[106th Congress House Rules Manual -- House Document No. 106-320]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office Online Database]
[DOCID:hrulest-1]

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                              CONSTITUTION

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  We the People <> of the United States, in
Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic
Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general
Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America.

  The First Continental <> Congress met in Philadelphia in September of 1774 and
adopted the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress,
embodying rights and principles later to be incorporated into the
Constitution of the United States. The Second Continental Congress
adopted in November of 1777 the Articles of Confederation, which the
States approved in July, 1778. Upon recommendation of the Continental
Congress, a convention of State representatives met in May, 1787 to
revise the Articles of Confederation and reported to the Continental
Congress in September a new Constitution, which the Congress submitted
to the States for ratification. Nine States, as required by the
Constitution for its establishment, had ratified by June 21, 1788, and
eleven States had ratified by July 26, 1788. The Continental Congress
adopted a resolution on September 13, 1788, putting the new Constitution
into effect; the First Congress of the United States convened on March
4, 1789, and George Washington was inaugurated as the first President on
April 30, 1789.