National League of Young Men

Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (Ratified 1781) Preamble To all to 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 fifteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred 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, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Article I The style of this confederacy shall be “The United States of America.” Article II Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right not expressly delegated to the United States in Congress assembled. Article III The states enter into a firm league of friendship with each other for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare. Article IV The free inhabitants of each state shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states. Citizens may travel freely between states and receive equal treatment under the laws of those states. Fugitives from justice shall be returned to the state from which they fled. Article V Delegates shall be annually appointed by the states to meet in Congress. No state shall be represented by fewer than two nor more than seven delegates. Each state shall have one vote. Delegates are protected from arrest during attendance at Congress except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace. Article VI No state shall send or receive ambassadors, enter treaties, maintain military forces in peacetime beyond what Congress deems necessary, or engage in war without the consent of Congress except in cases of immediate danger. Article VII When land forces are raised by any state for the common defense, all officers of the rank of colonel and below shall be appointed by the legislature of that state. Article VIII All charges of war and other expenses incurred for the common defense and welfare shall be paid from a common treasury supplied by the states in proportion to the value of their land. Article IX The United States in Congress assembled shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of determining on peace and war, sending and receiving ambassadors, entering treaties and alliances, regulating captures, establishing courts for piracy and felonies on the high seas, settling disputes between states, regulating coinage, fixing standards of weights and measures, regulating trade with Native American tribes not members of a state, establishing post offices, appointing military officers, and directing military operations. Congress shall not engage in certain major actions, including declaring war or entering treaties, without the consent of nine states. Article X A Committee of the States, consisting of one delegate from each state, may act on behalf of Congress when Congress is not in session. Article XI Canada may join the Union if it agrees to the Articles. No other colony shall be admitted unless approved by nine states. Article XII All bills of credit, debts, and money borrowed by Congress before the adoption of these Articles shall remain valid obligations of the United States. Article XIII Every state shall abide by the decisions of Congress on matters submitted to it. The Articles shall be observed by every state, and the Union shall be perpetual. No alteration shall be made unless agreed to by Congress and confirmed by every state legislature. Conclusion 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 given to us for that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. 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.

Kinda hard to use