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:

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

Shown with amendment 'A Bill to Provide for the Restoration to the States Lately in Insurrection of Their Full Political Rights: Modification of the Preamble to Conform with the Action of the Committee' (e899421)

(Showing state at moment e899438)
There are 5 proposed amendments related to this document on which decisions have not been taken.
Jump to change 1 Jump to change 2 Jump to change 3 Jump to change 4 Jump to change 5 Jump to change 6 Jump to change 7 Jump to change 8 Jump to change 9 Jump to change 10 Jump to change 11 Jump to change 12 Jump to change 13 Jump to change 14 Jump to change 15 Jump to change 16 Jump to change 17 Jump to change 18 Jump to change 19 Jump to change 20 Jump to change 21 Jump to change 22 Jump to change 23 Jump to change 24 Jump to change 25 Jump to change 26 Jump to change 27 Jump to change 28 Jump to change 29 Jump to change 30 Jump to change 31 Jump to change 32 Jump to change 33 Jump to change 34 Jump to change 35 Jump to change 36 Jump to change 37 Jump to change 38 Jump to change 39 Jump to change 40 Jump to change 41 Jump to change 42 Jump to change 43 Jump to change 44 Jump to change 45 Jump to change 46 Jump to change 47 Jump to change 48 Jump to change 49 Jump to change 50 Jump to change 51 Jump to change 52 Jump to change 53 Jump to change 54 Jump to change 55 Jump to change 56 Jump to change 57 Jump to change 58 Jump to change 59 Jump to change 60 Jump to change 61 Jump to change 62 Jump to change 63 Jump to change 64 Jump to change 65 Jump to change 66 Jump to change 67 Jump to change 68 Jump to change 69 Jump to change 70 Jump to change 71 Jump to change 72 Jump to change 73 Jump to change 74 Jump to change 75 Jump to change 76 Jump to change 77 Jump to change 78 Jump to change 79 Jump to change 80 Jump to change 81 Jump to change 82 Jump to change 83 Jump to change 84 Jump to change 85 Jump to change 86 Jump to change 87 Jump to change 88 Jump to change 89 Jump to change 90 Jump to change 91 Jump to change 92 Jump to change 93 Jump to change 94 Jump to change 95 Jump to change 96 Jump to change 97 Jump to change 98 Jump to change 99 Jump to change 100 Jump to change 101 Jump to change 102 Jump to change 103 Jump to change 104 Jump to change 105 Jump to change 106 Jump to change 107 Jump to change 108 Jump to change 109 Jump to change 110 Jump to change 111 Jump to change 112 Jump to change 113 Jump to change 114 Jump to change 115 Jump to change 116 Jump to change 117 Jump to change 118 Jump to change 119 Jump to change 120 Jump to change 121 Jump to change 122 Jump to change 123 Jump to change 124 Jump to change 125 Jump to change 126 Jump to change 127 Jump to change 128 Jump to change 129 Jump to change 130 Jump to change 131 Jump to change 132 Jump to change 133 Jump to change 134 Jump to change 135 Jump to change 136 Jump to change 137 Jump to change 138 Jump to change 139 Jump to change 140 Jump to change 141 Jump to change 142 Jump to change 143 Jump to change 144 Jump to change 145 Jump to change 146 Jump to change 147 Jump to change 148 Jump to change 149 Jump to change 150 Jump to change 151 Jump to change 152 Jump to change 153 Jump to change 154 Jump to change 155 Jump to change 156 Jump to change 157 Jump to change 158 Jump to change 159 Jump to change 160 Jump to change 161 Jump to change 162 Jump to change 163 Jump to change 164 Jump to change 165 Jump to change 166 Jump to change 167 Jump to change 168 Jump to change 169 Jump to change 170 Jump to change 171 Jump to change 172

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.

"Section 1. No Statediscrimination shall be make or enforce any law which shall abridgede by any State nor by the United States as to the prcivileges or immunities rights of persons because of race, color or previous condition of citizens ofservitude.

"Sec. 2. From and after the United States;fourth day of July in the year 1876 no discrimination shall be made by any Sstate deprive anynor by the United States, as to the enjoyment, by classes of persons, of lifthe right of suffrage, libertycause of race, color or property, wievious condition of servitude.

"Sec. 3. Until the fourth due proceay of July, 1876, no class of law, nor deny topersons, as to the right of any person within its jurisof whom to suffrage discrimination the equal protecshall be made by any state, because of race, color or previous condition of servitude, shall be laws.

Sec. 2. Rincluded in the basis of representatives shall be appon.

"Sec. 4. Debts or obligationed among the several statess already incurred or which may hereafter be includurred within this Unaid of insurrection according to of war against their respective numbers, counting the whole numb Union, and claims for compensation for loss of involuntary service of persons in each Sr labor, shall not be paid by any state excluding Indians not taxed. But whenever in any Snor by the United States.

"Sec. 5. No state the electivshall make or enforce franchisey law which shall be denied to any portion ofabridge the privileges or immunities maleof citizens, not less than twenty-one years of age, or in of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any way abridged, except fperson of life, liberty, or participation in rebellion or other crime,roperty without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the basis of representaequal protection in such Stateof the laws.

"Sec. 6. The Congress shall be reduced in the have power to enforce by approporiate legislation which the numberprovisions of such male citizens shall bear tothis article."

Now, therefore,

Be it enacted, by the whole numberSenate and House of male citizens not less than twenty-one yearRepresentatives of the United States of age.

Sec. 3. Until tAmerica in Congress assembled, That whenever fourth day of July, in the year 1870, e above recited amendment shall persons who voluntarily adhered to thhave become part of the Constitution, and any state lately in insurrection, giving it aid shall have ratified the same, and comfort, shall be excluded fromhave modified its constitution and laws in conformity with the right to vote ffirst section thereof, the Senators and Representatives in Congress and forfrom such state, if found duly electors for President and Vice-Presidented and qualified, shall, after having taken the required oaths of the Unoffice, be admitted Statinto Congress as such.

Sec. 4. Ne2. And be ither furthe United Str enacted, Thates whenor any Sstate shall assume or pay anlately debt or obligation already incsurred, or which may hereafter be incurrction shall have ratified the foregoing proposed, in aid of imendment to the Constiturrection, orany part of war against the United States, or any claim for compensation for loss of involuntary service or labor.

Sec. 5. Congress shall have power to enforce by apthe 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 propriate legislation, the provisions of this article."

Now, therefore,

Be it enacted, byer assurances from such state, to be given to the Senate and Housecretary of Repthe Tresentativesury of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That , may be postponed for a period not exceeding ten years from and after the passage of this act.

Decisions yet to be taken

Document Timeline