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[Arts. 20-21] AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE U. S. 17
terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified, and the terms
of their successors shall then begin.
SECTION 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and
such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d 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. 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 pro-
vide 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
qualified.
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.
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 seven years from the date of its
submission.
ARTICLE XXI. 1
SECTION 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution
of the United States is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory,
or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating
liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
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 seven years from the date
of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
1 The Twenty-first Amendment was proposed by resolution of Congress on Febru-
ary 20, 1933. It was certified in a proclamation of the Acting Secretary of State dated
December 5, 1933, to have been ratified by conventions of 36 States, which "constitute
the requisite three-fourths of the whole number of States. " Subsequent records of the
Department of State show that the 21st Amendment was ratified by 1 more State. It
was rejected by the convention of 1 (South Carolina). North Carolina voted against
holding a convention.
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