Article I – Section 9, paragraph 1:
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
Seems before 1808 we had a very open immigration policy.
Paragraphs 2-5:
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, [unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken]1.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
1- Changed by the 16th Amendment in the early 1900s.
There’s certainly a lot we could talk about when it comes to Habeas Corpus. I wonder who gets to define when a rebellion or invasion has happened? The phrase public safety is also pretty wide. I’m not sure if trying to spell out what situations would trigger those clauses would help or not.
Paragraphs 6-8:
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Ships can move from state to state without having to pay fees, and money only leaves the treasury if a law says so. Not sure that ‘time to time’ tells me much. Every year, two years, decade?
Simply by observation I’ve known that we don’t grant titles (like knight/sir) to people in the US, but I didn’t realize that it was specifically not allowed under the Constitution. And beyond that we aren’t even allowed to accept such titles from other countries.
Other Constitution posts.