se mu de provisions of this section should be en

Pius meshirds of both houses shall AIM I MUSAs skin propose amendments to this consti22% of the legislature of two-thirds

A san, shall call a contention for proposing DEZILLA zich a citer case, shall be valid to all Mint mi piss a pet ff this constitution, when gers of true-fourths of the several “LARIZns in three-fourths thereof, as I like mode of recitation may be proposed à che emondment which may be

WY I SI JOE ma tirasand right hundred and Tu hai 3 tự, nauw of as the first and fourth clauses HÀ UN SAta & che test article, and that no state, 164 4S RIA SILI It dived of its equal suffrage

Twe maces of proposing amendments are here given, IN CAR Tr be tre modes of ratification.

A verêmers to the constitution may be proposed VIN se sus by tro-thirds vote of both houses #MUN

2 Amormers may be proposed by a convention, ar die saalekton of the legislatures of two-thirds of the

I over exendments have been proposed to the states di cider of these methods, there are two ways in whid cly sur de ratified:

A Agislatures of three-fourths of the several

(2) By conventions in three-fourths of the several states, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by congress. As a matter of fact, all the amendments which have been hitherto made have been proposed to the states by congress, and they have all been ratified by the legislatures. It is probable that this method, which has proved satisfactory in the past, will not be departed from in the future.

ARTICLE VI. This article contains several provisions upon miscellaneous subjects, among which the following is of the most consequence:

CLAUSE 2. "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 of every state shall be bound. thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.'

This clause is of paramount importance in showing that the government of the United States is supreme, and must be, not merely over the people, but the land, the country, and all places belonging to this nation. The constitution, laws, and treaties are here made the supreme law of the land, and the statement is explicit and emphatic, that "the judges of every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

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."

As a matter of fact, the adoption of this constitution was a peaceful revolution.

The mass of confederation provided as follows: • Bat the ads i tis confederation shall be invio20" inserat evey site, and the union shall be Dir shat any iteration at any time hereafter * max 1 ⠀ of ten mless such alteration be agreed 2: 1 Tess if the Tited States, and be afterwards shairmen of the legsatures off every state."

The the rove That the articles thereof shall be "ULLET FÖserved by the states they respectively present mi that the mine shall be perpetual.”

Cherry then to these provisions of the articles of SILZAKTIDUO Vich were emphatically the supreme law a the ind is constitution should go into effect beTV LIX SLS as soon as ratified by that number.

CHAPTER XII.

THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

CONVENTIONS were called in the several states to discuss, and adopt or reject, this constitution. After a time it was adopted by all of the thirteen original states, yet in several conventions there was a strong desire for certain modifications to satisfy the evident will of the people.

Congress, at its first session under the constitution, proposed to the states twelve articles of amendments. Of these twelve articles, ten were ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states, and became part and parcel of the constitution from the fifteenth day of December, 1791. These amendments constitute the first ten of the amendments to the constitution. They, in general, relate to the rights of the people, and to limitations of government. (The teacher is advised

to turn back to the constitution and read these amendments, discussing them in an informal way with the class.)

The eleventh amendment was proposed at the first session of the third congress, in 1794, and was declared adopted as a part of the constitution Jan. 8, 1798. It is as follows:

ARTICLE XI. "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

thousand dollars, and was raised in 1853 to eight thousand dollars. These salaries are paid monthly.

Before entering upon the duties of his office, the president takes the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States."

SECTION 2, CLAUSE I. "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 actual service of 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 their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment."

Activity, energy, and unity of purpose are so requisite for the success of any army movements, that the entire command should be in the hands of a single person. The constitution wisely makes the president commanderin-chief of the national forces upon sea and land, in time of peace as well as of war.

This clause anticipates the establishment of executive departments, and gives the president the authority to obtain in writing the opinion of the secretary of state, war, navy, etc., upon any subject where he desires it. He does not have the authority to demand the opinion of the judges of the supreme court, because they may be called to decide the question under consideration in some case regularly brought before the court, and it