Section 9. 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.
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.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
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 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.
OK, I have a lot of questions and comments for the experts:
1. I don't understand what the first sentence is about. Can somebody explain it?
2. It seems like the writers anticipated Lincoln's suspension of Habeas Corpus since there was a rebellion. But what's to stop a President from just saying there is a rebellion? Or couldn't an event like Pearl Harbor or 9/11 be interpreted as an "invasion", and therefore allow Habeas Corpus to be suspended? And if it IS suspended, who decides that? The President? Or Congress?
3. And regarding the above and a bill of attainder, what exactly are we doing with prisoners in Guantanamo?
4. When it says no tax on articles "exported from any state" does that mean exported to other states? Or to other nations? If it's the latter, wouldn't that make any kind of tariff unconstitutional?
5. But in point of fact there ARE preferences between different ports aren't there? Don't states get to choose what the fees and taxes are? Or is that, according to this, unconstitutional?
6. The last two make sense. But if I understand the last one correctly, no American can be knighted by the Queen of England without the consent of Congress? Has this rule ever been violated or subject to controversy? (What about, for instance, Grace Kelly? Did she need to get the consent of Congress before she became a princess?)