the functions of the state government. By inference, the United States could insist upon a republican form of government even if the people of the state desired some other. Happily, no necessity for the exercise of this power has yet arisen.

2This would have been the duty of the general government, even if this provision had not been made. To defend the country against invasion is one of the principal duties of government. The government was organized "to provide for the common defense."

To insure domestic tranquillity" was another reason given for the establishment of the constitution. But lest the general government should make every little disturbance a pretext for interfering with the local affairs of a state, it was provided that no interference should occur until asked for by state authority.

Pertinent Questions.

If a judgment is secured against a resident of New York and he moves to Minnesota without paying it, could he be held responsible in Minnesota without another suit? Is a marriage ceremony performed in Illinois binding in Kansas?

Define citizen. Can a person be a citizen of the United States without being a citizen of any state? Could he be a citizen of a state and not be a citizen of the United States? A certain southern state imposed a tax upon commercial travelers not residents of that state; was the act constitutional? What is the Civil Rights bill, and why was it passed? Can a citizen of any state claim in another state any privileges peculiar to the state from which he removed?

How is a "fugitive from_justice" secured when he has escaped into another state? Is a governor obliged to surrender an escaped criminal upon demand of the authorities of the state from which he escaped? How is a criminal secured if he escapes into another country? Name countries with which we have extradition treaties. Have we any with Canada?

What were the provisions of the fugitive slave law?

Did the articles of confederation provide for the admission of new states into the union? Name the first state admitted into the Union. The last. What territories are now seeking admission into the sisterhood of states? How does a territory become a state? What advantages are gained by becoming a

state? Is congress bound to admit new states? Can congress compel a territory to become a state? Can it compel a state to remain a state? Is there such a thing in our system as a state out of the Union?

What does a citizen of the United States lose by moving into a territory?

Does the constitution define a republican government? Is any particular department charged with the duty of guaranteeing to each st te a republican form of government?

When did the United States protect a state against invasion? Against domestic violence? Have any states been admitted into the Union more than once?

CHAPTER XXVI.

ARTICLE V.-AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

The congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as a 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;1 provided, that no amendment, which may be made prior to the year one thausand 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.3

1No one realized more fully than the framers of the constitution that, with the best thought which they could give to it, the constitution might need amending,

and therefore they provided ways for proposing and ratifying amendments.

It is purposely made difficult to amend the constitution because the fundamental law should not be changed except for weighty reasons. If these exist, the amendments may be made; the difficulty is not so great as to be insurmountable.

2 By reading the clauses referred to, the student will readily see whom this was a concession to.

3 This was to protect the small states, in whose interest the senate was organized.

The first ten amendments were proposed by congress in 1789, and they were ratified in 1791.

Two other amendments were proposed at the same time, but they were not ratified. One of them was to regulate the number of representatives; the other, to prevent congressmen from increasing their own salaries. The eleventh amendment was proposed in 1796, and ratified in 1798.

The twelfth amendment was proposed in 1803, and ratified in 1804.

An amendment prohibiting citizens of the United States from accepting any titles, pensions, or presents from any foreign power, on pain of loss of citizenship, was proposed in 1811, but it was not ratified.

An amendment making slavery perpetual was proposed in 1861, in the hope that this might avert the war, but it was not ratified.

The thirteenth amendment was proposed and ratified in 1865; the fourteenth was proposed in 1866, and ratified in 1868; the fifteenth was proposed in 1869, and ratified in 1870.

The sixteenth amendment was proposed in 1909, and ratified in 1913.

The seventeenth amendment was proposed in 1912, and ratified in 1913.

The proposals of amendments have thus far all been made by congress, and all ratifications have been made by the state legislatures.

Pertinent Questions.

State four ways in which the constitution may be amended. What temporary limitation was placed upon the power to amend the constitution? What permanent prohibition? How is the English constitution amended? In what case must congress call a convention to propose amendments? Must the convention thus called propose any amendments? Which is the better of the two ways of proposing amendments? When an amendment is proposed by two-thirds of both houses of congress, is it necessary to secure the approval of the president? Can a state withdraw its ratification of an amendment? When is an amendment, once proposed, dead? Did it take threefourths of all the states or only three-fourths of the loyal states to ratify the thirteenth amendment? How many of the disloyal states finally ratified it? How is the ratification and consequent validity of any proposed amendment made known?

CHAPTER XXVII.

ARTICLE VI.-MISCELLANEOUS.

Clause 1.-Prior Debts and Engagements.

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.

The debts were incurred and the engagements were entered into by the United States, and changing the form of government would not release the country from its obligations. The insertion of this provision how

ever, served as an explicit statement of the purpose of the government to live up to its engagements.

Clause 2.-National Supremacy.

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, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

This provision settles definitely, and in what would seem to be unmistakable terms, the question of supremacy, about which so much discussion has been carried on. Within its sphere, within the limitations placed upon it by the constitution itself, the national government has the supremacy over any and all state governments.

Clause 3.-Oath of Office.

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.'

'The first law passed by congress under the constitution was an act prescribing the form of the oath required by the provision above It is as follows: "I, A. B., do solemnly swear, or affirm (as the case may be), that I will support the constitution of the United States."