US · constitutions
U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 4
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
History
The fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Thirty-ninth Congress, on the 13th of June, 1866. It was declared, in a certificate of the Secretary of State dated July 28, 1868 to have been ratified by the legislatures of 28 of the 37 States. Ratification was completed on July 9, 1868. Dated by the completion of ratification. Text as printed in H. Doc. 110-50, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA As Amended (Government Publishing Office; issued 2007-07-25, GovInfo CDOC-110hdoc50).
Provenance
- Source
- www.govinfo.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- h-doc-110-50
- Content hash
ff495f28c3b53cfefdfdaa12df56ca096ef12df4eee23938cb04a4ea78e2e331
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