To all to whom these Presents shall come, we
the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send
greeting.
Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union
between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Georgia.
I.
The Stile of this Confederacy shall be
"The United States of America".
II.
Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and
independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by
this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress
assembled.
III.
The said States hereby severally enter into a
firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the
security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare,
binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to,
or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion,
sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever.
IV.
The better to secure and perpetuate mutual
friendship and intercourse among the people of the different States in
this Union, the free inhabitants of each of these States, paupers,
vagabonds, and fugitives from justice excepted, shall be entitled to all
privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several States; and
the people of each State shall free ingress and regress to and from any
other State, and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and
commerce, subject to the same duties, impositions, and restrictions as
the inhabitants thereof respectively, provided that such restrictions
shall not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property imported
into any State, to any other State, of which the owner is an inhabitant;
provided also that no imposition, duties or restriction shall be laid by
any State, on the property of the United States, or either of them.
If any person guilty of, or charged with,
treason, felony, or other high misdemeanor in any State, shall flee from
justice, and be found in any of the United States, he shall, upon demand
of the Governor or executive power of the State from which he fled, be
delivered up and removed to the State having jurisdiction of his
offense.
Full faith and credit shall be given in each of
these States to the records, acts, and judicial proceedings of the
courts and magistrates of every other State.
V.
For the most convenient management of the
general interests of the United States, delegates shall be annually
appointed in such manner as the legislatures of each State shall direct,
to meet in Congress on the first Monday in November, in every year, with
a power reserved to each State to recall its delegates, or any of them,
at any time within the year, and to send others in their stead for the
remainder of the year.
No State shall be represented in Congress by
less than two, nor more than seven members; and no person shall be
capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six
years; nor shall any person, being a delegate, be capable of holding any
office under the United States, for which he, or another for his
benefit, receives any salary, fees or emolument of any kind.
Each State shall maintain its own delegates in a
meeting of the States, and while they act as members of the committee of
the States.
In determining questions in the United States in
Congress assembled, each State shall have one vote.
Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall
not be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Congress,
and the members of Congress shall be protected in their persons from
arrests or imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from,
and attendance on Congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of the
peace.
VI.
No State, without the consent of the United
States in Congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any
embassy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or
treaty with any King, Prince or State; nor shall any person holding any
office of profit or trust under the United States, or any of them,
accept any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from
any King, Prince or foreign State; nor shall the United States in
Congress assembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility.
No two or more States shall enter into any
treaty, confederation or alliance whatever between them, without the
consent of the United States in Congress assembled, specifying
accurately the purposes for which the same is to be entered into, and
how long it shall continue.
No State shall lay any imposts or duties, which
may interfere with any stipulations in treaties, entered into by the
United States in Congress assembled, with any King, Prince or State, in
pursuance of any treaties already proposed by Congress, to the courts of
France and Spain.
No vessel of war shall be kept up in time of
peace by any State, except such number only, as shall be deemed
necessary by the United States in Congress assembled, for the defense of
such State, or its trade; nor shall any body of forces be kept up by any
State in time of peace, except such number only, as in the judgment of
the United States in Congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to
garrison the forts necessary for the defense of such State; but every
State shall always keep up a well-regulated and disciplined militia,
sufficiently armed and accoutered, and shall provide and constantly have
ready for use, in public stores, a due number of filed pieces and tents,
and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition and camp equipage.
No State shall engage in any war without the
consent of the United States in Congress assembled, unless such State be
actually invaded by enemies, or shall have received certain advice of a
resolution being formed by some nation of Indians to invade such State,
and the danger is so imminent as not to admit of a delay till the United
States in Congress assembled can be consulted; nor shall any State grant
commissions to any ships or vessels of war, nor letters of marque or
reprisal, except it be after a declaration of war by the United States
in Congress assembled, and then only against the Kingdom or State and
the subjects thereof, against which war has been so declared, and under
such regulations as shall be established by the United States in
Congress assembled, unless such State be infested by pirates, in which
case vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept so
long as the danger shall continue, or until the United States in
Congress assembled shall determine otherwise.
VII.
When land forces are raised by any State for the
common defense, all officers of or under the rank of colonel, shall be
appointed by the legislature of each State respectively, by whom such
forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such State shall direct,
and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which first made the
appointment.
VIII.
All charges of war, and all other expenses that
shall be incurred for the common defense or general welfare, and allowed
by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a
common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several States in
proportion to the value of all land within each State, granted or
surveyed for any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements
thereon shall be estimated according to such mode as the United States
in Congress assembled, shall from time to time direct and appoint.
The taxes for paying that proportion shall be
laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of
the several States within the time agreed upon by the United States in
Congress assembled.
IX.
The United States in Congress assembled, shall
have the sole and exclusive right and power of determining on peace and
war, except in the cases mentioned in the sixth article -- of sending
and receiving ambassadors -- entering into treaties and alliances,
provided that no treaty of commerce shall be made whereby the
legislative power of the respective States shall be restrained from
imposing such imposts and duties on foreigners, as their own people are
subjected to, or from prohibiting the exportation or importation of any
species of goods or commodities whatsoever -- of establishing rules for
deciding in all cases, what captures on land or water shall be legal,
and in what manner prizes taken by land or naval forces in the service
of the United States shall be divided or appropriated -- of granting
letters of marque and reprisal in times of peace -- appointing courts
for the trial of piracies and felonies commited on the high seas and
establishing courts for receiving and determining finally appeals in all
cases of captures, provided that no member of Congress shall be
appointed a judge of any of the said courts.
The United States in Congress assembled shall
also be the last resort on appeal in all disputes and differences now
subsisting or that hereafter may arise between two or more States
concerning boundary, jurisdiction or any other causes whatever; which
authority shall always be exercised in the manner following. Whenever
the legislative or executive authority or lawful agent of any State in
controversy with another shall present a petition to Congress stating
the matter in question and praying for a hearing, notice thereof shall
be given by order of Congress to the legislative or executive authority
of the other State in controversy, and a day assigned for the appearance
of the parties by their lawful agents, who shall then be directed to
appoint by joint consent, commissioners or judges to constitute a court
for hearing and determining the matter in question: but if they cannot
agree, Congress shall name three persons out of each of the United
States, and from the list of such persons each party shall alternately
strike out one, the petitioners beginning, until the number shall be
reduced to thirteen; and from that number not less than seven, nor more
than nine names as Congress shall direct, shall in the presence of
Congress be drawn out by lot, and the persons whose names shall be so
drawn or any five of them, shall be commissioners or judges, to hear and
finally determine the controversy, so always as a major part of the
judges who shall hear the cause shall agree in the determination: and if
either party shall neglect to attend at the day appointed, without
showing reasons, which Congress shall judge sufficient, or being present
shall refuse to strike, the Congress shall proceed to nominate three
persons out of each State, and the secretary of Congress shall strike in
behalf of such party absent or refusing; and the judgment and sentence
of the court to be appointed, in the manner before prescribed, shall be
final and conclusive; and if any of the parties shall refuse to submit
to the authority of such court, or to appear or defend their claim or
cause, the court shall nevertheless proceed to pronounce sentence, or
judgment, which shall in like manner be final and decisive, the judgment
or sentence and other proceedings being in either case transmitted to
Congress, and lodged among the acts of Congress for the security of the
parties concerned: provided that every commissioner, before he sits in
judgment, shall take an oath to be administered by one of the judges of
the supreme or superior court of the State, where the cause shall be
tried, 'well and truly to hear and determine the matter in question,
according to the best of his judgment, without favor, affection or hope
of reward': provided also, that no State shall be deprived of territory
for the benefit of the United States.
All controversies concerning the private right
of soil claimed under different grants of two or more States, whose
jurisdictions as they may respect such lands, and the States which
passed such grants are adjusted, the said grants or either of them being
at the same time claimed to have originated antecedent to such
settlement of jurisdiction, shall on the petition of either party to the
Congress of the United States, be finally determined as near as may be
in the same manner as is before prescribed for deciding disputes
respecting territorial jurisdiction between different States.
The United States in Congress assembled shall
also have the sole and exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy
and value of coin struck by their own authority, or by that of the
respective States -- fixing the standards of weights and measures
throughout the United States -- regulating the trade and managing all
affairs with the Indians, not members of any of the States, provided
that the legislative right of any State within its own limits be not
infringed or violated -- establishing or regulating post offices from
one State to another, throughout all the United States, and exacting
such postage on the papers passing through the same as may be requisite
to defray the expenses of the said office -- appointing all officers of
the land forces, in the service of the United States, excepting
regimental officers -- appointing all the officers of the naval forces,
and commissioning all officers whatever in the service of the United
States -- making rules for the government and regulation of the said
land and naval forces, and directing their operations.
The United States in Congress assembled shall
have authority to appoint a committee, to sit in the recess of Congress,
to be denominated 'A Committee of the States', and to consist of one
delegate from each State; and to appoint such other committees and civil
officers as may be necessary for managing the general affairs of the
United States under their direction -- to appoint one of their members
to preside, provided that no person be allowed to serve in the office of
president more than one year in any term of three years; to ascertain
the necessary sums of money to be raised for the service of the United
States, and to appropriate and apply the same for defraying the public
expenses -- to borrow money, or emit bills on the credit of the United
States, transmitting every half-year to the respective States an account
of the sums of money so borrowed or emitted -- to build and equip a navy
-- to agree upon the number of land forces, and to make requisitions
from each State for its quota, in proportion to the number of white
inhabitants in such State; which requisition shall be binding, and
thereupon the legislature of each State shall appoint the regimental
officers, raise the men and clothing, arm and equip them in a solid-like
manner, at the expense of the United States; and the officers and men so
clothed, armed and equipped shall march to the place appointed, and
within the time agreed on by the United States in Congress assembled.
But if the United States in Congress assembled shall, on consideration
of circumstances judge proper that any State should not raise men, or
should raise a smaller number of men than the quota thereof, such extra
number shall be raised, officered, clothed, armed and equipped in the
same manner as the quota of each State, unless the legislature of such
State shall judge that such extra number cannot be safely spread out in
the same, in which case they shall raise, officer, clothing, arm and
equip as many of such extra number as they judge can be safely spared.
And the officers and men so clothed, armed, and equipped, shall march to
the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United States
in Congress assembled.
The United States in Congress assembled shall
never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque or reprisal in time
of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor
regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expenses
necessary for the defense and welfare of the United States, or any of
them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the United
States, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels of
war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be
raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless
nine States assent to the same: nor shall a question on any other point,
except for adjourning from day to day be determined, unless by the votes
of the majority of the United States in Congress assembled.
The Congress of the United States shall have
power to adjourn to any time within the year, and to any place within
the United States, so that no period of adjournment be for a longer
duration than the space of six months, and shall publish the journal of
their proceedings monthly, except such parts thereof relating to
treaties, alliances or military operations, as in their judgment require
secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the delegates of each State on any
question shall be entered on the journal, when it is desired by any
delegates of a State, or any of them, at his or their request shall be
furnished with a transcript of the said journal, except such parts as
are above excepted, to lay before the legislatures of the several
States.
X.
The Committee of the States, or any nine of
them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of Congress, such of
the powers of Congress as the United States in Congress assembled, by
the consent of the nine States, shall from time to time think expedient
to vest them with; provided that no power be delegated to the said
Committee, for the exercise of which, by the Articles of Confederation,
the voice of nine States in the Congress of the United States assembled
be requisite.
XI.
Canada acceding to this confederation, and
adjoining in the measures of the United States, shall be admitted into,
and entitled to all the advantages of this Union; but no other colony
shall be admitted into the same, unless such admission be agreed to by
nine States.
XII.
All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed,
and debts contracted by, or under the authority of Congress, before the
assembling of the United States, in pursuance of the present
confederation, shall be deemed and considered as a charge against the
United States, for payment and satisfaction whereof the said United
States, and the public faith are hereby solemnly pledged.
XIII.
Every State shall abide by the determination of
the United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which by this
confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this
Confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the Union
shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be
made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a Congress
of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of
every State.
And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor
of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively
represent in Congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the
said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union. Know Ye that we the
undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given
for that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our
respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and
every of the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, and all
and singular the matters and things therein contained: And we do further
solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents,
that they shall abide by the determinations of the United States in
Congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said Confederation
are submitted to them. And that the Articles thereof shall be inviolably
observed by the States we respectively represent, and that the Union
shall be perpetual.
In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our
hands in Congress. Done at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania the
ninth day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Seventy-Eight, and in the Third Year of the independence of America.
Agreed to by Congress 15 November 1777 In force
after ratification by Maryland, 1 March 1781
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