Constitution for the United States of America
Note: The following text is a transcription of the Constitution in its original form. Items in bold hypertext have since been amended or superseded, text in italics is not law. This deoxy.org edition combines the best features of versions from the National Archives and Records Administration (accurate text, constitutional changes linked to their amendments) and Cornell University (table of contents), with slightly denser hypertext, addition of modern numbers near roman numerals in article and amendment titles, and condensation into one html file.
- Preamble "We the people...."
- 1stArticle I The Legislative Branch
- Section 1. Legislative Power Vested
- Section 2. House of Representatives
- Section 3. Senate
- Section 4. Elections of Senators and Representatives
- Section 5. Rules of House and Senate
- Section 6. Compensation and Privileges of Members
- Section 7. Passage of Bills
- Section 8. Scope of Legislative Power
- Section 9. Limits on Legislative Power
- Section 10. Limits on States
- 2ndArticle II The Presidency
- Section 1. Election, Installation, Removal
- Section 2. Presidential Power
- Section 3. State of the Union, Receive Ambassadors, Laws Faithfully Executed, Commission Officers
- Section 4. Impeachment
- 3rdArticle III The Judiciary
- Section 1. Judicial Power Vested
- Section 2. Scope of Judicial Power
- Section 3. Treason
- 4thArticle IV The States
- Section 1. Full Faith and Credit
- Section 2. Privileges and Immunities, Extradiction, Fugitive Slaves
- Section 3. Admission of States
- Section 4. Guarantees to States
- 5thArticle V The Amendment Process
- 6thArticle VI Legal Status of the Constitution
- 7thArticle VII Ratification
- Signers
- Amendments
- Preamble to the Bill of Rights
- 1stAmendment I Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition (1791)
- 2ndAmendment II Right to Bear Arms (1791)
- 3rdAmendment III Quartering of Troops (1791)
- 4thAmendment IV Search and Seizure (1791)
- 5thAmendment V Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process (1791)
- 6thAmendment VI Criminal Prosecutions - Jury Trial, Right to Confront and to Counsel (1791)
- 7thAmendment VII Common Law Suits - Jury Trial (1791)
- 8thAmendment VIII Excess Bail or Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment (1791)
- 9thAmendment IX Non-Enumerated Rights (1791)
- 10thAmendment X Rights Reserved to States (1791)
- 11thAmendment XI Suits Against a State (1795)
- 12thAmendment XII Election of President and Vice-President (1804)
- 13thAmendment XIII Abolition of Slavery (1865)
- 14thAmendment XIV Privileges and Immunities, Due Process, Equal Protection, Apportionment of Representatives, Civil War Disqualification and Debt (1868)
- 15thAmendment XV Rights Not to Be Denied on Account of Race (1870)
- 16thAmendment XVI Income Tax (1913)
- 17thAmendment XVII Election of Senators (1913)
- 18thAmendment XVIII Prohibition (1919)
- 19thAmendment XIX Women's Right to Vote (1920)
- 20thAmendment XX Presidential Term and Succession (1933)
- 21stAmendment XXI Repeal of Prohibition (1933)
- 22ndAmendment XXII Two Term Limit on President (1951)
- 23rdAmendment XXIII Presidential Vote in D.C. (1961)
- 24thAmendment XXIV Poll Tax (1964)
- 25thAmendment XXV Presidential Succession (1967)
- 26thAmendment XXVI Right to Vote at Age 18 (1971)
- 27thAmendment XXVII Compensation of Members of Congress (1992)
Section. 1.
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.Section. 2.
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section. 3.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Prof