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The Constitution of the United States · 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.
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United States · 1787 and amendments I–XXVII
National Archives transcriptions of the 1787 parchment and amendments I–XXVII; original wording, including superseded provisions.
Passage preview. Read in context for the complete text, notes and references.