[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H53-H62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      READING OF THE CONSTITUTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 5(a) of House Resolution 
5, the Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) 
for the reading of the Constitution.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would remind all Members that they 
should not traffic the well while Members are under recognition.


                        Parliamentary Inquiries

  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may inquire.
  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the leadership shown to bring 
this document for reading today; but I do want to inquire of the Chair 
and perhaps the gentleman who is the author of this effort today, Mr. 
Goodlatte. The language, as I understand it, that we will be reading 
today does not include some of the original language of the 
Constitution of the United States. On multiple occasions amendments 
have purported to change some of the intent of the original document.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman have a parliamentary 
inquiry?
  Mr. INSLEE. I do have. My parliamentary inquiry is, will we be 
reading the entire original document without deletion, or will we be 
reading a document with deletions that may or may not have been 
accomplished by respective amendments?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 5(a) of House Resolution 
5, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia to read the 
Constitution of the United States.
  Mr. INSLEE. And may I inquire of the gentleman, if I may inquire 
before we start this process, if he would explain to us so that we will 
all be on the same page.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is not recognized for that 
purpose.
  Mr. INSLEE. I ask unanimous consent to ask the gentleman to yield for 
a question.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia is not 
recognized for debate. This is not a debate.
  Mr. INSLEE. I will wait till Mr. Goodlatte is recognized, and I will 
ask him to yield so we can have clarity of this.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia is recognized 
for the reading of the Constitution, not for debate.
  Mr. INSLEE. If I may ask unanimous consent to ask Mr. Goodlatte to 
yield for just a question so we all understand the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman from Washington have a 
parliamentary inquiry?
  Mr. INSLEE. Yes. My parliamentary inquiry is, may I ask the gentleman 
to yield for 30 seconds to ask a question of the derivation of this 
language that we will all be reading in good faith and in good spirits 
today?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. That is not in order at this point.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, as a part of the opening remarks, I will 
explain and I hope answer the question of the gentleman from 
Washington.
  This morning, for the first time in the history of the House of 
Representatives, we will read aloud the full text of the Constitution 
of the United States. We hope this will inspire many more Americans to 
read the Constitution.
  The text we are reading today reflects the changes to the document 
made by the 27 amendments to it. Those portions superseded by amendment 
will not be read.
  In order to ensure fairness for all those interested in 
participating, we have asked Members to line up on a first-come first-
served basis. I will recognize Members based on this guidance.
  In order to ensure relative parity and fairness, I may recognize 
Members out of order to ensure bipartisanship and balance. Two Members, 
one from each party, will be recognized out of order. Each Member will 
approach the podium and read the passage laid out for him or her.
  The Speaker and two members of the leadership of each party will 
begin the reading, and then I will recognize Members in order. I thank 
the Members of both parties in advance for their participation in this 
historic event.

                              {time}  1100


                        Parliamentary Inquiries

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, a point of parliamentary procedure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may inquire.
  Mr. HONDA. Now that the process has started, would the gentleman from

[[Page H54]]

Washington's original question about parliamentary procedure be in 
order at this time?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In light of the modicum of debate by the 
gentleman from Virginia, that would be appropriate.
  Mr. INSLEE. If I may make a unanimous consent to ask Mr. Goodlatte a 
question so that we all do understand the nature of the language that 
we will be reading today, I think it would be very helpful to us on a 
bipartisan basis.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Virginia may yield for that purpose.
  Mr. INSLEE. I thank the Speaker.
  Mr. Goodlatte, could you explain to us the decision-making process 
about which language to read today?
  And the reason I ask is, through our American history, we have had a 
series of amendments that were intended to change the original 
document, but the amendments do not make specific deletions to specific 
language in the original document, and it has been up to us to 
ascertain the intent of the amendments to figure out which language is 
operative or not. But the language has not specifically been deleted by 
the amendment, so it could be subject to some interpretation of which 
language really has been removed and which has not.
  So I think it would be helpful to the Members if you explain to us 
how the determinations of what to read have been made or not made so 
that we will all be on the same page as to congressional intent.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentleman for his question.
  We have consulted with the Congressional Research Service of the 
Library of Congress. The Library of Congress actually maintains a copy 
of the Constitution which includes those sections that have been 
superseded by amendment. So we are not reading those sections that have 
been superseded by amendment. And we have arrived at that determination 
based upon our consultation with the Congressional Research Service.
  Mr. INSLEE. And would the gentleman accept the premise that since we 
have not been able to review the exact language we will be reading 
today--I will wait for a moment, Mr. Speaker. We do want to have a good 
bipartisan success here today, and this is a special moment for us all.
  So I guess the question is: I take it that since we have not had 
discussion about which language to read or not, that this is not 
intended to create any statement of congressional intent about the 
language but, rather, to do our best to have a moment of comity to read 
the language as best as we can ascertain it. Is that correct?
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I think the gentleman has stated that very well.
  Mr. INSLEE. I thank you. And I very much appreciate your leadership 
in bringing this to our attention today.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, if I may ask unanimous consent 
to address Mr. Goodlatte.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman from Virginia yield for 
that purpose?
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I yield to the gentleman.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman is 
recognized.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. I thank the gentleman for his kindness.
  Let me first begin by saying that I think every Member of this body 
is approaching the reading of their Constitution with the most sacred 
possible spirit in what is clearly an unprecedented moment in the 
history of the Congress of the United States. And I don't take it 
lightly when my colleague or when others, before we begin the reading 
of our sacred document, are raising questions about what we would be 
specifically reading, what specifically will be redacted based upon 
amendments or based upon the recommendations of Libraries of Congress.
  But I also want to be very clear, Mr. Speaker and Mr. Goodlatte, I 
recognize that this is a request, that in reading those redacted--and 
this is very emotional for me. This is very emotional, I know, for a 
number of Members, given the struggle--and I am not trying to give a 
shot at the process. Mr. Goodlatte knows me and he knows the spirit in 
which I'm approaching this--given the struggle of African Americans, 
given the struggle of women, given the struggles of others to create a 
more perfect document, while not perfect, a more perfect document, to 
hear that those elements of the Constitution that have been redacted by 
amendment are no less serious, no less part of our ongoing struggle to 
improve the country and to make the country better, and our sense in 
our struggle and whom we are at the Congress of the United States at 
this point in American history and our desire to continue to improve 
the Constitution, many of us don't want that to be lost upon the 
reading of our sacred document.
  So with that said, I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I just 
wanted to indicate that this is done with sincerity. It is not done to 
take a shot at the idea of reading the Constitution. But certainly, 
when we were informed, for example, that the three-fifths clause would 
not be mentioned and that other elements of the Constitution which 
justify why some of us fight for programs in the Congress will not be 
written in the redacted version, it is of consequence to whom we are.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentleman for his comments, and I take 
them very much to heart as has our leadership.
  In fact, in recognition of the gentleman's concern, I mentioned in my 
comments that only two Members would be recognized out of order to read 
sections. One is the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of 
the Judiciary Committee, who will read the first article of section 3 
dealing with the judiciary. The other is the gentleman from Georgia 
(Mr. Lewis), who many regard as the foremost advocate for civil rights 
in the Congress, he will read the 13th Amendment. In that regard, we 
hope to address the concern that you raised.
  Mr. GOHMERT of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if I may ask unanimous consent to 
address the gentleman from Virginia.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the gentleman yield for that purpose?
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman is 
recognized.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Out of the same deference and respect for this document 
that we revere, I think it is important that we use the language of the 
Constitution itself. They are not deletions; they are amendments. And, 
in that respect, we go by the ``amended'' document, not by the 
``deleted'' document. There are too many that have fought and died for 
those amendments to call them deletions.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. It is an amended document. We are going to read the 
document as amended.
  I thank the members of both parties in advance for their 
participation in this historic event, and I thank the leadership and 
Members for providing for this reading in the rules of the House.
  It is now my distinct honor to yield to the Speaker of the House to 
begin the reading.
  Mr. BOEHNER. ``We the People, of the United States, in order to form 
a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, 
provide for the common defense, 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the minority leader, the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the majority leader, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Cantor).
  Mr. CANTOR. Article I, 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 25 years and been 7 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.

[[Page H55]]

  ``The actual enumeration shall be made within 3 years after the first 
meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every 
subsequent term of 10 years, in such manner as they shall by law 
direct.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the minority whip, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  Mr. HOYER. Article I, continuation of section 2: ``The number of 
Representatives shall not exceed one for every 30,000, 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 choose 
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 choose their Speaker and other 
officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment.''

                              {time}  1110

  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from California, the 
majority whip, Mr. McCarthy.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Article I, section 3: ``The Senate of the 
United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State for 6 
years; and each Senator shall have one vote.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Rothman).
  Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway).
  Mr. CONAWAY. ``No person shall be a Senator who shall not have 
attained to the age of 30 years and been 9 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David 
Scott).
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. ``The Vice President of the United States 
shall be President of the Senate, but shall not have no vote, unless 
they be equally divided. The Senate shall choose 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Walberg).
  Mr. WALBERG. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Critz).
  Mr. CRITZ. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).
  Mr. POE of Texas. Section 4: ``The times, places and manner of the 
holding of 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 
place of choosing Senators.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Weiner).
  Mr. WEINER. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 
Womack).
  Mr. WOMACK. ``Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, 
punish its Members for disorderly behavior and, with the concurrence of 
two-thirds, expel a Member.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. 
Edwards).
  Ms. EDWARDS. ``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 discretion of one-fifth of 
those present, be entered on the Journal.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. 
Miller).
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. ``Neither House during the session of 
Congress shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than 
3 days nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall 
be sitting.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson 
Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Pitts).
  Mr. PITTS. ``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 increased 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Pascrell).
  Mr. PASCRELL. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Wilson).
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. ``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. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al 
Green).
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. ``If after such consideration 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Gowdy).
  Mr. GOWDY. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. 
Davis).
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. ``If any such bill shall not be returned by 
the President within 10 days, Sundays excepted, after it shall have 
been presented to him, the same shall be a law

[[Page H56]]

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.''

                              {time}  1120

  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
LoBiondo).
  Mr. LoBIONDO. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. 
Langevin).
  Mr. LANGEVIN. 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 defense and general welfare of the United 
States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout 
the United States.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Lance).
  Mr. LANCE. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Hensarling).
  Mr. HENSARLING. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Inslee).
  Mr. INSLEE. ``To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; 
to define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, 
and offenses against the law of nations.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Duncan).
  Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Holt).
  Mr. HOLT. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Canseco).
  Mr. CANSECO. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. ``To exercise exclusive legislation in all 
cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding 10 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, dockyards, and other needful 
buildings.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. West).
  Mr. WEST. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Keating).
  Mr. KEATING. 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 1808, but a 
tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding 10 
dollars for each person.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. 
Black).
  Mrs. BLACK. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Perlmutter).
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. 
McMorris Rodgers).
  Ms. McMORRIS RODGERS. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Honda).
  Mr. HONDA. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Gardner).
  Mr. GARDNER. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Loretta Sanchez).
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. ``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.''

                              {time}  1130

  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Pompeo).
  Mr. POMPEO. ``No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay 
any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be 
absolutely necessary for executing its inspections 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 control of the 
Congress.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Rangel).
  Mr. RANGEL. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Hayworth).
  Ms. HAYWORTH. 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 a term of 4 years and together with

[[Page H57]]

the Vice-President chosen for the same term, be elected as follows:''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Payne).
  Mr. PAYNE. ``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 United States shall be 
appointed an elector.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Young).
  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. ``The Congress may determine the time of 
choosing the electors and the day on which they shall give their votes, 
which days shall be the same throughout the United States.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Pallone).
  Mr. PALLONE. ``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.''


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would remind all persons in the 
gallery that they are here as guests of the House and that any 
manifestation of approval or disapproval of the proceedings is in 
violation of the rules of the House.
  The Chair notes a disturbance in the gallery in contravention of the 
law and rules of the House. The Sergeant at Arms will remove those 
persons responsible for the disturbance and restore order in the 
gallery.
  The gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. PALLONE. ``Neither shall any person be eligible to that office 
who shall not have attained to the age of 35 years and been 14 years a 
resident within the United States.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Griffith).
  Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Richardson).
  Ms. RICHARDSON. ``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 the President of 
the United States and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, 
and defend the Constitution of the United States.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).
  Mr. LATTA. 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 to 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 the respective offices, and he shall have the power to grant 
reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in 
cases of impeachment.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Connolly).
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Cassidy).
  Mr. CASSIDY. ``But the Congress may by law vest the appointment of 
such inferior officers as they think proper, and the President alone, 
in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. 
DeGette).
  Ms. DeGETTE. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).
  Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Section 3: ``He shall from time to time give 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).
  Mr. KUCINICH. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).
  Mr. CHABOT. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), 
the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. ``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 behavior and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a 
compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in 
office.''

                              {time}  1140

  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Farenthold).
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. ``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, 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Donnelly).
  Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. 
Pearce).
  Mr. PEARCE. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Altmire).
  Mr. ALTMIRE. 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 an open court.''

[[Page H58]]

  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).
  Mr. TURNER. ``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 attained.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. 
Carney).
  Mr. CARNEY. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Harris).
  Mr. HARRIS. Section 2: ``The citizens of each State shall be entitled 
to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Schiff).
  Mr. SCHIFF. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gibbs).
  Mr. GIBBS. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Nadler).
  Mr. NADLER. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Section 4: ``The United States shall guarantee to 
every State in this Union a Republic 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 . . .''
  I now yield to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. ``. . . 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 
1808 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Matsui).
  Ms. MATSUI. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Garrett).
  Mr. GARRETT. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Lamborn).
  Mr. LAMBORN. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. 
Hirono).
  Ms. HIRONO. ``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 15th line of the first page; the words `is tried' 
being interlined between the 32nd and 33rd lines of the first page; and 
the word `the' being interlined between the 43rd and the 44th lines of 
the second page.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Tipton).
  Mr. TIPTON. ``Done in convention by unanimous consent of the States 
present the 17th day of September in the year of Our Lord 1787 and of 
the independence of the United States of America the 12th in witness 
whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.''

                              {time}  1150

  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now recognize the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Carnahan).
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Signers of the Constitution. George Washington, 
President and Deputy from Virginia.
  Delaware: George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard 
Bassett, Jacob Broom.
  Maryland: James McHenry, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Daniel 
Carroll.
  Virginia: John Blair, James Madison, Jr.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
McClintock).
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. From the State of North Carolina: William Blount, 
Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson.
  From South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 
Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler.
  From Georgia: William Few, Abraham Baldwin.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
McDermott).
  Mr. McDERMOTT. New Hampshire: John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman.
  Massachusetts: Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King.
  Connecticut: William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman.
  New York: Alexander Hamilton.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Yoder).
  Mr. YODER. New Jersey: William Livingston, David Brearley, William 
Paterson, Jonathan Dayton.
  From Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, 
George Clymer, Thomas FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, and 
Gouverneur Morris.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Levin).
  Mr. LEVIN. The Preamble to the Bill of Rights: ``Congress of the 
United States, begun and held at the City of New York on Wednesday, the 
4th of March 1789.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Mrs. 
Roby).
  Mrs. ROBY. ``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, and as extending 
the ground of public confidence in the government will best ensure the 
beneficent ends of its institution.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Ross).
  Mr. ROSS of Arkansas. ``Resolved by the Senate and House of 
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
two-thirds of both Houses concurring that the following articles be 
proposed to the legislatures of the several States, as

[[Page H59]]

amendments to the Constitution of the United States . . .''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Bonner).
  Mr. BONNER. ``. . . all or any of which articles, when ratified by 
three-fourths of the said legislatures, to be valid to all intents and 
purposes as part of the said Constitution.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. 
Hanabusa).
  Ms. HANABUSA. ``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 5th 
Article of the original Constitution.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. 
Giffords).
  Ms. GIFFORDS. The First Amendment: ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. 
Guinta).
  Mr. GUINTA. The Second Amendment: ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to gentleman from California (Mr. 
Sherman).
  Mr. SHERMAN. The Third Amendment: ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
  Mr. GOHMERT. Amendment Four: ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Lynch).
  Mr. LYNCH. The Fifth Amendment: ``No person shall be held to answer 
for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentiment 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Franks).
  Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. ``Nor shall any person be subject for the same 
offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be 
compelled in any criminal case to be 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Speier).

                              {time}  1200

  Ms. SPEIER. The Sixth Amendment: ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Westmoreland).
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. ``And to be informed of the nature and cause of the 
accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have 
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have 
the assistance of counsel for his defense.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Lipinski).
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Amendment Seven: ``In suits at common law, where the 
value in controversy shall exceed $20, the right of trial by jury shall 
be preserved, no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in 
any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the 
common law.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores).
  Mr. FLORES. Amendment Eight: ``Excessive bail shall not be required, 
nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments 
inflicted.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Walz).
  Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. The Ninth Amendment: ``The enumeration in the 
Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or 
disparage others retained by the people.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Amendment 10: ``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.''
  I now yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).
  Mr. CICILLINE. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Graves).
  Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Amendment 12: ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Engel).
  Mr. ENGEL. ``And they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted 
for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice President, and 
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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Stutzman).
  Mr. STUTZMAN. ``The President of the Senate shall, in 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Price).
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. ``The House of Representatives shall 
choose immediately, by ballot, 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Southerland).
  Mr. SOUTHERLAND. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Chu).
  Ms. CHU. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Amendment 13, 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Rigell).

[[Page H60]]

  Mr. RIGELL. Amendment 14: ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Watt).
  Mr. WATT. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Wittman).
  Mr. WITTMAN. 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 21 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 21 years of age in such 
State.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Clarke).

                              {time}  1210

  Ms. CLARKE of New York. Section 3: ``No person shall be a Senator or 
Representative in Congress or elector of President or 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina 
(Mrs. Ellmers).
  Mrs. ELLMERS. ``Or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, 
to support to 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Israel).
  Mr. ISRAEL. 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 
the 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).
  Mr. GOSAR. Section 5: ``The Congress shall have the power to enforce, 
by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.''
  Amendment 15, 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Section 2: ``The Congress shall have the 
power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''
  Amendment 16: ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).
  Mr. OLSON. Amendment 17: ``The Senate of the United States shall be 
composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people 
thereof, for 6 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Larsen).
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. ``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 legislative may direct.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from New York, (Ms. 
Buerkle).
  Ms. BUERKLE. Amendment 19, passed by Congress June 4, 1919, ratified 
August 18, 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. 
Schwartz).
  Ms. SCHWARTZ. Amendment 20: ``The terms of the President and the Vice 
President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms 
of Senators and Representatives at noon on the third 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Scalise).
  Mr. SCALISE. Section 2: ``The Congress shall assemble at least once 
in every year, and such meeting shall began at noon on the third 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene 
Green).
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. ``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 been qualified.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Hurt).
  Mr. HURT. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Serrano).
  Mr. SERRANO. 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 7 years from the date of 
its submission.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Platts).
  Mr. PLATTS. Amendment 21, passed by Congress February 20, 1933, 
ratified December 5, 1933:
  Section 1: ``The 18th article of amendment to the Constitution of the 
United States is hereby repealed.''
  Section 2: ``The transportation or importation into any State, 
Territory or

[[Page H61]]

possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of 
intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby 
prohibited.''

                              {time}  1220

  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Schrader).
  Mr. SCHRADER. 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 7 years from the date of submission hereof to the States by the 
Congress.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Meehan).
  Mr. MEEHAN. Amendment 22, passed by Congress on March 21, 1947.
  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 2 years of a term to 
which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the 
office of President more than once.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. 
Nunnelee).
  Mr. NUNNELEE. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
George Miller).
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Fleming).
  Mr. FLEMING. 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 7 years from 
the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Garamendi).
  Mr. GARAMENDI. Amendment 23, passed by Congress June 16, 1960; 
ratified March 29, 1961.
  Section 1: ``The District constituting the seat of Government of the 
United States shall appoint in such manner as 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 . . .''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Royce).
  Mr. ROYCE. ``. . . 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 12th 
article of amendment.''
  Section 2: ``The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. 
Courtney).
  Mr. COURTNEY. Amendment 24, passed by Congress August 27, 1962; 
ratified January 23, 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 the 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Dent).
  Mr. DENT. Amendment 25, passed by Congress July 6, 1965.
  Section 1: ``In case of the removal of the President from office or 
of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become the 
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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Lankford).
  Mr. LANKFORD. ``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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Murphy).
  Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. 
Hartzler).
  Mrs. HARTZLER. ``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 . . . ''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Fitzpatrick).
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. ``. . . transmit within 4 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 48 hours for that purpose if not in session.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gibson).
  Mr. GIBSON. ``If the Congress, within 21 days after receipt of the 
latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within 
21 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.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hultgren).
  Mr. HULTGREN. Amendment 26, passed by Congress March 23, 1971; 
ratified July 1, 1971.
  Section 1: ``The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 
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.''

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
Fincher) who will read the last amendment of the Constitution.
  Mr. FINCHER. Amendment 27, originally proposed September 25, 1789; 
ratified May 7, 1992.

[[Page H62]]

  ``No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators 
and Representatives shall take effect until an election of 
Representatives shall have intervened.''
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, with apology to those few Members who 
were waiting to read, we have now completed the first reading aloud of 
the United States Constitution.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, our expectation was that the 
new Republican majority would read the Constitution as written and its 
subsequent amendments. There is a broad body of law and interpretation 
that has developed from 1787 until the adoption of the last Amendment 
in 1992 that has turned our Constitution into a living document, paid 
for by the blood, sweat and tears of millions of Americans from the 
Revolutionary War, through the Civil War to even our current conflicts.
  The new Republican majority and their redacted Constitutional reading 
gives little deference to the long history of improving the 
Constitution and only seeks an interpretation of our Constitution based 
on the now, not the historic, broad body of law and struggle that it 
has taken to get there. It leaves out the need to continue to refine 
the Constitution so that we have a more perfect union.
  The 10th Amendment remains the center of conservative ideology. It 
reads, ``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.''
  The 112th Congress' Republican majority is building its agenda around 
the 10th Amendment. It is determined to limit the scope of Congress' 
activity to legislation ``reserved'' to the United States. Then, all 
other rights are in the purview of the states. Under this historic 
logic, slavery was a state right protected by the Constitution and the 
10th Amendment. But slavery by definition is not a human right, and 
therefore states rights cannot be human rights. That is why for the 
last five Congresses, I've introduced a series of Constitutional 
amendments that would improve the document for all Americans by 
guaranteeing essential rights.
  Currently, the right to vote is a state right--subject to local 
interpretations of who should vote and how. That results in thousands 
of different systems, all with different rules and different 
regulations. It means education is a state right, which means a child's 
likelihood of success is based on where he or she is born and the 
quality of schools that happen to be there. It means health care is a 
right, and God help you if your state, county or city cannot provide 
access to high quality care.
  I will soon reintroduce the following amendments, in the hopes of 
creating a more perfect union:
   H.J. Res. 28--Guaranteeing the right to vote to all Americans
   H.J. Res. 29--Guaranteeing the right to an education of equal high 
quality
   H.J. Res. 30--Guaranteeing the right to health care of equal high 
quality
   H.J. Res. 31--Guaranteeing the right to equality and to reproductive 
rights to women
   H.J. Res. 32--Guaranteeing the right to high quality housing
   H.J. Res. 33--Guaranteeing the right to a clean and safe environment
   H.J. Res. 34--Guaranteeing progressive taxation
   H.J. Res. 35--Guaranteeing the right to full employment and balanced 
growth
   H.J. Res. 36--Abolishing the electoral college, and providing direct 
election of the President and Vice President
  I hope my Republican and Democratic colleagues will join me in 
converting a reverence for the Constitution into a movement to improve 
it on behalf of all Americans.

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