Soon after independence, America realized that the Articles of Confederation were not enough.
A Constitutional Meeting and Convention was held to create a Constitution.
(Note
There are several key differences between this constitution and the OTL USA constitution.
The Constitution of the United Provinces of the American Republic
Preamble
We the People of the United Provinces, in order to create the Most Perfect Union to inhabit this World, in order to create Justice and Freedom, to Defend the Nation, to secure Liberty and its Blessings to ourselves and our descendants, establish and support this Constitution of the United Provinces of the American Republic.
Article One: Basic Rights of an American
One
Congress shall never make a law to restrict or respect an establishment of religion. They shall not prohibit the exercise thereof, or limit the freedom of Speech or the Press. People must always be able to peacefully Meet or Inform the Government of grievances.
Two
The right of the people to bear Arms shall not be infringed.
Three
No soldier, in peace Time, shall be gathered in a house without Permission of The Owner. Nor shall a soldier be gathered in a house during time of War, unless prescribed By Law.
Four
The right of the people to not be Searched is guaranteed by a Warrant, and a Warrant must be supported by an Oath or Affirmation, and describing the Place to be searched and Object or Objects to be seized.
Five
All are guaranteed due process of Law before Proper punishment, if Justified, Proved, and Required, is inflicted.
Six
Accused shall enjoy a speedy and Public Trial.
Seven
When the value of Controversy shall exceed Twenty Dollars, right to Trial by Jury is to be preserved.
Eight
Excessive bail and fines are forbidden. Cruel and Unusual Punishments shall not be inflicted.
Nine
The Constitution must not be construed to deprive Rights of People
Ten
Powers not granted to the Federal Government or restricted of the States in the Constitution, are under control of the States.
Eleven
Judicial power must not extend to Foreign Powers or Other States
Twelve
Voters shall meet and Vote by Ballot their President, who is chosen out of Four Candidates. The Candidate with the highest amount of votes shall become President. If Two or More Candidates have an Identical Count of Votes, then the Previous President shall decide.
Election of the Vice President shall proceed identically and separately.
Thirteen
Slavery, if legal in a state, must not exceed ten years for a single person. After a person has been a Slave for a decade, they are released as Freemen.
Fourteen
All born or naturalized in the United Provinces shall be considered Citizens of the country and their State.
Fifteen
Only Citizens may vote. Only Males may vote. Race shall not be a restriction of vote. Slaves may not vote. Former Slaves who have been Freed may vote.
Congress has the power to enforce this rule.
Sixteen
Congress shall have the power to collect taxes on Incomes.
Seventeen
The Senate is composed of Two Senators Per State. Each Senator shall have one Vote.
When vacancies occur, a State may provide Writs of Election.
Eighteen
The President and Vice President are elected starting November 2nd and ending December 20th on the last year of their Terms. Four Months Preceding that, the Candidates are chosen starting June 5th and ending September 10th. They come into Power and the Previous Term shall End on January 1st.
A Presidential or Vice Presidential Term lasts Four Years. One person may Serve up to Three Terms.
If Presidents or Vice Presidents die or are unable to serve, emergency elections may be held.
Senators and Representatives are elected immediately when the previous Term ends.
A Term for a Senator or Representative lasts for Two Years.
Nineteen
If the President Dies or is unable to serve, the Vice President becomes President.
If the Vice President Dies or is unable to Serve, the Congress elects a new Vice President.
Twenty
Those eligible to vote must have attained at least Nineteen Years of Age.
Article Two: Legislative
One
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Two
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen Every Second Year, or whenever So it Be that a Term Ends.
Three
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Four
The requirements for a Senator are identical to that of a Representative.
Five
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, there must be an Oath or Affirmation.
Six
Time, Place, and Manner of Holding Elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed by Each State and its Legislature thereof.
Congress shall assemble at least Once every Year.
Seven
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide. Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member. Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal. Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Eight
All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law. Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Nine
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and Post Roads; To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Article Three: Executive
Exactly the same as OTL except no Electoral College
Article Four: States
Exactly the same as OTL
Article Five: Amendment
Exactly the same as OTL
Article Six: Debts, Oaths, Supremacy
Exactly the same as OTL
A Constitutional Meeting and Convention was held to create a Constitution.
(Note
There are several key differences between this constitution and the OTL USA constitution.The Constitution of the United Provinces of the American Republic
Preamble
We the People of the United Provinces, in order to create the Most Perfect Union to inhabit this World, in order to create Justice and Freedom, to Defend the Nation, to secure Liberty and its Blessings to ourselves and our descendants, establish and support this Constitution of the United Provinces of the American Republic.
Article One: Basic Rights of an American
One
Congress shall never make a law to restrict or respect an establishment of religion. They shall not prohibit the exercise thereof, or limit the freedom of Speech or the Press. People must always be able to peacefully Meet or Inform the Government of grievances.
Two
The right of the people to bear Arms shall not be infringed.
Three
No soldier, in peace Time, shall be gathered in a house without Permission of The Owner. Nor shall a soldier be gathered in a house during time of War, unless prescribed By Law.
Four
The right of the people to not be Searched is guaranteed by a Warrant, and a Warrant must be supported by an Oath or Affirmation, and describing the Place to be searched and Object or Objects to be seized.
Five
All are guaranteed due process of Law before Proper punishment, if Justified, Proved, and Required, is inflicted.
Six
Accused shall enjoy a speedy and Public Trial.
Seven
When the value of Controversy shall exceed Twenty Dollars, right to Trial by Jury is to be preserved.
Eight
Excessive bail and fines are forbidden. Cruel and Unusual Punishments shall not be inflicted.
Nine
The Constitution must not be construed to deprive Rights of People
Ten
Powers not granted to the Federal Government or restricted of the States in the Constitution, are under control of the States.
Eleven
Judicial power must not extend to Foreign Powers or Other States
Twelve
Voters shall meet and Vote by Ballot their President, who is chosen out of Four Candidates. The Candidate with the highest amount of votes shall become President. If Two or More Candidates have an Identical Count of Votes, then the Previous President shall decide.
Election of the Vice President shall proceed identically and separately.
Thirteen
Slavery, if legal in a state, must not exceed ten years for a single person. After a person has been a Slave for a decade, they are released as Freemen.
Fourteen
All born or naturalized in the United Provinces shall be considered Citizens of the country and their State.
Fifteen
Only Citizens may vote. Only Males may vote. Race shall not be a restriction of vote. Slaves may not vote. Former Slaves who have been Freed may vote.
Congress has the power to enforce this rule.
Sixteen
Congress shall have the power to collect taxes on Incomes.
Seventeen
The Senate is composed of Two Senators Per State. Each Senator shall have one Vote.
When vacancies occur, a State may provide Writs of Election.
Eighteen
The President and Vice President are elected starting November 2nd and ending December 20th on the last year of their Terms. Four Months Preceding that, the Candidates are chosen starting June 5th and ending September 10th. They come into Power and the Previous Term shall End on January 1st.
A Presidential or Vice Presidential Term lasts Four Years. One person may Serve up to Three Terms.
If Presidents or Vice Presidents die or are unable to serve, emergency elections may be held.
Senators and Representatives are elected immediately when the previous Term ends.
A Term for a Senator or Representative lasts for Two Years.
Nineteen
If the President Dies or is unable to serve, the Vice President becomes President.
If the Vice President Dies or is unable to Serve, the Congress elects a new Vice President.
Twenty
Those eligible to vote must have attained at least Nineteen Years of Age.
Article Two: Legislative
One
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Two
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen Every Second Year, or whenever So it Be that a Term Ends.
Three
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Four
The requirements for a Senator are identical to that of a Representative.
Five
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, there must be an Oath or Affirmation.
Six
Time, Place, and Manner of Holding Elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed by Each State and its Legislature thereof.
Congress shall assemble at least Once every Year.
Seven
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide. Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member. Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal. Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Eight
All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law. Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Nine
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and Post Roads; To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Article Three: Executive
Exactly the same as OTL except no Electoral College
Article Four: States
Exactly the same as OTL
Article Five: Amendment
Exactly the same as OTL
Article Six: Debts, Oaths, Supremacy
Exactly the same as OTL
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