Primary Document

The United States Constitution

Browse every article, section, and amendment — original text, framers' intent, historical evolution, and landmark cases.

Preamble

• Preamble We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure… Notable

Article I

• Section 1 cl. 1 All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shal… High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 1 The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of … Notable
• Section 2 cl. 2 No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and… Reference
• Section 2 cl. 3 Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included… Notable
• Section 2 cl. 4 When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall is… Reference
• Section 2 cl. 5 The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole P… Notable
• Section 3 cl. 1 The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Leg… Notable
• Section 3 cl. 2 Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divide… Reference
• Section 3 cl. 3 No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Y… Reference
• Section 3 cl. 4 The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, un… Notable
• Section 3 cl. 5 The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the… Reference
• Section 3 cl. 6 The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they sh… Notable
• Section 3 cl. 7 Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualif… Notable
• Section 4 cl. 1 The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescri… Notable
• Section 4 cl. 2 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Mond… Reference
• Section 5 cl. 1 Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a… Reference
• Section 5 cl. 2 Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, … Notable
• Section 5 cl. 3 Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, exceptin… Reference
• Section 5 cl. 4 Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for … Reference
• Section 6 cl. 1 The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained … Notable
• Section 6 cl. 2 No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any ci… Notable
• Section 7 cl. 1 All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may pr… Notable
• Section 7 cl. 2 Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it bec… High Impact
• Section 7 cl. 3 Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives… Notable
• Section 8 cl. 1 The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debt… High Impact
• Section 8 cl. 2 To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; Notable
• Section 8 cl. 3 To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; High Impact
• Section 8 cl. 4 To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies thro… Notable
• Section 8 cl. 5 To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and … Notable
• Section 8 cl. 6 To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States… Reference
• Section 8 cl. 7 To establish Post Offices and post Roads; Reference
• Section 8 cl. 8 To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inv… High Impact
• Section 8 cl. 9 To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; Notable
• Section 8 cl. 10 To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law … Notable
• Section 8 cl. 11 To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and… Notable
• Section 8 cl. 12 To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term th… Notable
• Section 8 cl. 13 To provide and maintain a Navy; Notable
• Section 8 cl. 14 To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; Reference
• Section 8 cl. 15 To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections an… Notable
• Section 8 cl. 16 To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of the… Reference
• Section 8 cl. 17 To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Mil… Notable
• Section 8 cl. 18 To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Power… High Impact
• Section 9 cl. 1 The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to… Notable
• Section 9 cl. 2 The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion… High Impact
• Section 9 cl. 3 No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. High Impact
• Section 9 cl. 4 No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration… Notable
• Section 9 cl. 5 No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. Notable
• Section 9 cl. 6 No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over… Reference
• Section 9 cl. 7 No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a r… Notable
• Section 9 cl. 8 No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Prof… Notable
• Section 10 cl. 1 No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Repris… Notable
• Section 10 cl. 2 No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports… Reference
• Section 10 cl. 3 No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of W… Notable

Article II

• Section 1 cl. 1 The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold hi… High Impact
• Section 1 cl. 2 Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors… Notable
• Section 1 cl. 3 The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one … Notable
• Section 1 cl. 4 The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give th… Reference
• Section 1 cl. 5 No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adopt… Notable
• Section 1 cl. 6 In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to d… Notable
• Section 1 cl. 7 The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither … Reference
• Section 1 cl. 8 Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—"I … Notable
• Section 2 cl. 1 The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Mili… High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 2 He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided tw… High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 3 The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Sen… Notable
• Section 3 cl. 1 He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend… Notable
• Section 4 cl. 1 The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Off… High Impact

Article III

• Section 1 cl. 1 The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior … High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 1 The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, th… High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 2 In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State s… High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 3 The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be h… Notable
• Section 3 cl. 1 Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to… Notable
• Section 3 cl. 2 The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shal… Notable

Article IV

• Section 1 cl. 1 Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceed… Notable
• Section 2 cl. 1 The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the sev… Notable
• Section 2 cl. 2 A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and… Notable
• Section 2 cl. 3 No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, sha… Reference
• Section 3 cl. 1 New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erec… Notable
• Section 3 cl. 2 The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting th… Notable
• Section 4 cl. 1 The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and … Notable

Article V

• Article V The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments t… High Impact

Article VI

• Article VI All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall b… Notable
• Article VI This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and a… High Impact
• Article VI The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures… Notable

Article VII

• Article VII The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of thi… Reference

Amendment I

• Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise… High Impact

Amendment II

• Amendment II A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people t… High Impact

Amendment III

• Amendment III No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor … Reference

Amendment IV

• Amendment IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreason… High Impact

Amendment V

• Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentmen… High Impact

Amendment VI

• Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an … High Impact

Amendment VII

• Amendment VII In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of tri… Notable

Amendment VIII

• Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments… High Impact

Amendment IX

• Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage … Notable

Amendment X

• Amendment X The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the State… High Impact

Amendment XI

• Amendment XI The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equit… Notable

Amendment XII

• Amendment XII The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-Preside… Notable

Amendment XIII

• Section 1 cl. 1 Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall … High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 1 Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Reference

Amendment XIV

• Section 1 cl. 1 All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are c… High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 1 Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers,… Reference
• Section 3 cl. 1 No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-Preside… Notable
• Section 4 cl. 1 The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred fo… Reference
• Section 5 cl. 1 The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article… Notable

Amendment XV

• Section 1 cl. 1 The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United Sta… High Impact
• Section 2 cl. 1 The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Reference

Amendment XVI

• Amendment XVI The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, wit… Notable

Amendment XVII

• Amendment XVII The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the pe… Reference
• Amendment XVII When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of s… Reference

Amendment XVIII

• Section 1 cl. 1 After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of int… Reference
• Section 2 cl. 1 The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropria… Reference
• Section 3 cl. 1 This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitu… Reference

Amendment XIX

• Amendment XIX The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United Sta… Notable

Amendment XX

• Section 1 cl. 1 The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the … Reference
• Section 2 cl. 1 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the… Reference
• Section 3 cl. 1 If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have… Reference
• Section 4 cl. 1 The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House … Reference
• Section 5 cl. 1 Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this art… Reference
• Section 6 cl. 1 This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitu… Reference

Amendment XXI

• Section 1 cl. 1 The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. Reference
• Section 2 cl. 1 The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for … Reference
• Section 3 cl. 1 This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitu… Reference

Amendment XXII

• Section 1 cl. 1 No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has hel… Notable
• Section 2 cl. 1 This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitu… Reference

Amendment XXIII

• Section 1 cl. 1 The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner a… Reference
• Section 2 cl. 1 The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Reference

Amendment XXIV

• Section 1 cl. 1 The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or… Reference
• Section 2 cl. 1 The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Reference

Amendment XXV

• Section 1 cl. 1 In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice Preside… Reference
• Section 2 cl. 1 Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice… Reference
• Section 3 cl. 1 Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the H… Reference
• Section 4 cl. 1 Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departm… Reference

Amendment XXVI

• Section 1 cl. 1 The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall no… Notable
• Section 2 cl. 1 The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Reference

Amendment XXVII

• Amendment XXVII No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take ef… Reference