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 (Article 1 - Legislative)

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
1: 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.
2: 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.
3: 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.2 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.
4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from any
State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of
Election to fill such Vacancies.
5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker
and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power
of Impeachment.

Section 3
1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed
of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature
thereof,3 for six Years; and each Senator shall
have one Vote.
2: 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.4
3: 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.
4: The Vice President of the United States shall be President
of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally
divided.
5: 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.
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.
7: 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 Profit under the
United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be
liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and
Punishment, according to Law.

Section 4
1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for
Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each
State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at
any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as
to the Places of chusing Senators.
2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every
Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in
December,5 unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section 5
1: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns
and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of
each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller
Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be
authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in
such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may
provide.
2: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,
punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with
the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
3: Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and
from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as
may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and
Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall,
at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the
Journal.
4: Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall,
without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more
than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which
the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section 6
1: The Senators and Representatives shall receive a
Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law,
and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.6 They
shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the
Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at
the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and
returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in
either House, they shall not be questioned in any other
Place.
2: No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for
which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under
the Authority of the United States, which shall have been
created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have
been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any
Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either
House during his Continuance in Office.

Section 7
1: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of
Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with
Amendments as on other Bills.
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, who shall enter the Objections at large on their
Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such
Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass
the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the
other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and
if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a
Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be
determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons
voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal
of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned
by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it
shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law,
in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by
their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall
not be a Law.
3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which
the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives
may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment)
shall be presented to the President of the United States; and
before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him,
or being disapproved by him, shall
be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of
Representatives, according to the Rules and
Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section 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; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be
uniform throughout the United States;
2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among
the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and
uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the
United States;
5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign
Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the
Securities and current Coin of the United States;
7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by
securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the
exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on
the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal,
and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of
Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
13: To provide and maintain a Navy;
14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the
land and naval Forces;
15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the
Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel
Invasions;
16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the
Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be
employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to
the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and
the Authority of training the Militia according to the
discipline prescribed by Congress;
17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases
whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles
square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the
Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the
Government of the United States, and to exercise like
Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the
Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the
Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and
other needful Buildings;—And
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.

Section 9
1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of
the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not
be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one
thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be
imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for
each Person.
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.
3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in
Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before
directed to be taken.7
5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any
State.
6: No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of
Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those
of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State,
be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in
Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular
Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of
all public Money shall be published from time to time.
8: 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.

Section 10
1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or
Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin
Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and
silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of
Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation
of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
2: No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay
any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what
may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection
Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by
any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the
Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be
subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
3: No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay
any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time
of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another
State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless
actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not
admit of delay.
 Article II (Article 2 - Executive)

Section 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, and, together with the Vice President,
chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows
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: but no
Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of
Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an
Elector.
3: The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and
vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall
not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And
they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the
Number of Votes for each; which List 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.
The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the
Senate and House of Representatives, open all the
Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person
having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President,
if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of
Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have
such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the
House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot
one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority,
then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in
like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the
President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the
Representation from each State having one Vote;
A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or
Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all
the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case,
after the Choice of the President, the Person having the
greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice
President. But if there should remain two or more who have
equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the
Vice President.8
4: The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the
Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes;
which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.
5: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of
the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this
Constitution, 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.
6: In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of
his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers
and Duties of the said Office,9 the Same shall devolve on the
VicePresident, and the Congress may by Law provide for the
Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the
President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall
then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly,
until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be
elected.
7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his
Services, a Compensation, which shall neither
be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he
shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that
Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any
of them.
8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall
take the following Oath or Affirmation:—“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.”

Section 2
1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army
and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the
several States, when called into the actual Service of the
United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the
principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon
any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices,
and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons
for Offences against the United States, except in Cases
of Impeachment.
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, and by and
with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint
Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of
the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United
States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise
provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the
Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior
Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the
Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that
may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting
Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next
Session.

Section 3
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information
of the State of the Union, and recommend to their
Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary
and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions,
convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of
Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time
of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he
shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other
public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be
faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of
the United States.
 Section 4
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 (Article 3 - Judicial)

Section 1
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, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall
hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated
Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which
shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section 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 made, or which shall be made,
under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors,
other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty
and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the
United States shall be a Party;—to Controversies
between two or more States;—between a State and Citizens
of another State;10 —between Citizens of different States, —
between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under
Grants of different States, and between a State, or the
Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
2: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers
and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the
supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the
other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall
have appellateJurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with
such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the
Congress shall make.
3: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment,
shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State
where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when
not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such
Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section 3
1: 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.
2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment
of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall
work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life
of the Person attainted.

Article IV (Article 4 - States' Relations)

Section 1
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the
public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other
State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the
Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be
proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section 2
1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges
and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
2: A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or
other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in
another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of
the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed
to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
3: No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under
the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in
Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be
discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be
delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or
Labour may be due.11

Section 3
1: New States may be admitted by the Congress into this
Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within
the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed
by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States,
without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States
concerned as well as of the Congress.
2: The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all
needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or
other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing
in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any
Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section 4
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this
Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect
each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the
Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot
be convened) against domestic Violence.

Article V (Article 5 - Mode of Amendment)

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; Provided that no Amendment
which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight
hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect
the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of
the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall
be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Article VI (Article 6 - Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office)
1: All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into,
before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid
against the United States under this Constitution, as under
the Confederation.
2: 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; and the
Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in
the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary
notwithstanding.
3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and
the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all
executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and
of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation,
to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever
be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust
under the United States.

Article VII (Article 7 - Ratification)

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be
sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between
the States so ratifying the Same.
The Word "the", being interlined between
the seventh and eight Lines of the first Page, The
Word "Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in
the fifteenth Line of the first Page. The Words "is tried" being
interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of
the first Page and the Word "the" being interlined between
the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.

done in Convention by the Unanimous

Consent of the States present
the Seventeenth Day of September in the
Year of our Lord one thousand seven
 hundred and Eighty seven and of the
Independence of the United States of
America the Twelfth In witness whereof
We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

Attest William Go: Washington -Presidt. and deputy from

Jackson Secretar Virginia
y

Delaware
Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom

Maryland
James McHenry
Dan of St Thos. Jenifer
Danl Carroll.

Virginia
John Blair—
James Madison Jr.

North Carolina
Wm Blount
Richd. Dobbs Spaight.
Hu Williamson

South Carolina
J. Rutledge
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
 Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler.

Georgia
William Few
Abr Baldwin

New Hampshire
John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King

Connecticut
Wm. Saml. Johnson
Roger Sherman

New York
Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey
Wil. Livingston
David Brearley.
Wm. Paterson.
Jona: Dayton

Pennsylvania
B Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
Robt Morris
Geo. Clymer
Thos. FitzSimons
 Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson.
Gouv Morris

Letter of Transmittal
skip to Letter of Transmittal to Congress up to the Constitution
In Convention. Monday September 17th 1787.
Present
The States of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton
from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Georgia.
Resolved, That the preceeding Constitution be laid before
the United States in Congress assembled, and that it is the
Opinion of this Convention, that it should afterwards be
submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each
State by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of
its Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification; and that
each Convention assenting to, and ratifying the Same,
should give Notice thereof to the United States in Congress
assembled. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this
Convention, that as soon as the Conventions of nine States
shall have ratified this Constitution, the United States in
Congress assembled should fix a Day on which Electors
should be appointed by the States which shall have ratified
the same, and a Day on which the Electors should assemble
to vote for the President, and the Time and Place for
commencing Proceedings under this Constitution.
That after such Publication the Electors should be appointed,
and the Senators and Representatives elected: That the
Electors should meet on the Day fixed for the Election of the
President, and should transmit their Votes certified, signed,
sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the
Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, that
 the Senators and Representatives should convene at the
Time and Place assigned; that the Senators should appoint a
President of the Senate, for the sole Purpose of receiving,
opening and counting the Votes for President; and, that after
he shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the
President, should, without Delay, proceed to execute this
Constitution.

By the unanimous Order of the

Convention

W.
Go: Washington -Presidt.
Jackson Secretary.

Letter of Transmittal to the President of

Congress
skip to Amendments up to Letter of Transmittal
In Convention. Monday September 17th 1787.
SIR:

We have now the honor to submit to the consideration of the

United States in Congress assembled, that Constitution
which has appeared to us the most advisable.

The friends of our country have long seen and desired that
the power of making war, peace, and treaties, that of levying
money, and regulating commerce, and the correspondent
executive and judicial authorities, should be fully and
effectually vested in the General Government of the Union;
but the impropriety of delegating such extensive trust to one
body of men is evident: hence results the necessity of a
different organization.

It is obviously impracticable in the Federal Government of

these States to secure all rights of independent sovereignty
to each, and yet provide for the interest and safety of all.
Individuals entering into society must give up a share of
liberty to preserve the rest. The magnitude of the sacrifice
must depend as well on situation and circumstance, as on
the object to be obtained. It is at all times difficult to draw
with precision the line between those rights which must be
surrendered, and those which may be preserved; and, on
the present occasion, this difficulty was increased by a
difference among the several States as to their situation,
extent, habits, and particular interests.

In all our deliberations on this subject, we kept steadily in

our view that which appears to us the greatest interest of
every true American, the consolidation of our Union, in which
is involved our prosperity, felicity, safety—perhaps our
national existence. This important consideration, seriously
and deeply impressed on our minds, led each State in the
Convention to be less rigid on points of inferior magnitude
than might have been otherwise expected; and thus, the
Constitution which we now present is the result of a spirit of
amity, and of that mutual deference and concession, which
the peculiarity of our political situation rendered
indispensable.

That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every

State is not, perhaps, to be expected; but each will,
doubtless, consider, that had her interest alone been
consulted, the consequences might have been particularly
disagreeable or injurious to others; that it is liable to as few
exceptions as could reasonably have been expected, we
hope and believe; that it may promote the lasting welfare of
that Country so dear to us all, and secure her freedom and
happiness, is our most ardent wish.

With great respect,

we have the honor to be,
SIR,
your excellency's most obedient and humble servants:
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President.
By the unanimous order of the convention.
 His Excellency
the President of Congress.

Amendments to the Constitution

skip to Notes up to Letter of Transmittal to Congress
(The procedure for changing the United States Constitution
is Article V - Mode of Amendment)
(The Preamble to The Bill of Rights)

Congress OF THE United States

begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday
the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the
time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire,
in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers,
that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be
added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in
the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its
institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two
thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles
be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as
amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or
any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the
said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as
part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of
the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed
by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several
States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original
Constitution.12
 ratified
(Articles I through X are known as the Bill of Rights)

-
Article the first. .... After the first enumeration required by
the first Article of the Constitution, there shall be one
Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number
shall amount to one hundred, after which, the proportion
shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not
less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one
Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the
number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred,
after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress,
that there shall not be less than two hundred
Representatives, nor more than one Representative for
every fifty thousand persons.

-
Article the second. .... No law, varying the compensation for
the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take
effect, until an election of Representatives shall have
intervened. see Amendment XXVII
13
Article [I] (Amendment 1 - Freedom of expression and religion)
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.

Article [II] (Amendment 2 - Bearing 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.

Article [III] (Amendment 3 - Quartering Soldiers)

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.

Article [IV] (Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure)

 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.

Article [V] (Amendment 5 - Rights of Persons)

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.

Article [VI] (Amendment 6 - Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions)

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.

Article [VII] (Amendment 7 - Civil Trials)

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.

Article [VIII] (Amendment 8 - Further Guarantees in Criminal Cases)

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
 Article [IX] (Amendment 9 - Unenumerated Rights)
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall
not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the
people.

Article [X] (Amendment 10 - Reserved Powers)

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.

Attest, Frederick Augustus

John Beckley, Clerk of Muhlenberg Speaker of the
the House of House of Representatives.
Representatives. John Adams, Vice-President of
Sam. A. Otis Secretary the United States, and President
of the Senate. of the Senate.

(end of the Bill of Rights)