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Narrative of the Adopted Original United States Constitution · Voices Of Life

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This is the Voices of Life Podcast, a ministry
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of the Church for Life, and I'm Pastor David.
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Today we step into one of the most defining moments
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in the story of human liberty. A moment when
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a young and fragile nation, still trembling from
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the fires of revolution, gathered to form a more
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perfect union. Not a perfect union, but a nation
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striving toward one. Anchored in law, bordered
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by justice, and humbled under Providence. For
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55 delegates representing 13 very different states,
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the summer of 1787 was a crucible inside Independence
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Hall. Windows were shut tight, debates ran long,
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the tempers often ran hot. But through it all,
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a vision slowly took shape, a framework of government,
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unlike anything the world had ever seen. A Constitution
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built not on the power of kings, but on the consent
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of the governed. A charter that begins with three
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thunderous words. We the people. Today we honor
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that moment. We listen to the Constitution not
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as a relic behind glass, but as a living testimony
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to the courage, conviction, and God -given dignity
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of a free people. So settle your heart, let the
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noise of the day fall away, and join me as we
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journey back to the birth of American self -government,
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to the words that shaped a nation, and to the
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enduring truth that liberty is both a gift and
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a responsibility. This is the Constitution of
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the United States of America, and this is Voices
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of Life. original 1787 text. We the people of
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the United States in order to form a more perfect
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union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility,
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provide for the common defense, promote the general
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welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty
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to ourselves and our posterity. Do ordain and
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establish this constitution for the United States
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of America. Article 1 Section 1 All legislative
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powers hearing granted shall be vested in a Congress
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of the United States, which shall consist of
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a Senate and House of Representatives. Section
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2 The House of Representatives shall be composed
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of members chosen every second year by the people
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of the several states. And the electors in each
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state shall have the qualifications requisite
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for electors of the most numerous branch of the
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state legislature. No person shall be a representative
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who shall not have attained to the age of twenty
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-five years, and been seven years a citizen of
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the United States. And who shall not, when elected,
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be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall
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be chosen? representatives and direct taxes shall
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be apportioned among the several states which
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may be included within this union according to
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their respective numbers which shall be determined
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by adding to the whole number of free persons
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including those bound to service for a term of
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years and excluding Indians not taxed three -fifths
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of all other persons The actual enumeration shall
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be made within three years after the first meeting
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of the Congress of the United States, and within
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every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner
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as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives
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shall not exceed one for every 30 ,000, but each
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state shall have at least one representative,
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and until such enumeration shall be made. The
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state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose
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three Massachusetts, eight Rhode Island and Providence
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plantations, one Connecticut, five New York,
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six New Jersey, four Pennsylvania, eight Delaware,
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one Maryland, six Virginia, ten North Carolina,
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five South Carolina, five and Georgia, three
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When vacancies happen in the representation from
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any state The executive authority thereof shall
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issue wits of election to fill such vacancies.
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The House of Representatives shall choose their
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speaker and other officers, and shall have the
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sole power of impeachment. Section 3. The Senate
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of the United States shall be composed of two
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senators from each state, chosen by the legislature
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thereof. for six years, and each Senator shall
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have one vote immediately after they shall be
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assembled in consequence of the first election.
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They shall be divided as equally as may be into
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three classes. the seats of the senators of the
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first class shall be vacated at the expiration
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of the second year of the second class at the
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expiration of the fourth year and of the third
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class at the expiration of the sixth year so
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that one third may be chosen every second year
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and if vacancies happen by resignation or otherwise
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during the recess of the legislature of any state
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the executive thereof may make temporary appointments
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until the next meeting of the legislature which
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shall then fill such vacancies no person shall
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be a senator who shall not have attained to the
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age of 30 years and in nine years a citizen of
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the united states and who shall not, when elected,
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be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall
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be chosen. The Vice President of the United States
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shall be President of the Senate, but shall have
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no vote unless they be equally divided. The Senate
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shall choose their other officers, and also a
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President pro tempore, in the absence of the
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Vice President, for when he shall exercise the
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office of President of the United States. The
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Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.
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When sitting for that purpose, they shall be
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on oath for affirmation. When the President of
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the United States is tried, the Chief Justice
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shall preside. No person shall be convicted without
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the concurrence of two -thirds of the members
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present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall
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not extend further than to removal from office.
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and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office
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of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.
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But the party convicted shall nevertheless be
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liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment,
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and punishment according to law, section four.
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The times, places, and manner of holding elections
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for senators and representatives shall be prescribed
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in each state by the legislature thereof. But
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the Congress may at any time by law make or alter
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such regulations. Accept us to the places of
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choosing senators. The Congress shall assemble
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at least once in every year. And such meetings
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shall be on the first Monday in December. Unless
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they shall by law appoint a different day. Each
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house shall be the judge of the elections, returns
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and qualifications of its own members, and a
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majority of each shall constitute a quorum to
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do business. But a smaller number may adjourn
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from day to day and may be authorized to compel
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the attendance of absent members. In such manner,
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and under such penalties as each house may provide,
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each house may determine the rules of its proceedings.
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punish its members for disorderly behavior, and
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with the concurrence of two -thirds expel a member.
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Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings,
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and from time to time publish the same. Accepting
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such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy.
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And the yeas and nays of the members of either
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house on any question shall at the desire of
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one -fifth of those present. be entered on the
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Journal. Neither House, during the session of
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Congress, shall, without the consent of the other,
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adjourn for more than three days, nor to any
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other place than that in which the two Houses
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shall be sitting, Section 6. The Senators and
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Representatives shall receive a compensation
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for their services, to be ascertained by law.
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and paid out of the treasury of the United States.
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They shall in all cases, except treason, felony,
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and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest
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during their attendance at the session of their
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respective houses, and in going to and returning
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from the same. And for any speech or debate in
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either house, they shall not be questioned in
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any other place. No senator or representative
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shall, during the time for which he was elected,
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be appointed to any civil office under the authority
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of the United States, which shall have been created,
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or the emoluments were off shall have been increased
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during such time. And no person holding any office
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under the United States shall be a member of
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either house during his continuance in office.
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Section 7. All bills for raising revenue shall
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originate in the House of Representatives. But
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the Senate may propose or conquer with amendments
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as on other bills. Every bill which shall have
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passed the House of Representatives and the Senate
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shall, before it become a law, be presented to
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the President of the United States. If he approve,
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he shall sign it. But if not, he shall return
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it with his objections to that house in which
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it shall have originated, who shall enter the
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objections at large on that journal, and proceed
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to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration
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two -thirds of that house shall agree to pass
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the bill, it shall be sent, together with the
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objections, to the other house, by which it shall
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likewise be reconsidered. and if approved by
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two -thirds of that house, it shall become a
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law. But in all such cases the votes of both
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houses shall be determined by yeas and nays,
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and the names of the persons voting for and against
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the bill shall be entered on the journal of each
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house respectively. If any bill shall not be
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returned by the President within ten days, Sundays
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accepted. after it shall have been presented
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to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner
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as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by
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their adjournment prevent its return, in which
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case it shall not be a law. Every order, resolution,
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or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate
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and House of Representatives may be necessary,
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except on a question of adjournment. shall be
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presented to the President of the United States
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and before the same shall take effect shall be
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approved by him or being disapproved by him shall
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be repassed by two -thirds of the Senate and
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House of Representatives according to the rules
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and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill
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the Congress shall have power to lay and collect
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taxes duties and posts and excises to pay the
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debts and provide for the common defense and
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general welfare of the United States. But all
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duties and posts and excises shall be uniformed
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throughout the United States, to borrow money
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on the credit of the United States, to regulate
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commerce with foreign nations and among the different
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states, and with the Indian tribes, to establish
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a uniform rule of naturalization. and uniform
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laws on the subject of bankruptcies to up the
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United States to coin money regulate the value
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thereof and the foreign coin and fix the standard
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of weights and measures to provide for the punishment
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of counterfeiting the securities and current
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coin of the United States to establish post offices
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and post votes to promote the progress of science
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and useful arts by securing for limited times
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to authors and inventors The exclusive right
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to their respective writings and discoveries
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To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme
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Court To define and punish piracies and felonies
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committed on the high seas And defenses against
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the law of nations To declare war, grant letters
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of marquee and reprisal And make rules concerning
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captures on land and water. To raise and support
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armies. But no appropriation of money to that
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use shall be for a longer term than two years.
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To provide and maintain a navy. To make rules
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for the government and regulation of the land
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and naval forces. To provide for calling forth
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the militia. To execute the laws of the Union,
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suppress insurrections and repel invasions. to
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provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining
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the militia and for governing such part of them
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as may be employed in the service of the United
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States, reserving to the states respectively
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the appointment of the officers and the authority
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of training the militia according to the discipline
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prescribed by Congress to exercise exclusive
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legislation in all cases whatsoever over such
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district. not exceeding 10 miles square, as may,
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by cession of particular states, and the acceptance
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of Congress, become the seat of the government
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of the United States, and to exercise like authority
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over all places purchased by the consent of the
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legislature of the state in which the same shall
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be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals,
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dockyards, and other needful buildings, and,
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to make all laws which shall be necessary and
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proper for carrying into execution the foregoing
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powers and all other powers vested by this Constitution
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in the government of the United States or in
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any department or officer thereof. Section 9
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the migration or importation of such persons
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as any of the states now existing shall think
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proper to admit shall not be prohibited by the
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congress prior to the year 1808 but a tax or
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duty may be imposed on such importation not exceeding
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ten dollars for each person the privilege of
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the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended
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unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion
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the public safety may require it. No bill of
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attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.
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No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid
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unless in proportion to the census or enumeration
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here and before directed to be taken. No tax
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or duty shall be laid on particles exported from
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any state. No preference shall be given by any
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regulation of commerce or revenue. to the ports
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of one state over those of another. Nor shall
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vessels bound to or from one state be obliged
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to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. No
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money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in
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consequence of appropriations made by law. An
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irregular statement in account of the receipts
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and expenditures of all public money shall be
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published from time to time. No title of nobility
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shall be granted by the United States, and no
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person holding any office of profit or trust
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under them, shall, without the consent of the
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Congress, except of any present emolument, office
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or title, of any kind whatever, from any king,
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prince or foreign state, no state shall enter
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into any treaty, alliance or confederation. Grant
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letters of marquee and reprisal. Coin money.
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Emit bills of credit. Make anything but gold
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and silver coin a tender in payment of debts.
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Pass any bill of attainder. Ex post facto law.
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Or law impairing the obligation of contracts.
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Or grant any title of nobility. No state shall,
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without the consent of the Congress, lay any
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imposts or duties on imports or exports except
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what may be absolutely necessary for executing
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its inspection laws and the net produce of all
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duties and imposts laid by any state on imports
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or exports shall be for the use of the Treasury
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of the United States and all such laws shall
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be subject to the revision and control of the
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Congress no state shall without the consent of
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Congress lay any duty of tonnage keep troops
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or ships of war in time of peace enter into any
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agreement or combat with another state or with
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a foreign power or engage in war unless actually
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invaded or in such imminent danger as will not
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admit of delay Article 2 Section 1. The executive
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power shall be vested in a President of the United
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States of America. He shall hold his office during
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the term of four years, and together with the
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Vice President chosen for the same term, be elected
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as follows. Each state shall appoint in such
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manner as the legislature thereof may direct.
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a number of electors equal to the whole number
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of senators and representatives to which the
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state may be entitled in the congress but no
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senator or representative or person holding an
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office of trust or profit under the united states
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shall be appointed an elector the electors shall
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meet in their respective states and vote by ballot
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for two persons or from one at least shall not
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be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves.
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And they shall make a list of all the persons
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voted for, and of the number of votes for each,
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which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit
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seal to the seat of the Government of the United
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States, directed to the President of the Senate.
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The President of the Senate shall In the presence
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of the Senate and House of Representatives, open
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all the certificates, and the votes shall then
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be counted. The person having the greatest number
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of votes shall be the President. If such number
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be a majority of the whole number of electors
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appointed, and if there be more than one who
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have such majority and have an equal number of
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votes. Then the House of Representatives shall
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immediately choose by ballot, one of them for
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President. And if no person have a majority,
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then from the five highest on the list, the said
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House shall in like manner choose the President.
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But in choosing the President, the votes shall
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be taken by States, the representation from each
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State having one vote. A quorum for this purpose
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shall consist of a member or members from two
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-thirds of the states. And a majority of all
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the states shall be necessary to a choice, in
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every case after the choice of the president.
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The person having the greatest number of votes
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of the electors shall be the vice president.
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But if there should remain two or more who have
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equal votes, The Senate shall choose from them
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by ballot the Vice President. The Congress may
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determine the time of choosing the electors and
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the day on which they shall give their votes.
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Which day shall be the same throughout the United
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States. No person except a natural born citizen
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or a citizen of the United States at the time
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of the adoption of this Constitution. shall be
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eligible to the office of president. Neither
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shall any person be eligible to that office,
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who shall not have attained to the age of 35
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years, and been 14 years a resident within the
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United States, in case of the removal of the
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president from office, or of his death, resignation,
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or inability to discharge the powers and duties
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of the said office. the same shall devolve on
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the Vice President. And the Congress may by law
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provide for the case of removal, death, resignation,
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or inability, both of the President and Vice
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President, declaring what officer shall then
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act as President. And such officer shall act
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accordingly, until the disability be removed,
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or a President shall be elected. The President
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shall, at stated times, receive for his services
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a compensation, which shall neither be increased
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nor diminished during the period for which he
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shall have been elected. And he shall not receive
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within that period any other emolument from the
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United States, or any of them, before he enter
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on the execution of his office. he shall take
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the following oath or affirmation. I do solemnly
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swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute
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the office of President of the United States
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and will, to the best of my ability, preserve,
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protect and defend the Constitution of the United
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States. Section 2. The President shall be Commander
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-in -Chief of the Army and Navy of the United
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States, and of the militia of the several states.
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When called into the actual service of the United
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States, he may require the opinion in writing
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of the principal officer in each of the executive
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departments. upon any subject relating to the
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duties of their respective officers. He shall
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have power to grant reprieves and pardons for
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offenses against the United States. Except in
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cases of impeachment, he shall have power by
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and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
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To make treaties, provide a two -thirds of the
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Senate as present concurred. and he shall nominate
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and by and with the advice and consent of the
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senate shall appoint ambassadors other public
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ministers and consults judges of the supreme
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court and all other officers of the united states
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whose appointments are not hearing otherwise
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provided for and which shall be established by
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law but the congress may by law vest the appointment
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of such inferior officers as they think proper,
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in the President alone, in the courts of law,
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or in the heads of departments. The President
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shall have power to fill up all vacancies that
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may happen during the recess of the Senate by
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granting commissions which shall expire at the
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end of their next session. He shall from time
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to time give to the Congress information of the
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State of the Union and recommend to their consideration
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such measures as he shall judge necessary and
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expedient. He may on extraordinary occasions
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convene both Houses or either of them and in
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case of disagreement between them with respect
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to the time of adjournment he may adjourn. United
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States. Section 4. The President, Vice President
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and all civil officers of the United States shall
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be removed from office on impeachment for and
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conviction of treason, bribery or other high
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crimes and misdemeanors. Article 3 Section 1
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The judicial power of the United States shall
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be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior
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courts, as the Congress may from time to time
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ordain and establish the judges, both of the
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supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their
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offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated
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times, receive for their services a compensation.
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which shall not be diminished during their continuance
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in office. Section 2. The judicial power shall
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extend to all cases in law and equity, arising
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under this Constitution, the laws of the United
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States, in treaties made, or which shall be made,
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under their authority, to all cases affecting
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ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls,
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to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction,
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to controversies to which the United States shall
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be a party, to controversies between two or more
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states, between a state and citizens of another
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state, between citizens of different states,
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between citizens of the same state, claiming
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lands under grants of different states, and between
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a state or the citizens thereof. and foreign
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states, citizens or subjects, in all cases affecting
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ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls,
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and those in which a state shall be party. The
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Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction.
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In all the other cases before mentioned, the
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Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction,
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both as to law and fact with such exceptions,
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and under such regulations. as the Congress shall
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make the trial of all crimes except in cases
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of impeachment shall be by jury and such trials
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shall be held in the state where the said crimes
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shall have been committed but were not committed
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within any state the trial shall be at such place
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or places as the Congress may by law have directed
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section 3 treason against the United States shall
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consist only in levying war against them, or
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in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid
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and comfort. No person shall be convicted of
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treason, unless on the testimony of two witnesses,
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to the same overt act, or on confession in open
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court. The Congress shall have power to declare
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the punishment of treason, but no attainder of
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treason shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture.
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except during the life of the person attained
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it. Article 4, Section 1, full faith and credit
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shall be given in each state to the public acts,
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records, and judicial proceedings of every other
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state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe
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the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings
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shall be proved and the effect thereof. the citizens
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of each state shall be entitled to all privileges
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and immunities of citizens in the several states
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a person charged in any state with treason, felony,
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or other crime who shall flee from justice and
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be found in another state shall on demand of
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the executive authority of the state from which
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he fled be delivered up to be removed to the
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state having jurisdiction of the crime No person
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held to service or labor in one state, under
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the laws thereof escaping into another, shall,
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in consequence of any law or regulation therein,
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be discharged from such service or labor, but
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shall be delivered up on claim of the party,
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to whom such service or labor may be due. Section
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3 New states may be admitted by the Congress
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into this union, but no new state shall be formed
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or erected within the jurisdiction of any other
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state, not any state be formed by the junction
31:45
of two or more states or parts of states without
31:49
the consent of the legislatures of the states
31:52
concerned, as well as of the Congress. The Congress
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shall have power to dispose of and make all needful
32:01
rules and regulations respecting the territory
32:04
or other property belonging to the United States
32:08
and nothing in this Constitution shall be so
32:13
construed as to prejudice any claims of the United
32:17
States or of any particular state or of any particular
32:24
The United States shall guarantee to every state
32:28
in this union a republican form of government
32:32
and shall protect each of them against invasion
32:35
and on application for legislature or of a executive
32:40
when the legislature cannot be convened against
32:45
domestic violence. Article 5 The Congress, whenever
32:56
two -thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary,
32:59
shall propose amendments to this Constitution,
33:03
or, on the application of the legislatures of
33:05
two -thirds of the several states, shall call
33:09
a convention for proposing amendments which,
33:11
in either case, shall be valid to all intents
33:15
and purposes as part of this Constitution. When
33:19
ratified by the legislatures of three -fourths
33:22
of the several states, or by conventions in three
33:24
-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode
33:28
of ratification, may be proposed by the Congress,
33:32
provided that no amendment, which may be made
33:35
prior to the year 1808, shall in any manner effect
33:41
the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section
33:45
of the first article. and that no state, without
33:48
its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage
33:52
in the Senate. Article 6. All debts contracted
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and engagements entered into before the adoption
34:04
of this Constitution shall be as valid against
34:08
the United States under this Constitution as
34:11
under the Confederation. this Constitution and
34:16
the laws of the United States which shall be
34:19
made in pursuance thereof and all treaties made
34:22
or which shall be made under the authority of
34:25
the United States shall be the supreme law of
34:28
the land and the judges in every state shall
34:32
be bound thereby anything in the Constitution
34:35
or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding
34:41
the senators and representatives before mentioned,
34:44
and the members of the several state legislatures,
34:47
and all executive and judicial officers, both
34:51
of the United States and of the several states,
34:55
shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support
34:59
this Constitution. But no religious test shall
35:03
ever be required as a qualification to any office
35:07
or public trust. under the United States. Article
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7. The ratification of the conventions of nine
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states shall be sufficient for the establishment
35:24
of this Constitution between the states so ratifying
35:30
the same. Signers of the Constitution. William
35:44
Jackson, secretary, in convention, Monday, September
35:50
17th, 1787. Present the states of New Hampshire,
35:57
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton from
36:00
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
36:05
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
36:09
and Georgia. George Washington, President and
36:13
Deputy from Virginia. New Hampshire, John Langdon,
36:17
Nicholas Gilman. Massachusetts, Nathaniel Gorham.
36:21
Rufus King, Connecticut, William Samuel Johnson.
36:26
Roger Sherman, New York, Alexander Hamilton.
36:29
New Jersey, William Livingston. David Brearley,
36:33
William Patterson, Jonathan Dayton. Pennsylvania,
36:37
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris,
36:41
George Kleiner, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Jared Ingersoll,
36:46
James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Delaware, George
36:50
Reed, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard
36:54
Bassett, Jacob Broom, Maryland, James McHenry,
36:59
Daniel of St. Thomas, Jennifer, Daniel Carroll,
37:03
Virginia, John Blair. James Madison, Jr., North
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Carolina. William Blount, Richard Dobbs, Spite.
37:14
Hugh Williams, South Carolina. John Rutledge,
37:18
Charles Coatsworth, Pinckney. Charles Pinckney,
37:21
Pierce Butler, Georgia. William Few, Abraham
37:26
Baldwin. As the final words of the Constitution
37:35
settle in our hearts, we are reminded that this
37:38
document was never meant to be a museum piece.
37:42
It was written for a people, for farmers and
37:45
merchants, for families and communities, for
37:48
generations yet unborn. It was written for us.
37:52
In these pages, we hear the echoes of a nation
37:55
learning to govern itself, not by the will of
37:59
one, but by the consent of many. We hear the
38:02
courage of delegates who wrestled through disagreement
38:05
to build something stronger than any of them
38:09
could have shaped alone. And we hear the steady
38:12
whisper of Providence guiding a young republic
38:16
toward order, liberty, and the blessings of self
38:20
-government. But the Constitution is more than
38:23
parchment and ink. It is a covenant, a shared
38:27
promise, that freedom requires responsibility,
38:30
that rights walk hand in hand with virtue, and
38:34
the work of forming a more perfect union is never
38:38
finished. So, as we close today, May we carry
38:43
forward the humility of those who framed it,
38:46
the vigilance of those who defended it, and the
38:49
hope of those who believed that a free people
38:53
under God could shape nation of its calling.
38:57
This has been the Voices of Life podcast, a ministry
39:01
of the Church for Life, and I'm your host, Pastor
39:03
David. May the Lord bless you. May He steady
39:07
your steps. and may He strengthen your resolve
39:10
to live as a faithful steward of liberty entrusted
39:14
to us. Until next time, may God bless you, and
39:18
may God bless the United States of America.