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  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:Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union of the House of Representatives
  4. Session: 1866-06-20 00:00:00
  5. Event type: CREATE_FROM

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.

Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union of the House of Representatives

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Document introduced in:

Session 14400: 1866-06-20 00:00:00

The House, in Committee of the Whole, vote to lay S. 623 aside.

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H. R. 623

There is 1 proposed amendment related to this document on which a decision has not been taken.

A BILL

To enable the States lately in rebellion to regain their privileges in the Union.

Whereas the eleven States which lately formed the government called the "Confederate States of America," have forfeited all their rights under the Constitution, and can be reinstated in the same only through the action of Congress: Therefore,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the eleven States lately in rebellion may form valid State governments in the following manner:

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the State government now existing de facto, though illegally formed in the midst of martial law, and in many instances the constitutions were adopted under duress, and not submitted to the ratification of the people, and therefore are not to be treated as free republics, yet they are hereby acknowledged as valid governments for municipal purposes until the same shall be duly altered, and their legislative and executive officers shall be recognized as such.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That whenever the legislatures of said States shall enact that conventions shall be called to form legitimate State governments by the formation and adoption of State constitutions, the governor, or chief executive officer shall direct an election to be held on a day certain, to choose delegates to a convention, who shall meet at the time fixed by the legislature and form a State constitution which shall be submitted to a vote of the people, and if ratified by a majority of the legal voters shall be declared the constitution of the State.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the persons who shall be entitled to vote at both of said elections shall be as follows: All male citizens above the age of twenty-one years, who have resided one year in said State, or ten days within the election district.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the word citizen, as used in this act, shall be construed to mean all persons (except Indians not taxed) born in the United States, or duly naturalized. Any male citizen above the age of twenty-one years shall be competent to be elected to act as delegate to said convention.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That all persons who held office, either civil or military, under the government called the "Confederate States of America," or who swore allegiance to said government, are hereby declared to have forfeited their citizenship and to have renounced allegiance to the United States, and shall not be entitled to exercise the elective franchise until five years after they shall have filed their intention or desire to be reinvested with the right of citizenship, and shall swear allegiance to the United States and renounce allegiance to all other governments or pretended governments; the said application to be filed and oath taken in the same courts that by law are authorized to naturalize foreigners.

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That no constitution shall be presented to or acted on by Congress which denies to any citizen any rights, privileges, or immunities which are granted to any other citizen in the State. All laws shall be impartial without regard to language, race, or former condition. If the provisions of this section should ever be altered, repealed, expunged, or in any way abrogated, this act shall become void and said State lose its right to be represented in Congress.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That whenever the foregoing conditions shall be complied with, the citizens of said State may present said constitution to Congress, and if the same shall be approved by Congress said State shall be declared entitled to the rights, privileges, and immunities, and be subject to all the obligations and liabilities of a State within the Union. No senator or representative shall be admitted into either house of Congress until Congress shall have declared the State entitled thereto.

Decisions yet to be taken

  • H. R. 623 (introduced on 1866-06-20 00:00:00 - CREATE_FROM - e902332) [This document]
    • Motion to Read H. R. 623 and Amendments (introduced on 1866-07-25 00:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e902495)

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