tary, under the United States or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability. SEC. 4. Public debt. 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. SEC. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. (Amendment proposed June 16, 1866; declared ratified July 28, 1868.) ARTICLE XV. SECTION 1. Elective Franchise. — The rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or any State, on account of race or color, or previous condition of servitude. SEC. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. (Amendment proposed February 27, 1869; declared ratified March 30, 1870.) LAW TERMS AND MAXIMS. A. A fortiori. By so much the stronger; by a more powerful reason. A mensa et thoro. "From bed and board." A divorce between husband and wife which does not make the marriage void ab initio, or from the beginning. A prendre. To take; to seize. A verbis legis non est recedendum. From the words of the law there should be no departure. A vinculo matrimonii. From the bond of marriage. Ab origine. From the beginning. Absoluta sententia expositore non indiget. An absolute, unqualified sentence, or proposition, needs no expositor. Actio accrevit. An action has accrued. Actio personalis moritur cum persona. A personal action dies with the person. Actor sequitur forum rei. The plaintiff must follow the forum of the thing in dispute. Actus curiæ neminem gravabit. An act of the court shall prejudice no man. Actus Dei neminem facit injuriam. The act of God does wrong to no one i. e., no one is responsible in damages for inevitable accidents. Ad finem litis. To the conclusion of the suit. Ad idem "To the same." To the like intent. Ad infinitum. "To eternity." To the utmost. Ad libitum. At pleasure; at will. |