Increase Font Size

A- A A+

U.S. Constitution

Short Version -- This is a summary of the important issues covered in this section of the U.S. Constitution. 

Do the following:

  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to prohibit the importation of slaves or migration before 1808
  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to suspend habeas corpus except during a rebellion or invasion
  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to pass a bill of attainder or ex post facto law
  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to pass a head tax unless it is in proportion to the census
  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to lay a tax or duty on articles exported from any state
  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to make laws concerning trade that favor one state over another
  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to require ships going from one state to another to pay taxes
  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to spend government money without the consent of Congress
  • The Congress is expressly forbidden to grant titles of nobility or permit federal officials to accept gifts or titles without Congress's consent

Long Version -- This is the text of the Actual U.S. Constitution. 

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 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.

 

This website has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this website is not legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation. Also, the law may vary from state-to-state or county-to-county, so that some information in this website may not be correct for your situation. Finally, the information contained on this website is not guaranteed to be up to date. Therefore, the information contained in this website cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your jurisdiction.

Search