    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 109th Congress]
    [109th Congress]
    [House Document 108-241]
    [The United States Constitution]
    [Page 3]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 3]]

                                  The Preamble

                                   __________

    Sec. 1. The preamble.

      We the People  of the United States, in
    Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic
    Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general
    Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
    Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
    States of America.

    Sec. 2. Formation of the
    Constitution.

      The First Continental  Congress met in Philadelphia in September of 1774 and
    adopted the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress,
    embodying rights and principles later to be incorporated into the
    Constitution of the United States. The Second Continental Congress
    adopted in November of 1777 the Articles of Confederation, which the
    States approved in July, 1778. Upon recommendation of the Continental
    Congress, a convention of State representatives met in May, 1787 to
    revise the Articles of Confederation and reported to the Continental
    Congress in September a new Constitution, which the Congress submitted
    to the States for ratification. Nine States, as required by the
    Constitution for its establishment, had ratified by June 21, 1788, and
    eleven States had ratified by July 26, 1788. The Continental Congress
    adopted a resolution on September 13, 1788, putting the new Constitution
    into effect; the First Congress of the United States convened on March
    4, 1789, and George Washington was inaugurated as the first President on
    April 30, 1789.