   The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

                                  1777

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 15th 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, Rhodeisland and Providence
Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia in the words following, viz. "Articles of Confederation
and perpetual Union between the states of New-hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia".

Article I.
The Stile 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,
which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.

Article III.
The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common
defence, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to
assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account
of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence whatever.

Article IV.
The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different
states in this union, the free inhabitants of each of these states, paupers, vagabonds and fugitives from
justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states;
and the people of each state shall have free ingress and regress to and from any other state, and shall
enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same duties impositions and
restrictions as the inhabitants thereof respectively, provided that such restriction shall not extend so far
as to prevent the removal of property imported into any state, to any other state, of which the Owner
is an inhabitant; provided also that no imposition, duties or restriction shall be laid by any state, on the
property of the united states, or either of them. If any Person guilty of, or charged with treason, felony,
-- or other high misdemeanor in any state, shall flee from Justice, and be found in any of the united
states, he shall, upon demand of the Governor or executive power, of the state from which he fled, be
delivered up and removed to the state having jurisdiction of his offence. Full faith and credit shall be
given in each of these states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates
of every other state.
Article V.
For the more convenient management of the general interests of the united states, delegates shall be
annually appointed in such manner as the legislature of each state shall direct, to meet in Congress on
the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved to each state, to recal its delegates,
or any of them, at any time within the year, and to send others in their stead, for the remainder of the
Year.

No state shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor by more than seven Members; and no
person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six years; nor shall
any person, being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the united states, for which he, or
another for his benefit receives any salary, fees or emolument of any kind.

Each state shall maintain its own delegates in a meeting of the states, and while they act as members
of the committee of the states. In determining questions in the united states in Congress assembled,
each state shall have one vote.

Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall not be impeached or questioned in any Court, or place
out of Congress, and the members of congress shall be protected in their persons from arrests and
imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from, and attendance on congress, except for
treason, felony, or breach of the peace.

Article VI.
No state, without the Consent of the united states in congress assembled, shall send any embassy to,
or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference agreement, alliance or treaty with any King
prince or state; nor shall any person holding any office of profit or trust under the united states, or any
of them, accept of any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from any king, prince
or foreign state; nor shall the united states in congress assembled, or any of them, grant any title of
nobility.

No two or more states shall enter into any treaty, confederation or alliance whatever between them,
without the consent of the united states in congress assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for
which the same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue.

No state shall lay any imposts or duties, which may interfere with any stipulations in treaties, entered
into by the united states in congress assembled, with any king, prince or state, in pursuance of any
treaties already proposed by congress, to the courts of France and Spain.

No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace by any state, except such number only, as shall be
deemed necessary by the united states in congress assembled, for the defence of such state, or its trade;
nor shall any body of forces be kept up by any state, in time of peace, except such number only, as in
the judgment of the united states, in congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts
necessary for the defence of such state; but every state shall always keep up a well regulated and
disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutered, and shall provide and constantly have ready for
use, in public stores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition
and camp equipage. No state shall engage in any war without the consent of the united states in
congress assembled, unless such state be actually invaded by enemies, or shall have received certain
advice of a resolution being formed by some nation of Indians to invade such state, and the danger is
so imminent as not to admit of a delay till the united states in congress assembled can be consulted: nor
shall any state grant commissions to any ships or vessels of war, nor letters of marque or reprisal,
except it be after a declaration of war by the united states in congress assembled, and then only against
the kingdom or state and the subjects thereof, against which war has been so declared, and under such
regulations as shall be established by the united states in congress assembled, unless such state be
infested by pirates, in which case vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept so long
as the danger shall continue, or until the united states in congress assembled, shall determine otherwise.

Article VII.
When land-forces are raised by any state for the common defence, all officers of or under the rank of
colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each state respectively, by whom such forces shall be
raised, or in such manner as such state shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which
first made the appointment.

Article VIII.
All charges of war, and all other expences that shall be incurred for the common defence or general
welfare, and allowed by the united states in congress assembled, shall be def rayed out of a common
treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the value of all land within each
state, granted to or surveyed for any Person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon
shall be estimated according to such mode as the united states in congress assembled, shall from time
to time direct and appoint.
The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the
legislatures of the several states within the time agreed upon by the united states in congress assembled.

Article IX.
The united states in congress assembled, shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of
determining on peace and war, except in the cases mentioned in the sixth article -- of sending and
receiving ambassadors -- entering into treaties and alliances, provided that no treaty of commerce shall
be made whereby the legislative power of the respective states shall be restrained from imposing such
imposts and duties on foreigners as their own people are subjected to, or from prohibiting the
exportation or importation of any species of goods or commodities, whatsoever -- of establishing rules
for deciding in all cases, what captures on land or water shall be legal, and in what manner prizes taken
by land or naval forces in the service of the united states shall be divided or appropriated -- of granting
letters of marque and reprisal in times of peace -- appointing courts for the trial of piracies and felonies
committed on the high seas and establishing courts for receiving and determining finally appeals in all
cases of captures, provided that no member of congress shall be appointed a judge of any of the said
courts.

The united states in congress assembled shall also be the last resort on appeal in all disputes and
differences now subsisting or that hereafter may arise between two or more states concerning boundary,
jurisdiction or any other cause whatever; which authority shall always be exercised in the manner
following. Whenever the legislative or executive authority or lawful agent of any state in controversy
with another shall present a petition to congress stating the matter in question and praying for a hearing,
notice thereof shall be given by order of congress to the legislative or executive authority of the other
state in controversy, and a day assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents, who
shall then be directed to appoint by joint consent, commissioners or judges to constitute a court for
hearing and determining the matter in question: but if they cannot agree, congress shall name three
persons out of each of the united states, and from the list of such persons each party shall alternately
strike out one, the petitioners beginning, until the number shall be reduced to thirteen; and from that
number not less than seven, nor more than nine names as congress shall direct, shall in the presence of
congress be drawn out by lot, and the persons whose names shall be so drawn or any five of them, shall
be commissioners or judges, to hear and finally determine the controversy, so always as a major part
of the judges who shall hear the cause shall agree in the determination: and if either party shall neglect
to attend at the day appointed, without showing reasons, which congress shall judge sufficient, or being
present shall refuse to strike, the congress shall proceed to nominate three persons out of each state,
and the secretary of congress shall strike in behalf of such party absent or refusing; and the judgment
and sentence of the court to be appointed, in the manner before prescribed, shall be final and conclusive;
and if any of the parties shall refuse to submit to the authority of such court, or to appear or defend
their claim or cause, the court shall nevertheless proceed to pronounce sentence, or judgment, which
shall in like manner be final and decisive, the judgment or sentence and other proceedings being in either
case transmitted to congress, and lodged among the acts of congress for the security of the parties
concerned: provided that every commissioner, before he sits in judgment, shall take an oath to be
administered by one of the judges of the supreme or superior court of the state, where the cause shall
be tried, "well and truly to hear and determine the matter in question, according to the best of his
judgment, without favour, affection or hope of reward:" provided also, that no state shall be deprived
of territory for the benefit of the united states.

All controversies concerning the private right of soil claimed under different grants of two or more
states, whose jurisdictions as they may respect such lands, and the states which passed such grants are
adjusted, the said grants or either of them being at the same time claimed to have originated antecedent
to such settlement of jurisdiction, shall on the petition of either party to the congress of the united
states, be finally determined as near as may be in the same manner as is before prescribed for deciding
disputes respecting territorial jurisdiction between different states.

The united states in congress assembled shall also have the sole and exclusive right and power of
regulating the alloy and value of coin struck by their own authority, or by that of the respective states
-- fixing the standard of weights and measures throughout the united states -- regulating the trade and
managing all affairs with the Indians, not members of any of the states, provided that the legislative
right of any state within its own limits be not infringed or violated -- establishing or regulating post
offices from one state to another, throughout all the united states, and exacting such postage on the
papers passing thro' the same as may be requisite to defray the expences of the said office -- appointing
all officers of the land forces, in the service of the united states, excepting regimental officers --
appointing all the officers of the naval forces, and commissioning all officers whatever in the service
of the united states -- making rules for the government and regulation of the said land and naval forces,
and directing their operations.

The united states in congress assembled shall have authority to appoint a committee, to sit in the recess
of congress, to be denominated "A Committee of the States," and to consist of one delegate from each
state; and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the
general affairs of the united states under their direction -- to appoint one of their number to preside,
provided that no person be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one year in any term
of three years; to ascertain the necessary sums of money to be raised for the service of the united states,
and to appropriate and apply the same for defraying the public expences to borrow money, or emit bills
on the credit of the united states, transmitting every half year to the respective states an account of the
sums of money so borrowed or emitted, -- to build and equip a navy -- to agree upon the number of
land forces, and to make requisitions from each state for its quota, in proportion to the number of white
inhabitants in such state; which requisition shall be binding, and thereupon the legislature of each state
shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men and cloth, arm and equip them in a soldier like
manner, at the expence of the united states; and the officers and men so cloathed, armed and quipped
shall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the united states in congress
assembled: But if the united states in congress assembled shall, on consideration of circumstances judge
proper that any state should not raise men, or should raise a smaller number than its quota, and that any
other state should raise a greater number of men than the quota thereof, such extra number shall be
raised, officered, cloathed, armed and equipped in the same manner as the quota of such state, unless
the legislature of such sta te shall judge that such extra number cannot be safely spared out of the same,
in which case they shall raise officer, cloath, arm and equip as many of such extra number as they judge
can be safely spared. And the officers and men so cloathed, armed and equipped, shall march to the
place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the united states in congress assembled.

The united states in congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque and
reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value
thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expences necessary for the defence and welfare of the united states,
or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the united states, nor appropriate
money, nor agree upon the number of vessels of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land
or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine states
assent to the same: nor shall a question on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day be
determined, unless by the votes of a majority of the united states in congress assembled.

The congress of the united states shall have power to adjourn to any time within the year, and to any
place within the united states, so that no period of adjournment be for a longer duration than the space
of six Months, and shall publish the Journal of their proceedings monthly, except such parts thereof
relating to treaties, alliances or military operations, as in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas
and nays of the delegates of each state on any question shall be entered on the Journal, when it is
desired by any delegate; and the delegates of a state, or any of them, at his or their request shall be
furnished with a transcript of the said Journal, except such parts as are above excepted, to lay before
the legislatures of the several states.

Article X.
The committee of the states, or any nine of them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of
congress, such of the powers of congress as the united states in congress assembled, by the consent of
nine states, shall from time to time think expedient to vest them with; provided that no power be
delegated to the said committee, for the exercise of which, by the articles of confederation, the voice
of nine states in the congress of the united states assembled is requisite.

Article XI.
Canada acceding to this confederation, and joining in the measures of the united states, shall be
admitted into, and entitled to all the advantages of this union: but no other colony shall be admitted into
the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine states.

Article XII.
All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed and debts contracted by, or under the authority of congress,
before the assembling of the united states, in pursuance of the present confederation, shall be deemed
and considered as a charge against the united states, for payment and satisfaction whereof the said
united states, and the public faith are hereby solemnly pledged.

Article XIII.
Every state shall abide by the determinations of the united states in congress assembled, on all questions
which by this confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this confederation shall be
inviolably observed by every state, and the union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time
hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the united states,
and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every state.
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 to us given for that pur pose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our
respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said articles of
confederation and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained: And
we do further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents, that they shall abide
by the determinations of the united states in congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said
confederation are submitted to them. And that the articles thereof shall be inviolably observed by the
states we respectively represent, and that the union shall be perpetual.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. 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, and in the third year of the independence of America.

On the part of & behalf of the State of New           On the part of & behalf of the State of
Hampshire:                                            Massachusetts Bay:
Josiah Bartlett                                       John Hancock
John Wentworth. Junr; August 8th, 1778                Samuel Adams
                                                      Elbridge Gerry
On the part and behalf of the State of Rhode-Island   Francis Dana
and Providence Plantations:                           James Lovell
William Ellery                                        Samuel Holten
Henry Marchant
John Collins                                          On the part and behalf of the State of Connecticut:
                                                      Roger Sherman
On the part and behalf of the State of New York:      Samuel Huntington
Jas Duane                                             Oliver Wolcott
Fra: Lewis                                            Titus Hosmer
Wm Duer                                               Andrew Adams
Gouvr Morris
                                                      On the Part and in Behalf of the State of New
On the part and behalf of the State of Pennsylvania:  Jersey, November 26th, 1778:
Robert Morris                                         Jno Witherspoon
Daniel Roberdeau                                      Nathl Scudder
Jon. Bayard Smith
William Clingar                                       On the part and behalf of the State of Delaware:
Joseph Reed; 22d July, 1778                           Thos McKean; Febr 22d, 1779
                                                      John Dickinson; May 5th, 1779
On the part and behalf of the State of Maryland:      Nicholas Van Dyke
John Hanson; March 1, 1781
Daniel Carroll, do.                                   On the part and behalf of the State of Virginia:
                                                      Richard Henry Lee
On the part and behalf of the State of North          John Banister
Carolina:                                             Thomas Adams
John Penn; July 21st, 1778                            Jno Harvie
Corns Harnett                                         Francis Lightfoot Lee
Jno Williams
                                                      On the part and behalf of the State of South
On the part and behalf of the State of Georgia:       Carolina:
Jno Walton; 24th July, 1778                           Henry Laurens
Edwd Telfair                                          William Henry Drayton
Edwd Langworthy                                       Jno Mathews
                                                      Richd Hutson
                                                      Thos Heyward, junr.
