cuts under Obama’s “plan” is BULL. Did I mention that letting those Bush tax cuts EXPIRE raises taxes on 100% of taxpaying Americans? So, that’s tax INCREASE #1 via an Obama Presidency … and that’s just the beginning of Obama’s bizarre plethora of tax and spends craziness to force the Middle Class down into an underclass utterly dependent upon Big Government for everything. Gather up your calculator and go to Wikipedia’s homepage. Type in “Barack Obama” and in “advance search”, type in “certificate”. His platform plans are laid out on all levels should he become the President. Keep in mind the current cost of daily living, the national economic crisis we’re facing, future prices of energy since Democrats have taken control of the Congress alone, and the national deficit. As a reasonable, logical person, do you prefer the wisdom of an experienced painter or the enticement of a neon sign?
Barack Obama and the rest of the Liberals in Congress are so blinded by their shear hatred of President Bush that they want to undo EVERYTHING, good or bad, that he did during his Presidency.

Please consider these points carefully before you make your decision on Election Day. Do not be intimidated by pollsters and community rabble-rousers.

Love,

MavCuda Supporter

Oprah, Obama, And The Occult

Last night I had some revelations while searching YouTube for anti-Obama videos. While watching these anti-Obama videos I kept seeing anti-Oprah videos show up in the “Related Videos” pane on the right side of my screen and one video in particular caught my attention. This one was titled “Oprah’s Religion – You Won’t Believe Your Ears”. For the last year or so I have seen Oprah’s New Age tilt, but the more videos I watched, the clearer that hunch became. She is now partnering with New Age author/guru Eckhart Tolle. Starting this past March, Oprah’s Book Club has been reading Mr. Tolle’s latest book “A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose” and holding online “classes” discussing the book, “spirituality”, and they have been meditating on the air. Incidentally, this new “church” is called A New Earth. This new “church” had over 300,000 people log in to its first sermon and it now claims over 25 MILLION adherents. This is HUGE.
My first encounter with Eckhart Tolle was at a customer’s house. This customer claims to be Jewish (she was born a Lutheran, but converted), but is deep into the occult (yoga, meditation, crystals, energy, etc). I am not very good at discerning spirits by any stretch, but this house gave me the heebie-jeebies. There were crystals everywhere (as a former pagan, that was my first indication) and in her bedroom were books by Eckhart Tolle, and upstairs she had a corner of her exercise room as a meditation area – complete with more crystals and stones and New Age meditation books. Then talking to her about all of this (she was open and honest with me) cemented my conclusions. Now, this customer is a wonderful person, but she is quite lost and needs lots of prayer to come back to Jesus.
As I delved a little deeper, I discovered that BHO may not be Muslim, after all. He may be a New Ager in the Church of Oprah. I watched one pastor picking apart Oprah’s class and pointing out her errors and the truth of the Bible. I watched what basically amounted multiple renditions of the same video promoting the book "Don’t Drink The Kool-Aid: Oprah, Obama, and the Occult" by Carrington Steele, and in those videos, I saw some clips of him basically proclaiming Oprah to be one of his spiritual advisors. Then I watched two videos from Prophet.tv, the prophetic media ministry of Don Paul. Mr. Paul’s videos really opened my eyes as to what is really going on – this election is not just about preventing the most Liberal Senator ever from becoming the President of the United States, but preventing the spirits and principalities of darkness from reigning supreme. This election is bigger than man – it may very well be a fight of Good vs. Evil.
One thing that struck me the very first time I saw Mr. Tolle (before I saw Prophet.tv ) was his eyes – they are windows into darkness. He is very soft-spoken and in most videos I could not hear what he was actually saying, but I could tell just from his eyes, and what little I knew about him, that he is a lost soul with a dark message candy-coated in feel-good “spiritualism”. Mr. Paul hit the nail on the head when he mentioned the darkness in Tolle’s eyes. I got excited that I was on the same page as one of God’s prophets. Please do not just take my word for it, go on YouTube and discover for yourself the sinister undercurrents of Oprah, BHO, and this election.