Quill
  1. Overview: United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866
  2. Full Record: United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866
  3. Committee:Joint Committee of Fifteen on Reconstruction
  4. Session: 1866-04-23 10:00:00
  5. Event type: CREATE

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866

An amendment to the Constitution of the United States that granted citizenship and equal rights, both civil and legal, to Black Americans, including those who had been emancipated by the thirteenth amendment.

Joint Committee of Fifteen on Reconstruction

A special joint committee made up of nine members from the House of Representatives six members of the Senate. This committee was formed to inquire into the condition of the states in rebellion.

The Committee Secretary's View The Committee Secretary's View

To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.

Document introduced in:

Session 5630: 1866-04-23 10:00:00

The Joint Committee meets; the plan of reconstruction is further divided; the bill to provide for the restoration to the States lately in insurrection of their full political rights (part of the divided plan) is considered.

Document View (with components):

A Bill to Provide for the Restoration to the States Lately in Insurrection of Their Full Political Rights

There are 2 proposed amendments related to this document on which decisions have not been taken.

A Bill to provide for the restoration to the states lately in insurrection of their full political rights.

Whereas, It is expedient that the states lately in insurrection should, at the earliest day consistent with the future peace and safety of the Union, be restored to full participation in all political rights;

And, whereas, the Congress did, by joint resolution, propose for ratification to the legislatures of the several states, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, an article in the following words, to wit:

"Article—[+e899421].[-e899421]

"[-e899421]Section 1. No State[+e899421]discrimination[-e899421] shall be [-e899421]make or enforce any law which shall abridge[+e899421]de by any State nor by the United States as to[-e899421] the pr[+e899421]c[-e899421]ivileges or immunities[+e899421] rights of persons because of race, color or previous condition[-e899421] of citizens of[+e899421]servitude. [-e899421]

[-e899421]

"Sec. 2. From and after[-e899421] the United States;[+e899421]fourth day of July in the year 1876[-e899421] no disc[-e899421]rimination[-e899421] shall be made by [-e899421]any S[+e899421]s[-e899421]tate deprive any[+e899421]nor by the United States, as to the enjoyment, by classes of[-e899421] persons,[-e899421] of lif[+e899421]the right of suffrag[-e899421]e, li[+e899421]berty[+e899421]cause of race[-e899421], color [-e899421]or property, wi[+e899421]evious condition of servitude. [-e899421]

[-e899421]

"Sec. 3. Until [-e899421]the f[-e899421]our[-e899421]th[-e899421] due proce[+e899421]ay of July, 1876, no cla[-e899421]ss of law, nor deny to[+e899421]persons, as to the right of[-e899421] any person within its juris[+e899421]of whom to suffrage [-e899421]dis[-e899421]crimina[-e899421]tion the equal protec[+e899421]shall be made by any state, because of race, color or previous condi[-e899421]tion of servi[-e899421]tude, s[-e899421]hall b[-e899421]e laws. [+e899421]

[+e899421]

Sec. 2. R[+e899421]included in the basis of r[-e899421]epresentatives shall be app[+e899421]on. [-e899421]

[-e899421]

"Sec. 4. Debts [-e899421]or obliga[-e899421]tioned among the several states[+e899421]s already incurred or[-e899421] which may hereafter [-e899421]be includ[+e899421]urr[-e899421]ed with[+e899421]in this Un[+e899421]aid of insurrect[-e899421]ion acc[+e899421]ording to[+e899421] of war against[-e899421] their respective numbers, counting the whole numb[+e899421] Union, and claims for compensation for loss of involuntary s[-e899421]ervice[-e899421] of persons in each S[+e899421]r labor, shall not be paid by any s[-e899421]tate excluding Indians not taxed. But whenever in any S[+e899421]nor by the United States. [-e899421]

[-e899421]

"Sec. 5. No s[-e899421]tate the electiv[+e899421]shall make or enforc[-e899421]e fr[+e899421]anchise[+e899421]y law which[-e899421] shall be denied to any portion of[+e899421]abridge the privileges or[-e899421] immuni[-e899421]tie[-e899421]s male[+e899421]of[-e899421] citizens, not less than twenty-one years of age, or in[+e899421] of the United States; nor shall any state deprive[-e899421] any way abridged, except f[+e899421]person of life, liberty, [-e899421]or participation in rebellion or other crime,[+e899421]roperty without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdictio[-e899421]whenever the above recited amendment shall have become part of the Constitution, and any state lately in insurrection shall have ratified the same, and shall have modified its constitution and laws in conformity [+e899429]with [+e899429 -e899441]the[+e899429]rewi[+e899441] first section [+e899429 -e899441]th[+e899429]ereof[+e899429 -e899441], the Senators and Representatives from such state, if found duly elected and qualified, [+e899429]may[+e899434]shall[+e899429 -e899434], after having taken the required oaths of office, be admitted into Congress as such.[+e899429]n[-e899421] the basis of[+e899421]when any state lately in insurrection shall have ratified the foregoing proposed amendment to the Constitution, any part of the direct tax under the act of August 5, 1861, which may remain due and unpaid in such state, may be assumed and paid by such state; and the payment thereof, upon proper assurances from such state, to be given to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, may be postponed for a period not exceeding ten years from and after the passage of this act.[+e899430] representa[+e899421]equal protec[-e899421]tion in such State[+e899421]of the laws. [-e899421]

[-e899421]

"Sec. 6. The Congress[-e899421] shall be reduced in the [+e899421]have power to enforce by ap[-e899421]propo[+e899421]riate legisla[-e899421]tion which[+e899421] the number[+e899421]provisions[-e899421] of such male citizens shall bear to[+e899421]this article." [-e899421]

[-e899421]

Now, therefore, [-e899421]

[-e899421]

Be it enacted, by[-e899421] the whole number[+e899421]Senate and House[-e899421] of male citizens not less than twenty-one year[+e899421]Representatives of the United State[-e899421]s of age. [+e899421]

[+e899421]

Sec. 3. Until t[+e899421]America in Congress assembled, That w[-e899421]henever[-e899421] four[+e899421]th day of July, in the year 1870, [+e899421]e above recited amendment sh[-e899421]all persons who voluntarily adhered to th[+e899421]have become part of the Constitution, and any stat[-e899421]e lately in[-e899421] insurrection, giving it aid[+e899421] shall have ratified the same,[-e899421] and comfort, [+e899421]shall be excluded from[+e899421]have modified its constitution and laws in conformity with[-e899421] the right to vote f[+e899421]first section thereof, the Senat[-e899421]ors and[-e899421] Representatives in Congress and for[+e899421]from such state, if found duly[-e899421] electors for President and Vice-President[+e899421]ed and qualified, shall, after having taken the [-e899421]required[+e899415 -e899421]usual[-e899421]s[+e899416 -e899421] oatthe Un[+e899421]h of office, b[-e899421]e a[-e899421]dmiStat[+e899421]tted into [-e899421]Congress as[-e899421] such; Pro[-e899417]4. Ne[+e899421]vided, Tha[-e899421]t [-e899417]her[+e899421]u[-e899417]nti[-e899421]l a[-e899417] United St[+e899421]fter the four[-e899421]th[-e899417]es[+e899421] [-e899417]day[-e899421] [-e899417]or[+e899421]of Ju[-e899417]S[+e899421]l[-e899421]y, 18[-e899417]shall assume or pay an[+e899421]76, n[-e899421]o [-e899417]debt or obl[+e899421]p[-e899417]gatio[+e899421]er[-e899417]already [+e899421]so[-e899417]c[+e899421]n[-e899421] sha[-e899417]d, or which may hereafter be incurr[+e899421]ll be eligible to either branch of the Nationa[-e899421]l [-e899417], in[+e899421]Le[-e899417]id of i[+e899421]gislature who is i[-e899421]nc[-e899417]lud[-e899421]e[-e899417]rrec[+e899421]d in a[-e899417]or[+e899421]ny of th[-e899421]e fo[-e899417]war against the United States, or any claim for compensation for loss of involuntary service or labor. [+e899421]

[+e899421]

Sec. 5. Congress shall have power to enforce by ap[+e899421]llowing classes, namely: [-e899421]

[-e899421]

First. [-e899421]The President and V[+e899408 -e899421]Persons who, having been office[-e899421]-P[+e899408 -e899421]r[-e899421]e[+e899408 -e899421]s[-e899421]ident[+e899408 -e899421] of the [-e899421]Confederate States[+e899408 -e899421]army or navy of [-e899421]America so-called,—[+e899408 -e899421]the [-e899421]head[+e899408 -e899421]s of[+e899408 -e899417]riate legislation, the provisions of this article." [+e899421]

[+e899421]

Now, therefore, [+e899421]

[+e899421]

Be it enacted, by[+e899421] departments and the[+e899408 -e899421]United States, or having [-e899421]been me[-e899417]nate and House[+e899421]mbers o[-e899421]f [-e899417]bo[+e899408 -e899417]Rep[+e899421]th[-e899421] ho[+e899408 -e899421]us[+e899408 -e899417]sent[+e899421]e[+e899408 -e899417]tive[+e899421]s[+e899408 -e899417] of[+e899408 -e899421] [+e899408 -e899417]e 36th[-e899417]e[+e899408 -e899417] Congress[-e899417] the[+e899408 -e899417] of America in Congress assembled, That [+e899421]

[+e899421]

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That [+e899421]reof. [+e899408 -e899421]

[+e899408 -e899421]

Second. Those who[+e899408 -e899421], or having held in [-e899421]o[+e899408 -e899421]the[-e899421]r countries have acted as agents of[+e899408 -e899421] year 1860[-e899421] seats in the C[-e899417]onfederate States[+e899408 -e899417]abinet, o[-e899417]f Ame[+e899408 -e899417]r judic[-e899417]a, so-c[+e899408 -e899417]ial[-e899417]led. [+e899408 -e899417]

[+e899408 -e899417]

Third. Heads[+e899408 -e899417] of[-e899417] departments in the gov[+e899408 -e899417]fices under[-e899417]nment of[+e899408 -e899417] the United States, [-e899417]Judges of the Courts of the United States, officers of[+e899408 -e899417]did afterwards take part in the [-e899417]army and navy of the United States, and members of either house of the Congres[+e899408 -e899417]late insurrection. [-e899417]

[-e899417]

Second. Persons who have been civil or diplomatic officer[-e899417]United States, who aided the l[+e899408 -e899417]s of the so-called con[-e899417]rebellion. [+e899408 -e899417]

[+e899408 -e899417]

Fourth. Those who acted as[+e899408 -e899417]federate government, or officer[-e899417]Confederate States[+e899408 -e899417]s of the army or[-e899417]America so-called,[+e899408 -e899417] navy of said government a[-e899417]g[+e899408 -e899417]bo[-e899417]de[+e899408 -e899417]ve the ra[-e899417]nk of [+e899412]

[+e899412]

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That when any state lately in insurrection shall have ratified the foregoing proposed amendment to the Constitution, any part of the direct tax under the act of August 5, 1861, which may remain due and unpaid in such state, may be assumed and paid by such state; and the payment thereof, upon proper assurances from such state, to be given to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, may be postponed for a period not exceeding ten years from and after the passage of this act.[+e899412]colonel in or[+e899408]the ar[-e899408]mmaster[+e899402]y and of l[-e899402]ie, and any one who as governor of either of said so-called Confederate States gave aid or comfort to the rebellion. [+e899408]

[+e899408]

Fifth. Those who[+e899408]utenant in the navy. [-e899408]

[-e899408]

Third. Persons in regard to whom it sha[-e899408]ll appear that they have treated officers or soldiers or sailors of the army or nt[+e899408]a[-e899408]vy of the United Slates, of whatev[-e899408]er race,,[+e899408] or color, captured du[-e899408]ring the late civil war, otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of war. [-e899406]

[-e899406]

Fourth. Persons in regard to whom it shall appear that[-e899406] they are disloyal.

Decisions yet to be taken

Document Timeline

Other Actions

View document