[Sidenote:  Intercitizenship.] No title of nobility can be granted by the United States, and no federal officer can accept a present, office, or title from a foreign state without the consent of Congress.  “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”  Full faith and credit must be given in each state to the public acts and records, and to the judicial proceedings of every other state; and it is left for Congress to determine the manner in which such acts and proceedings shall be proved or certified.  The citizens of each state are “entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.”  There is mutual extradition of criminals, and, as a concession to the southern states it was provided that fugitive slaves should be surrendered to their masters.  The United States guarantees to every state a republican form of government, it protects each state against invasion; and on application from the legislature of a state, or from the executive when the legislature cannot be convened, it lends a hand in suppressing insurrection.

[Sidenote:  Mode of making amendments.] Amendments to the Constitution may at any time be proposed in pursuance of a two thirds vote in both houses of Congress, or by a convention called at the request of the legislatures of two thirds of the states.  The amendments are not in force until ratified by three-fourths of the states, either through their legislatures or through special conventions, according to the preference of Congress.  This makes it difficult to change the Constitution, as it ought to be; but it leaves it possible to introduce changes that are very obviously desirable.  The Articles of Confederation could not be amended except by a unanimous vote of the states; and this made their amendment almost impossible.

After assuming all debts contracted and engagements made by the United States before its adoption, the Constitution goes on to declare itself the supreme law of the land.  By it, and by the laws and treaties made under it, the judges in every state are bound, in spite of anything contrary in the constitution or laws of any state.

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT.

1.  In what two features of the Constitution does its strength largely lie?

2.  Distinguish between the United States as a confederation and the United States as a federal union.  How does the German language bring out the distinction?

3.  What was the first important factor in transforming our country from a Band-of-States to a Banded-State?

4.  The powers granted to Congress:—­
  a.  Over taxes, money, and commerce.
  b.  Over postal affairs, and the rights of inventors and authors.
  c.  Over certain crimes.
  d.  Over war and military matters.
  e.  Over naturalization and bankruptcy.
  f.  Over the District of Columbia and other places.
  g.  The “elastic clause” and its interpretation.