[Art. 4] CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 9

two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legisla-
tures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

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.

SECTION 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this
Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them
against invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Execu-
tive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

ARTICLE V.

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it neces-
sary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application
of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a Conven-
tion 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, 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 One thousand eight hundred and eight 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

DONE in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the
Seventeenth day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United
States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto
subscribed our Names,

Go. WASHINGTON—
Presidt and deputy from Virginia.