Article I · Section 10 of 10
What states cannot do
Article I: Congress
The one-line version
Limits on states, like no treaties, no coining money, and no war without Congress.
Section 10 in plain English
No state can:
- Make a treaty or alliance with another country, or join a confederation
- Authorize private ships to capture enemy ships
- Make its own money or issue paper money
- Make anything except gold and silver coin legal payment for debts
- Pass a bill of attainder or an ex post facto law
- Pass a law that weakens existing contracts
- Give anyone a title of nobility
Without Congress's consent, a state cannot tax imports or exports, except what it truly needs to pay for inspections. Any money left over goes to the U.S. Treasury. Congress can change these state laws.
Without Congress's consent, a state cannot tax ships by their size, keep troops or warships in peacetime, or make agreements with another state or country. A state cannot go to war unless it is invaded or in danger too immediate to wait.
Original text, 1788
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.