Who is responsible to pay back all debts in the constitution?
Asked by: Jaqueline Crona | Last update: July 30, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (69 votes)
art. I, § 8, cl. 1 ( The Congress shall have Power . . . to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States . . . . ).
What does the Constitution say about debt?
Fourteenth Amendment, Section 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.
What does the Constitution say about all previous debts?
Article VI Supreme Law
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
What does article 7 of the Constitution deal with?
The text of Article VII declares that the Constitution shall become the official law of the ratifying states when nine states ratified the document. When New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, the Constitution became good law.
What does clause 18 of the Constitution mean?
Clause 18 Necessary and Proper Clause
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.
Who does the US Owe its $35 Trillion debt? (National Debt Explained)
What is Clause 17 of the Constitution?
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 Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the ...
What is the 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights?
10th Amendment:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
What is Section 5 of the 14th Amendment?
Section Five of the Fourteenth Amendment vests Congress with the authority to adopt “appropriate” legislation to enforce the other parts of the Amendment—most notably, the provisions of Section One.
What does the 13th Amendment do?
Amendment Thirteen to the Constitution – the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments – was ratified on December 6, 1865. It forbids chattel slavery across the United States and in every territory under its control, except as a criminal punishment.
What does the 26th Amendment state?
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Does Congress have the power to pay the debts of states?
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1: 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; . . .
What is legal declaration that a person Cannot repay his or her debts?
Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people and businesses can obtain a fresh financial start when they are in such financial difficulty that they can not repay their debts as agreed.
What did Thomas Jefferson say about debt?
Jefferson viewed both personal debt and the national debt as threats to the American experiment in self-government, presenting risks to civic responsibility, endangering government stability and hampering investment to improve individual and national prosperity.
Why can't the US pay their debt?
Funding Programs & Services
The federal government needs to borrow money to pay its bills when its ongoing spending activities and investments cannot be funded by federal revenues alone. Decreases in federal revenue are largely due to either a decrease in tax rates or individuals or corporations making less money.
What debts are valid under the Constitution?
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
Whose debts were not to be repaid according to the 14th Amendment?
The amendment prohibited former Confederate states from repaying war debts and compensating former slave owners for the emancipation of their enslaved people.
What does the 20th Amendment say?
If there is no president-elect before Inauguration Day, the Twentieth Amendment allows the vice president-elect to act in that role until a new one can be appointed by Congress.
What is the 13th Amendment loophole?
The 13th Amendment reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Some refer to this clause as the criminal-exception loophole, which allowed the ...
What does the 14th Amendment mean in simple terms?
The 14th Amendment provides, in part, that no state can "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Title IX specifically prohibits sex discrimination. The 14th Amendment and the Evolution of Title IX.
What does section 7 of the Constitution mean?
Section 7: Legislative Process
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.
What did the 24th Amendment say?
Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 24 – “Elimination of Poll Taxes” Amendment Twenty-four to the Constitution was ratified on January 23, 1964. It abolished and forbids the federal and state governments from imposing taxes on voters during federal elections.
What does the 11th Amendment say?
“The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.”
What does the Sixth Amendment do?
It gives citizens a series of rights in criminal trials. They include the rights to a fast and public trial by an impartial jury, to be aware of the criminal charges, to confront witnesses during the trial, to have witnesses appear in the trial, and the right to legal representation.
What is the 19th Amendment?
Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote. The 19th amendment legally guarantees American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle—victory took decades of agitation and protest.
What is the eighth Amendment right?
It forbids the use of excessive bails or fines in criminal trials, as well as punishments considered to be “cruel and unusual.” The original text is written as such: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.