The United States Constitution

Article I

The Legislative Branch

Establishes Congress — the Senate and House of Representatives — and defines its powers to make federal law.

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.

Article I contains 10 sections defining congressional structure, elections, powers, and limitations. Click 'Read Full Article' to access the complete text.

Article II

The Executive Branch

Establishes the Presidency, defines the powers of the Commander in Chief, and outlines the Electoral College.

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

Article II contains 4 sections defining presidential powers, elections, and the oath of office.

Article III

The Judicial Branch

Establishes the Supreme Court, defines federal judicial power, and addresses treason against the United States.

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.

Article III contains 3 sections establishing the Supreme Court and defining federal judicial power.

Article IV

The States

Defines the relationship between states, guarantees republican government to each state, and addresses admission of new states.

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.

Article IV contains 4 sections defining state relationships and federal guarantees to states.

Article V

The Amendment Process

Establishes the process for amending the Constitution — requiring two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of states.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress.

Article V — the full text. The entire amendment process in one paragraph.

Article VI

The Supremacy Clause

Establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, binding on all judges and government officials.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land.

Article VI contains 3 clauses establishing constitutional supremacy and binding oaths of office.

Article VII

Ratification

Established the process by which the Constitution would be ratified by nine of the thirteen original states.

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

Article VII — the full text. Nine states were required to ratify. New Hampshire was the ninth, on June 21, 1788.

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly & Petition

Protects five fundamental freedoms from government interference.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

2nd Amendment

Right to Bear Arms

Protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

3rd Amendment

Quartering of Soldiers

Prohibits housing soldiers in private homes without owner consent.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

4th Amendment

Search and Seizure

Protects against unreasonable searches and requires warrants with probable cause.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

5th Amendment

Rights of the Accused

Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

6th Amendment

Right to a Speedy Trial

Guarantees the right to a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

7th Amendment

Jury Trial in Civil Cases

Preserves the right to jury trial in federal civil cases.

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

8th Amendment

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

9th Amendment

Rights Retained by the People

Clarifies that rights not listed in the Constitution are retained by the people.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10th Amendment

Powers Reserved to the States

Powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

11th Amendment

Judicial Limits

Limits federal court jurisdiction over lawsuits against states.

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

12th Amendment

Presidential Election Process

Revised the Electoral College process for electing the President and Vice President.

The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate.

13th Amendment

Abolition of Slavery

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as criminal punishment.

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

14th Amendment

Citizenship Rights

Granted citizenship to formerly enslaved people and guaranteed equal protection of law.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

15th Amendment

Right to Vote (Race)

Prohibited denying the right to vote based on race or color.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

16th Amendment

Income Tax

Authorized Congress to levy a federal income tax.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

17th Amendment

Direct Election of Senators

Established direct election of senators by popular vote rather than state legislatures.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.

18th Amendment

Prohibition

Prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.

After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

19th Amendment

Right to Vote (Sex)

Prohibited denying the right to vote based on sex, granting women the right to vote.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

20th Amendment

Presidential Term Dates

Set the dates for the start of presidential and congressional terms.

The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified.

21st Amendment

Repeal of Prohibition

Repealed the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition.

The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

22nd Amendment

Presidential Term Limits

Limited the President to two elected terms.

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

23rd Amendment

DC Electoral Votes

Granted Washington D.C. electoral votes for presidential elections.

The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct a number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State.

24th Amendment

Abolition of Poll Tax

Prohibited poll taxes as a requirement to vote in federal elections.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.

25th Amendment

Presidential Succession

Clarified the order of presidential succession and procedures for vacancies.

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

26th Amendment

Voting Age

Lowered the federal voting age from 21 to 18.

The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

27th Amendment

Congressional Pay

Delayed any law changing congressional pay from taking effect until after the next election.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.