Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8


[Volume 3, Page 383]

Document 6

Records of the Federal Convention

[2:183; Madison, 6 Aug.]

Sect. 7. The United States shall not grant any title of nobility.

[2:389; Madison, 23 Aug.]

On the question to agree to Art. VII--sect. 7. as reported It passed nem: contrad:

Mr Pinkney urged the necessity of preserving foreign Ministers & other officers of the U. S. independent of external influence and moved to insert--after Art VII sect 7. the clause following--"No person holding any office of profit or trust under the U. S. shall without the consent of the Legislature, accept of any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State which passed nem: contrad.

[2:572, 596; Committee of Style]

Sect. 7. The United States shall not grant any title of nobility. No person holding any office of profit or trust under the United States, shall without the consent of the Legislature accept of any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince or foreign State.

. . . . .

(f) 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.


The Founders' Constitution
Volume 3, Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8, Document 6
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a1_9_8s6.html
The University of Chicago Press

Farrand, Max, ed. The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787. Rev. ed. 4 vols. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1937.