Preamble

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article I — The Legislative Branch

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

§2.1 The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States…

§2.5 The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section 3 — The Senate

§3.1 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. [Amended by Amendment XVII — direct election]

§3.6 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.

Section 7 — Lawmaking

§7.1 All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.

§7.2 Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated… If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall become a Law. [Presidential veto and veto override]

Section 8 — Powers of Congress

§8.1 The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States…

§8.3 To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; [The Commerce Clause]

§8.11 To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

§8.18 To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. [The Necessary and Proper Clause]

Section 9 — Limits on Congress

§9.2 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.

§9.3 No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

Article II — The Executive Branch

Section 1 — The President

§1.1 The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years…

§1.2 Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress. [The Electoral College]

§1.5 No Person except a natural born Citizen… shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

§1.8 "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." [Presidential oath]

Section 2 — Powers of the President

§2.1 The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States…; he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

§2.2 He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate… Judges of the supreme Court…

Section 4 — Impeachment

The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article III — The Judicial Branch

Section 1 — The Supreme Court

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. The Judges… shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour…

Section 2 — Jurisdiction

§2.1 The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties… [Note: Marbury v. Madison (1803) inferred judicial review from this provision]

§2.3 The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury…

Section 3 — Treason

Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Article IV — The States

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

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government…

Article V — The Amendment Process

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution… which… shall be valid… when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States…

Article VI — Supremacy

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties… shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. [The Supremacy Clause]

The Bill of Rights — Amendments I–X (1791)

Amend. I 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.

Amend. II 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.

Amend. III 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.

Amend. IV 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.

Amend. V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury… nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy… 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. [Takings Clause]

Amend. VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury…; 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.

Amend. VII In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved…

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

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

Amend. X 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.

Later Amendments (XI–XXVII)

Amend. XI · 1795 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.

Amend. XII · 1804 [Electoral College reform — separate ballots for President and Vice President. Supersedes Article II, Section 1, Clause 3.]

Amend. XIII · 1865 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. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amend. XIV · 1868

Section 1. 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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress… who, having previously taken an oath… to support the Constitution… shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same… [The Disqualification Clause]

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Amend. XV · 1870 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.

Amend. XVI · 1913 The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States…

Amend. XVII · 1913 The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years… [Replaces Article I, Section 3 — previously elected by state legislatures]

Amend. XVIII · 1919 Prohibition of intoxicating liquors. Repealed by Amendment XXI (1933).

Amend. XIX · 1920 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.

Amend. XX · 1933 [The "Lame Duck" Amendment — moves inauguration from March 4 to January 20; Congress convenes January 3.]

Amend. XXI · 1933 The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Amend. XXII · 1951 No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice… [Two-term limit, proposed after FDR's four terms]

Amend. XXIII · 1961 [Grants the District of Columbia Electoral College votes — at least 3, not exceeding the least populous State]

Amend. XXIV · 1964 The right of citizens of the United States to vote… shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Amend. XXV · 1967

Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of… the principal officers of the executive departments… transmit… their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Amend. XXVI · 1971 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.

Amend. XXVII · 1992 No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened. [Originally proposed 1789; ratified 203 years later]

Editorial Standard This platform quotes the literal text of the Constitution, the Federalist Papers (Hamilton, Madison, Jay, 1788), selected Anti-Federalist writings (Brutus, Federal Farmer, et al., 1787–88), and fifteen landmark Supreme Court cases with majority and dissenting opinions separated. The platform takes no political position. For contested constitutional questions, it presents the text, the founding debate, and both sides of the Court's reading. It does not editorialize. Errors and interpretive gaps are inevitable; corrections are invited at the Museum of Minds project page.

The Constitution