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The Articles Of Confederation
MARCH 1, 1781
To all whom these presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States
affixed to our Names, send greeting.
Whereas the Delegates of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, did,
on the 15th day of November, in the Year of Our Lord One thousand and Seventy seven,
and in the Second Year of the Independence of America, agree to certain Articles of
Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of New Hampshire,
Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina,
South-Carolina, and Georgia in the words following, viz. "Articles of Confederation and
perpetual Union between the States of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland
and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia.
Article I
The stile of this confederacy shall be "The United States of America."
Article II
Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and indepenence, and every Power,
Jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the
United States, in Congress assembled.
Article III
The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each
other, for their common defence, 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 pretence whatever.
Article 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
have 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 restriction 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 the offence. 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.
Article V
For the more convenient management of the general interests of the united states,
delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislature 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 recal (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 by 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 and imprisonments, during the time of their going to and
from, and attendance on congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.
Article 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
or Spain.
No vessels 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
defence of such state or its trade; nor shall any body or forces be kept up by any state, in
time of peace, except such number only, as in the judgement of the united states, in
congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts necessary for the
defence of such state; but every state shall always keep up a well regulated and
disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutred, and shall provide and constantly
have ready for use, in public stores, a due number of field 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.
Article VII
When land forces are raised by any state for the common defence, 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.
ARTICLE VIII
All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the common
defence 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 to 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.
Article 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 &nash; 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 committed 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 boundaries, jurisdiction or any other cause 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
pro ceed 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 judgement and the sentence of
the court to be appointed, in the manner before pre scribed, 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 judgement, which shall in like manner be final and decisive, the judgement
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 judgement, 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 judgement, without favour, 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 standard 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 thro' 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 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 number 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 cloath, arm and
equip them in a soldier like manner, at the expense of the united states; and the officers
and men so cloathed, 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 than its quota, and that any other
state should raise a greater number of men than the quota thereof, such extra number
shall be raised, officered, cloathed, armed and equipped in the same manner as the quota
of such state, unless the legislature of such state shall judge that such extra number
cannot be safely spared out of the same, in which case they shall raise officer, cloath, arm
and equip as many of such extra number as they judge can be safely spared. And the
officers and men so cloathed, armed and equipped, shall march to the place appointed.
The united states in congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant
letters or marque and 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 defence 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
state 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 a 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 judgement 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
delegate; and the 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.
Article 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 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 is requisite.
Article XI
Canada acceding to this confederation, and joining 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.
Article 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.
Article XIII
Every state shall abide by the determinations 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.
John Bartlett,
John Wentworth, junior
August 8th, 1778.................... State of New Hampshire
John Hancock,
Samuel Adams,
Elbridge Gerry,
Francis Dana,
James Lovell,
Samuel Holten,...................... State of Massachusetts
William Ellery,
Henry Marchant,
John Collins,.......................... State of Rhode-Island
Roger Sherman,
Samuel Huntington,
Oliver Wolcott,
Titus Hosmer,
Andrew Adams,...................... State of Connecticut
Ja Duane,
Fra: Lewis,
Wm. Duer,
Gouv. Morris,.......................... State of New York
Jn. Witherspoon,
Nath. Scudder,
November 26th, 1778............ State of New Jersey
Robert Morris,
Daniel Roberdeau,
Jon. Bayard Smith,
William Clingar,
Joseph Reed,
22d July, 1778........................ State of Pennsylvania
Tho. McKean,
Feb 22d 1779,
John Dickinson,
May 5th, 1779,
Nicholas Van Dyke,................. State of Delaware
John Hanson,
March 1, 1781,
Daniel Carroll, do..................... State of Maryland
Richard Henry Lee,
John Banister,
Thomas Adams
Jn. Harvie,
Francis Lightfoot Lee,.............. State of Virginia
John Penn,
July 21st, 1778,
Corn. Harnett,
Jn. Williams,............................ State of North Carolina
Henry Laurens,
William Henry Drayton,
Jn. Mathews,
Rich. Hutson,
Tho. Heyward, jun...................... State of South Carolina
Jn. Walton,
24th July, 1778,
Edw. Telfair,
Edw. Langworthy,........................ State of Georgia
The proceedings of this day with respect to the signing of the
Articles of Confederation, the Articles themselves and the
signers are entered in the "Papers of the Continental Congress,
No. 9 (History of the Confederation)", but not in the Journal
itself. The Articles are printed here from the original roll in
the bureau of Rolls and Library, Department of State.
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