Constitution For The United States - We The People

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
The Bill of Rights & All Amendments

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Constitution Day is September 17.
(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 (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, RhodeIsland and Providence Plantations one,
Connecticut five, NewYork 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, dockYards, 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
Jackson
Secretary
Go: Washington Presidt. and deputy from Virginia
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. Jackson
Go: Washington Presidt.
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 NewYork, 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
(Articles I through X are known as the Bill of Rights) ratified

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
Article [I] (Amendment 1 Freedom of expression and religion) 13
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 reexamined 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 Muhlenberg Speaker of the House of

John Beckley, Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Representatives. John Adams, VicePresident of the United States, and President of the
Sam. A. Otis Secretary of the Senate. Senate.
(end of the Bill of Rights)
[Article XI] (Amendment 11 Suits 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. ratified #11
affects 10
[Article XII] (Amendment 12 Election of President)

The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and VicePresident, 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 VicePresident, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as
President, and of all persons voted for as VicePresident, 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;—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 for President, shall be the President, if such number be
a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the
highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose
immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing 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 twothirds of the states, and
a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President
whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the VicePresident
shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.14 —The person having the
greatest number of votes as VicePresident, shall be the VicePresident, if such number be a majority of the whole number of
Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the
VicePresident; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of twothirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the
whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to
that of VicePresident of the United States. ratified #12 affects 8
Article XIII (Amendment 13 Slavery and Involuntary Servitude)

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. affects 11
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #13
Article XIV (Amendment 14 Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection)
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.
2: Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of
electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of
a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twentyone
years of age,15 and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime,
the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the
whole number of male citizens twentyone years of age in such State. affects 2
3: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil
or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as
an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to
support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or
comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of twothirds of each House, remove such disability.
4: The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and
bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any
claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
5: The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. ratified #14
Article XV (Amendment 15 Rights of Citizens 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 race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #15
Article XVI (Amendment 16 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. ratified #16 affects 2
[Article XVII] (Amendment 17 Popular Election of Senators)

1: 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. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the
most numerous branch of the State legislatures. affects 3
2: When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue
writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make
temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. affects 4
3: This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as
part of the Constitution. ratified #17
Article [XVIII] (Amendment 18 Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors)16

1: 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.
2: The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
3: This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of
the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by
the Congress. ratified #18
Article [XIX] (Amendment 19 Women's Suffrage Rights)

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. affects 15
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #19
Article [XX] (Amendment 20 Terms of President, Vice President, Members of Congress: Presidential Vacancy)
1: 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; and the terms of their successors shall then begin. affects 5
2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January,
unless they shall by law appoint a different day. affects 5
3: If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect
shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the
President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have
qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall
have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such
person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified. affects 9 affects 14
4: The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives
may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the
persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
affects 9
5: Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.
threefourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission. ratified #20
Article [XXI] (Amendment 21 Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment)

1: The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. affects 16
2: The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of
intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
3: This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the
several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the
Congress. ratified #21
Amendment XXII (Amendment 22 Presidential Tenure)

1: 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. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this
article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as
President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President
during the remainder of such term.
threefourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission to the states by the Congress. ratified #22
Amendment XXIII (Amendment 23 Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia)

1: The District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the 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, but in no event more than the least populous state; they shall
be in addition to those appointed by the states, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and
Vice President, to be electors appointed by a state; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by
the twelfth article of amendment.
2: The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #23
Amendment XXIV (Amendment 24 Abolition of the Poll Tax Qualification in Federal Elections)
1. 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 any poll tax or other tax.
2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #24
Amendment XXV affects 9 (Amendment 25 Presidential Vacancy, Disability, and Inability)

1: In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
2: Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take
office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
3: Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits
to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting
President.
4: Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body
as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives 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.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the
Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may
by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon
Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within fortyeight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within
twentyone days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twentyone days after
Congress is required to assemble, determines by twothirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the
powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the
President shall resume the powers and duties of his office. ratified #25
Amendment XXVI (Amendment 26 Reduction of Voting Age Qualification)

1: The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or any state on account of age. affects 15
2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. ratified #26
Amendment XXVII (Amendment 27 Congressional Pay Limitation)

No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of
Representatives shall have intervened. ratified #27
NOTES
skip to Dates up to Amendments
Note 1: This text of the Constitution follows the engrossed copy signed by Gen. Washington and the deputies from 12 States.
The arabic numerals preceding the paragraphs designate Clauses, and were not printed (but are referred to) in the original and
have no reference to footnotes that appear as small superior figures (superscripts). ratification
Note 2: The part of Article 1 Section 2 Clause 3 relating to the mode of apportionment of representatives among the several
States has been affected by Amendment XIV Section 2, and as to taxes on incomes without apportionment by Amendment XVI.
Note 3: Article 1 Section 3 Clause 1 has been affected by Amendment XVII Section 1.
Note 4: Article 1 Section 3 Clause 2 has been affected by Amendment XVII Section 2.
Note 5: Article 1 Section 4 Clause 2 has been affected by Amendment XX.
Note 6: Article 1 Section 6 Clause 1 has been affected by Amendment XXVII.
Note 7: Article 1 Section 9 Clause 4 has been affected by Amendment XVI.
Note 8: Article 2 Section 1 Clause 3 has been superseded by Amendment XII.

Note 9: Article 2 Section 1 Clause 6 has been affected by Amendment XX and Amendment XXV.
Note 10: Article 3 Section 2 Clause 1 has been affected by Amendment XI.
Note 11: Article 4 Section 2 Clause 3 has been affected by Amendment XIII Section 1.
Note 12: The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States are known as the Bill of Rights
Note 13: The Bill of Rights only had ten of the twelve articles ratified and these were then renumbered. Of the others only the
13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th articles of amendment had numbers assigned to them at the time of ratification.
Note 14: This sentence of Amendment XII has been superseded by Amendment XX Section 3.
Note 15: Article XIV Section 2 is modified by Amendment XIX Section 1 and Amendment XXVI Section 1.
Note 16: Amendment XVIII repealed by Amendment XXI Section 1.
Dates
skip to Spellings up to Notes
May 25, 1787: The Constitutional Convention opens with a quorum of seven states in Philadelphia to discuss revising the
Articles of Confederation. Eventually all states but Rhode Island are represented.
Sept. 17, 1787: All 12 state delegations approve the Constitution, 39 delegates sign it of the 42 present, and the Convention
formally adjourns.
June 21, 1788: The Constitution becomes effective for the ratifying states when New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify it.
Mar. 4, 1789: The first Congress under the Constitution convenes in New York City.
Apr. 30, 1789: George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States.
June 8, 1789: James Madison introduces proposed Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives.
Sept. 24, 1789: Congress establishes a Supreme Court, 13 district courts, three ad hoc circuit courts, and the position of
Attorney General.
Sept. 25, 1789: Congress approves 12 amendments and sends them to the states for ratification.
Feb. 2, 1790: Supreme Court convenes for the first time after an unsuccessful attempt February 1.
Dec. 15, 1791: Virginia ratifies the Bill of Rights, and 10 of the 12 proposed amendments become part of the U.S.
Constitution.
Spellings
skip to Vocabulary up to Dates
Some words now have different spellings:
behaviour
behavior
chuse
choose
chusing
choosing
controul
control
defence
defense
encreased
increased
erazure
erasure
labour
labor
offences
offenses
Punctuation, hyphenation and grammar usage have also changed.
Vocabulary
skip to Sources up to Spellings
Also check the Government Printing Office's Ben's Guide for Kids
3d
3rd (third)
abridged
shortened
adjourn
suspend proceedings to another time
adjournment
suspending proceedings to another time
appellate
appeal (review decision)
appropriation
authorize spending
apportioned
distributed
apportionment
distributing
attainted
disgrace
Bill of Attainder
legislative act pronouncing guilt without trial
capitation
poll tax
cession
grant
comity
courteous recognition of laws and institutions of another (state)
commenced
started
concur
agree
concurrant
at the same time
concurrence
agreement
concurring
in agreement
construed
interpreted
Corruption of Blood
punishment of person and heirs
counsel
lawyer
declaratory
explaining law or right
democracy
this word is not in these documents directly, but “We the people” and “Republican Form of Government” are most people
say our form of government is a “Federal Democratic Republic”
devolved
passed on or delegated to another
disparage
belittle
duties
job
duties
charge (like a tax)
duty
job
duty
charge (like a tax)
Duty of Tonnage
charge by weight
emolument
power and/or pay
emoluments
power and/or pay
engrossed
final draft
enumeration
count or list
ex post facto
(latin) after the fact
excises
internal taxes
Habeas Corpus
a writ in court for release of unlawful restraint (latin) produce body [of evidence]
imminent
about to occur do not confuse with eminent or immanent
impeachment
formal accusation of wrongdoing
impeachments
formal accusations of wrongdoing
imposts
taxes or duties, that are imposed
indictment
formal charges
jurisdiction
right to control
Letters of Marque
(grant right of piracy) document issued by a nation allowing a private citizen to seize citizens or goods of another nation
magazines
ammunition storerooms
ordain
order
prescribed
establish a rule
privileged
rights given a group
pro tempore
temporary (latin) for a time
posterity
descendants
quartered
housed
quartering
housing
quorum
minimum valid number of people
redress
correct a wrong
repassed
passed again
reprisal
retaliation
republican
representative and officers elected by citizens and responsible to them
suffrage
vote
voting
tranquility
peace
treason
betrayal of country
vessels
ships
vested
given the right
viz.
abbreviation for (latin) videlicet namely (and when read aloud spoken as namely) from: The Columbia Guide to
Standard American English
welfare
wellbeing
writ
order
writs
orders
How to read Roman numerals:
The upper case letter I represents the arabic 1.
The upper case letter V represents the arabic 5.
The upper case letter X represents the arabic 10.
The upper case letter L represents the arabic 50. (not used in this document)
The upper case letter C represents the arabic 100. (not used in this document)
The upper case letter D represents the arabic 500. (not used in this document)
The upper case letter M represents the arabic 1,000. (not used in this document)
A bar placed over a letter or group of letters multiplies that value by 1,000. (not used in this document)
If the letter to the right represents an equal or smaller value the numbers ADD. XXII is 22.
If the letter to the right is a larger value then the numbers SUBTRACT. IV is 4. Only I is used with V or X, X with L or C, and
C with D or M.
There is no zero!
Both C and M often still appear in commerce mixed with arabic therefore if someone orders a quantity of 5M, they want
5,000 not 5 million.
A few more samples: XCV = 95, XIII = 13, XCIX = 99, XLIX = 49
If supported in the browser, hovering the cursor over the Roman number in this document will display the arabic equivalent for a short
time.
Given (first) name abbreviations:

George
Go:
Geo:
Geo.
Jacob
Jaco:
Daniel
Dan
Danl
William
Wm
Wm.
Wil.
Richard
Richd
John
J.
Abraham
Abr
Samuel
Saml
Sam.
Johnathan
Jona:
Robert
Robt
Thomas
Thos
Gouverneur
Gouv
Of course B Franklin is Benjamin Franklin, jun and Jr. are junior, and Presidt. is President.
See the following sources:

skip to How to use up to Vocabulary
(Links open a new window Not responsible for the content of any outside links)
US Government archives includes images of the documents and biographies of the signers
Federalist Papers these 85 essays may be the best source of what the framers of the constitution had in mind.
Ben's Guide for Kids Spanish & French versions and some history
Publications.USA.gov
Lesson Plans at the Library of Congress
How to use this version

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The division into clauses, not in the original, makes it easier to reference specific portions of the document allowing both an
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Note: Sections with a single clause have no clause number. If clause numbers are hidden just hover over the first letter of
the clause.
If the hover feature is not available the short title of the article, section, or clause is listed in the index.
Some documents call the division of amendments sections, others clauses, amendment 20 refers to its divisions as sections.
They will be called sections in this document.
The title attribute (not to be confused with the <TITLE> tag) used in this document in an attempt to provide quick
vocabulary, spelling, heading group short titles, and other helps has been defined as a part of the Hyper Text Markup
Language from its earliest days in the Anchor and LINK tags. The proper handling was suggested in 1997 with this handling
repeated as part of the HTML 4.0 (and added to most tag types) later in the same year from the W3C. If the browser does
not support this (i.e. Safari 1.1.1 v100.1 and before only work in clickable links, others see table below) then most of the
same information is duplicated in various sections such as spelling list, index and vocabulary list including how to read
roman numerals.
Footnotes are links displayed as superscripted arabic numbers (superior figures) and the text that they modify are displayed
in a gray when using the normal stylesheet. Gray was chosen to leave the text readable as opposed to strikeout
The punctuation around articles and section numbers have been removed since this practice has fallen into disuse and adds
little to the feel of this version. (Article. I. becomes Article I)
Article 1 Section 9 Clause 1 Importation of Slaves; is shown as no longer in effect since its built in date has passed.
Most transcriptions show the "Attest 'William Jackson' Secretary" at the end of the other signatures as if validating those.
This one shows that he, more likely, was attesting to the document itself or possibly the list of corrections in the document.
The Bill of Rights had twelve numbered articles but only ten were ratified. Since they were renumbered only the two
unratified, which are shown in gray, are shown with the original number (as in Article the first) to try to avoid confusion.
A note for anyone looking at the image of the Bill of Rights above or any document of a similar period is the usage of an
elongated s that can often be confused with the letter f. The typical usage rules in this period seem to be that the elongated
s is the main lower case s unless at the end of a word or the second s of a pair. Today the elongated s ( ∫ ) is typically only
used in mathematical formulae as the notation for integral. There is a story that Shakespeare who spelled his own name
Shakspere or Shakspeare gained the extra e when a typesetter had trouble fitting the elongated s next to the k.
To Constitution or To Amendments, To Index (access key I) or Subject Index (access key S)
Why another web version?

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Index
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THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
(Preamble)
Article I The Legislative
Section 1 Congress
Section 2 The House of Representatives
Clause 1 Congressional Districting
Clause 2 Qualification of Members of Congress
Clause 3 Apportionment of Seats in the House
Clause 4 Vacancies
Clause 5 Officers and Power of Impeachment
Section 3 The Senate
Clause 1 Composition and Selection
Clause 2 Classes of Senators
Clause 3 Qualifications
Clause 4 The Vice President
Clause 5 Officers
Clause 6 Trial of Impeachment
Clause 7 Judgments on Impeachment
Section 4 Elections
Clause 1 Congressional Power to Regulate
Clause 2 Time of Assembling
Section 5 Powers and Duties of the House
Clause 1 Power to Judge Elections
Clause 2 Rules of Proceedings
Clause 3 Duty to Keep a Journal
Clause 4 Adjournments
Section 6 Rights and Disabilities of Members
Clause 1 Compensation and Immunities
Clause 2 Disabilities
Section 7 Legislative Process
Clause 1 Revenue Bills
Clause 2 Approval by the President
Clause 3 Presentation of Resolutions
Section 8 Powers of Congress
Clause 1 Power to Tax and Spend
Clause 2 Borrowing Power
Clause 3 Commerce Power
Clause 4 Naturalization and Bankruptcies
Clause 5 Money
Clause 6 Money
Clause 7 Post Office
Clause 8 Copyrights and Patent
Clause 9 Creating of Courts
Clause 10 Maritime Crimes
Clause 11 War; Military Establishment
Clause 15 The Militia
Clause 16 The Militia
Clause 17 District of Columbia; Federal Property
Clause 18 Necessary Clause
Section 9 Powers Denied Congress
Clause 1 Importation of Slaves
Clause 2 Habeas Corpus Suspension
Clause 3 Bill of Attainder and Ex Post Facto Laws
Clause 4 Taxes
Clause 5 Duties on Exports from States
Clause 6 Preference to Ports
Clause 7 Appropriations and Accounting of Public Money
Clause 8 Titles of Nobility; Presents
Section 10 Powers Denied to the States
Clause 1 Not to Make Treaties, Coin Money, Pass Ex Post Facto Laws, Impair Contracts
Clause 2 Not to Levy Duties on Exports and Imports
Clause 3 Not to Lay Tonnage Duties, Keep Troops, Make Compacts, or Engage in War
Article II Executive
Section 1 The President
Clause 1 Powers and Term of the President
Clause 2 Election
Clause 3 Election
Clause 4 Election
Clause 5 Qualifications
Clause 6 Presidential Succession
Clause 7 Compensation and Emolument
Clause 8 Oath of Office
Section 2 Powers and Duties of the President
Clause 1 CommanderinChiefship; Presidential Advisers;
Clause 2 Treaties and Appointment of Officers
Clause 3 Vacancies during Recess of Senate
Section 3 Legislative, Diplomatic, and Law Enforcement
Section 4 Impeachment
Article III Judicial
Section 1 Judicial Power, Courts, Judges
Section 2 Judicial Power and Jurisdiction
Clause 1 Cases and Controversies; Grants of Jurisdiction
Clause 2 Original and Appellate Jurisdiction; Exceptions and Regulations of Appellate Jurisdiction
Clause 3 Trial by Jury
Section 3 Treason
Clause 1 Definition and Limitations
Clause 2 Punishment
Article IV States' Relations
Section 1 Full Faith and Credit
Section 2 Interstate Comity
Clause 1 State Citizenship: Privileges and Immunities
Clause 2 Interstate Rendition
Clause 3 Fugitives from Labor
Section 3 Admission of New States to Union; Property of United State
Clause 1 Admission of New States to Union
Clause 2 Property of the United States
Section 4 Obligations of United States to States
Article V Mode of Amendment
Article VI Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office
Clause 1 Validity of Prior Debts and Engagements
Clause 2 Supremacy of the Constitution, Laws and Treaties
Clause 3 Oath of Office
Article VII Ratification
Letter of Transmittal
Letter of Transmittal to the President of Congress
Amendments to the Constitution
(The Preamble to The Bill of Rights)
(Articles I through X are known as the Bill of Rights)
Article [I] Freedom of expression and religion
Article [II] Bearing Arms
Article [III] Quartering Soldiers
Article [IV] Search and Seizure
Article [V] Rights of Persons
Article [VI] Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions
Article [VII] Civil Trials
Article [VIII] Further Guarantees in Criminal Cases
Article [IX] Unenumerated Rights
Article [X] Reserved Powers
[Article XI] Suits Against States
[Article XII] Election of President
Article XIII Slavery and Involuntary Servitude
Section 1 Slavery and Involuntary Servitude
Section 2 Enforcement
Article XIV Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection
Section 1 Rights Guaranteed
Section 2 Apportionment of Representation
Section 3 Disqualification and Public Debt
Section 4 Disqualification and Public Debt
Article XV Rights of Citizens to Vote
Article XVI Income Tax
[Article XVII] Popular Election of Senators
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Article [XVIII] Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquor
Section 1 Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors
Section 2 Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power
Section 3 Ratification
Article [XIX] Women's Suffrage Rights
Section 1 Women's Suffrage Rights
Article [XX] Terms of President, Vice President, Members of Congress: Presidential Vacancy
Section 1 Terms of President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives
Section 2 Time of assembling Congress
Section 3 Filling vacancy in office of President
Section 4 Power of Congress in Presidential succession
Section 5 Time of taking effect
Article [XXI] Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment
Section 1 Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment
Section 2 Transportation of intoxicating liquors
Amendment XXII Presidential Tenure
Section 1 Presidential Tenure
Amendment XXIII Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia
Section 1 Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia
Amendment XXIV Abolition of the Poll Tax Qualification in Federal Elections
Amendment XXV Presidential Vacancy, Disability, and Inability
Amendment XXVI Reduction of Voting Age Qualification
Section 1 Reduction of Voting Age Qualification
Amendment XXVII Congressional Pay Limitation
NOTES
Note 1: Original source of the Constitution text.
Note 2: Article 1 Section 2 Clause 3 modified by Amendment XIV, and Amendment XVI.
Note 3: Article 1 Section 3 Clause 1 has been affected by Amendment XVII.
Note 4: Article 1 Section 3 Clause 2 modified by Amendment XVII.
Note 5: Article 1 Section 4 Clause 2 modified by Amendment XX.
Note 6: Article 1 Section 6 Clause 1 modified by Amendment XXVII.
Note 7: Article 1 Section 9 Clause 4 modified by Amendment XVI.
Note 8: Article 2 Section 1 Clause 3 superseded by amendment XII.
Note 9: Article 2 Section 1 Clause 6 modified by amendment XX and amendment XXV.
Note 10: Article 3 Section 2 Clause 1 modified by amendment XI.
Note 11: Article 4 Section 2 Clause 3 modified by amendment XIII.
Note 12: The Bill of Rights
Note 13: Only the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th numbered at ratification.
Note 14: Part of Amendment XII superseded by Amendment XX.
Note 15: Article XIV is modified by Amendment XIX and Amendment XXVI.
Note 16: Amendment XVIII repealed by Amendment XXI.
Dates Milestone dates for the constitution, bill of rights and the start of the U.S. government.
Spellings
Vocabulary
Sources
How to use this version
Accessibility
Index
Subject Index
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Ratifications
Jun 21, 1788 Constitution
Dec 15, 1791 (Articles I through X are known as the Bill of Rights)
Article [I] Freedom of expression and religion
Article [II] Bearing Arms
Article [III] Quartering Soldiers
Article [IV] Search and Seizure
Article [V] Rights of Persons
Article [VI] Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions
Article [VII] Civil Trials
Article [VIII] Further Guarantees in Criminal Cases
Article [IX] Unenumerated Rights
Article [X] Reserved Powers
Feb 7, 1795 [Article XI] Suits Against States
Jun 15, 1804 [Article XII] Election of President
Dec 6, 1865 Article XIII Slavery and Involuntary Servitude
Jul 9, 1868 Article XIV Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection
Feb 3, 1870 Article XV Rights of Citizens to Vote
Feb 3, 1913 Article XVI Income Tax
Apr 8, 1913 [Article XVII] Popular Election of Senators
Jan 16, 1919 Article [XVIII] Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors
Aug 18, 1920 Article [XIX] Women's Suffrage Rights
Jan 23, 1933 Article [XX] Terms of President, Vice President, Members of Congress: Presidential Vacancy
Mar 21, 1947 Article [XXI] Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment
Feb 27, 1951 Amendment XXII Presidential Tenure
Mar 29, 1961 Amendment XXIII Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia
Jan 24, 1964 Amendment XXIV Abolition of the Poll Tax Qualification in Federal Elections
Feb 10, 1967 Amendment XXV Presidential Vacancy, Disability, and Inability
Jul 1, 1971 Amendment XXVI Reduction of Voting Age Qualification
May 7, 1992 Amendment XXVII Congressional Pay Limitation
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Subject Index
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Select first letter of subject: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Admiralty and; maritime cases Article III Section 2
Advice and consent Article II Section 2 Clause 2
Age, as qualification for public office
President Article II Section 1 Clause 5
Representatives Article I Section 2 Clause 2
Senators Article I Section 3 Clause 3
Age, voting Amendment XXVI
Ambassadors
Case controversies Article III Section 2 Clause 1
President's power Article II Section 2 Clause 2; Article II Section 3
Amendment procedure Article V
Appellate jurisdiction Article III Section 2 Clause 2
Appointment power Article II Section 2 Clause 2
Appointments, temporary Amendment XVII Section 2
Apportionment of representatives Article I Section 2 Clause 3; Amendment XIV Section 2
Appropriations(s) Article I Section 8
Arms, right to bear Amendment II
Army Article II Section 2 Clause 1
Assembly, right of Amendment l
Authors Article I Section 8 Clause 8
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B
Bail, excessive Amendment 8
Bankruptcy, Congress, power Article I Section 8 Clause 4
Bill of Rights (Amendments 110) Amendments IX
Bills Article I Section 7
Bills of attainder Article I Section 9 Clause 3; Article I Section 10 Clause 1
Borrowing, Congress, power Article I Section 8 Clause 2
C
Cabinet officers, reports Article II Section 2 Clause 1
Census Article I Section 2 Clause 3
Chief Justice, role in impeachment trials Article I Section 3 Clause 6
Commander in Chief Article II Section 2 Clause 1
Commerce, Congress, power Article I Section 8 Clause 3
Commission of officers Article II Section 3 Clause 5
Compact Article I Section 10 Clause 3
Congress
annual meetings Article I Section 4 Clause 2;
declaring war Article I Section 8 Clauses 1114
legislative proceedings Article I Section 5 Clause 2
members, compensation and privileges Article I Section 6 Clause 1;
organization Article I Section 1
powers Article I Section 8; Amendment XII
special sessions Article II Section 3
Congressional Record (Journal) Article I Section 5 Clause 3
Constitution, purpose Preamble
Contracts, interference by states Article I Section 10 Clause 3
Controversies, court cases Article III Section 2 Clause 1
Conventions Article V;VII; Amendment 21 Section 3
Copyrights & patents, Congress' power Article I Section 8 Clause 8
Counsel, right to Amendment 6
Counterfeiting, Congress' power to punish Article I Section 8 Clause 6
Courts (see Judiciary)
Criminal proceedings, rights of accused Amendment 5; Amendment 6
Currency, Congress' power Article I Section 8 Clause 5
D
Defense, Congress' power Article I Section 8
District of Columbia Article I Section 8 Clause 17; Amendment XXIII Section 1
Double jeopardy Amendment V
Due process of law Amendment V; Amendment XIV Section 1
E
Electoral College Article II Section 1 Clause 4; Amendment XII; Amendment XXIII Section 1
Equal protection of laws Amendment 14 Section 1
Equity Article III Section 2 Clause 1; Amendment 11
Ex post facto laws Article I Section 9 Clause 3; Article I Section 10 Clause 1
Extradition of fugitives by states Article IV Section 2 Clause 2
F
Fines, excessive Amendment VIII
Foreign affairs, President's power Article II Section 2 Clause 2
Foreign commerce, Congress' power Article I Section 8 Clause 1
Full faith and credit" clause Article IV Section 1
G
General welfare, Congress' power Article I Section 8 Clause 1
Grand jury indictments Amendment V
Grievances, redress of Amendment I
H
Habeas corpus Article I Section 9 Clause 2
House of Representatives
election to & eligibility for Article I Section 2 Clause 2
members' terms of office Article I Section 2 Clause 1; Article I Section 6 Clause 2
Speaker of Article I Section 2 Clause 5; Amendment 24; Amendment 25
special powers
impeachment Article I Section 2 Clause 5
Presidential elections Article II Section 1 Clause 3; Amendment 12
revenue bills Article I Section 7 Clause 1
states' representation in Article I Section 2 Clause 1; Article I Section 2 Clause 3
vacancies Article I Section 2 Clause 4
I
Immunities (see Privileges and immunities)
Impeachment
officials subject to Article II Section 4
penalties Article I Section 3 Clause 7
power of, lodged in House Article I Section 2 Clause 5
reasons Article II Section 4
trials, Senate Article I Section 3 Clause 6
Indians, commerce with, Congress' power Article I Section 8 Clause 3
Inhabitant (see Resident) Article I Section 2 Clause 2; Article I Section 3 Clause 3
International law, Congress' power Article I Section 8 Clause 3
Inventors Article I Section 8 Clause 8
J
Judiciary
inferior courts Article I Section 8 Clause 9; Article III Section 1
judicial review Article III Section 2 Clause 2
jurisdiction Article III Section 2 Section 2
nomination & confirmation of judges Article II Section 2 Clause 2
Supreme Court Article III Section 1
terms of office & compensation Article III Section 1
Jury trials Article III Section 2 Clause 3; Amendment VI; Amendment VII
L
“Lame duck” amendment Amendment XX
Liquor Amendment XVIII; Amendment XXI
M
Marque and reprisal, letters of Article I Section 8 Clause 11
Men (see Persons)
Militia (Military) Amendment II; Amendment V
congressional powers Article I Section 8 Clause 15
presidential powers Article II Section 2 Clause 1
Money Article I Section 8 Clause 56
N
National debt Article VI Clause 1
Native Americans (see Indians)
Naturalization Article I Section 8 Clause 4
Navy Article I Section 8 Clause 1314; Article II Section 2 Clause 1
“Necessary and proper” clause Article I Section 8 Clause 18
Nominate Article II Section 2 Clause 2; Amendment XXV
O
Oath of office, federal and state Article II Section 1 Clause 8; Article VI
Original jurisdiction Article III Section 2 Clause 2
P
(subject index still being added)
Pardons and reprieves, President's power Article II Section 2 Clause 1
People, powers reserved to Amendment X
Persons Amendment XIV
Petition the government, right to Amendment I
“Pocket veto” Article I Section 7 Clause 2
Poll tax, prohibition Amendment XXIV
Post offices & roads, Congress' power Article I Section 8 Clause 7
Presidency, succession to Article II Section 1; Amendment 20; Amendment 25
President
disability A25,3
election Article II Section 1; Amendment 12; Amendment 22; Amendment 23
eligibility for office Article II Section 1
legislation, role in Article I Section 7
oath of office Article II Section 1
powers & duties Article IV Section 2
term of office & compensation Article II Section 1
Press, freedom of A1
Privileges and immunities (of citizens) Article IV Section 2; Amendment 14 Section 1
Prohibition Amendment 18; Amendment 21
Property, taking for public use Amendment 5
Punishments, cruel and unusual Amendment 8
R
Ratification of Constitution Article V
Religion, freedom of Amendment I
Religious oaths Article VI
Resident (see Inhabitant) Article II Section 1 Clause 5
S
Search and seizure Amendment 4
Seas, Congress' power Article I Section 8
Secrecy Article I Section 5
Selfincrimination Amendment 5
Senate
election to & eligibility for Article I Section 3
equal representation of states V
officers Article I Section 3
President of Article I Section 3;Amendment 12
President of, pro tempore Article I Section 3;Amendment 25
special powers
impeachment trials Article I Section 3
Presidential appointments Article II Section 2
treaties Article II Section 2
terms of office Article I Section 3; Article I Section 6
vacancies Amendment 17
Slavery, prohibition Amendment 13; A14,4
Soldiers, quartering of Amendment 3
Speech, freedom of A1
Spending, Congress' power Article I Section 8
State of Union message Article II Section 3
States
and federal elections Article I Section 4
formation & admission to Union Article IV Section 3
powers requiring consent of Congress Article I Section 10
powers reserved to Amendment 10
protection against invasion, violence Article IV Section 4
republican form of government guaranteed Article IV Section 4
suits against Article III Section 2; Amendment 11
Sundays Article I Section 7
Supreme law of the land (Constitution) VI
T
Taxing power
in general Article I Section 7 Clause 1; Article I Section 8 Clause 1
direct taxes prohibited Article I Section 9 Clause 4
income taxes permitted Amendment XVI
Territories Article IV Section 3 Clause 2
Titles of nobility Article I Section 9 Clause 8
Treason Article III Section 3
Treaty(ies) Article I Section 10 Clause 1; Article II Section 2 Clause 2; Article III Section 2 Clause 1; Article VI Clause 2
Trial Article I Section 3 Clause 67; Article III Section 2 Clause 3; Amendment VI; Amendment VII
V
Veto, President's power Article I Section 7 Clause 2
VicePresident
conditions for assuming Presidency Article II Section 1 Clause 6; Amendment XX Section 3; Amendment XXV
declaring President disabled, role in Amendment XX Section 4; Amendment XXV
succession to Amendment XX Section 4; Amendment XXV
Senate, role in Article I Section 3 Clause 4; Amendment XII
term of office Article II Section 1 Clause 1
Voting rights Amendment XIV; Amendment XXIV
blacks, former slaves Amendment XV
eighteenyearsold Amendment XXVI Section 1
women Amendment XIX Section 1
W
War powers (see Congress, declaring war, powers; President, powers & duties; States, protection against invasion)
Warrants Amendment IV
Weights and measures, standards of Article I Section 8 Clause 5
Women (see Persons)
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Ratifications
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The Constitution
The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified by the
several States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey,
December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland,
April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788.
Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788.
The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Virginia, June 25, 1788; New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21,
1789; Rhode Island, May 29, 1790; and Vermont, January 10, 1791.
In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommending an alteration in the Articles of Confederation, but no action
was taken on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to proceed in the matter. In January 1786, the Legislature of Virginia
passed a resolution providing for the appointment of five commissioners, who, or any three of them, should meet such
commissioners as might be appointed in the other States of the Union, at a time and place to be agreed upon, to take into
consideration the trade of the United States; to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial regulations may be
necessary to their common interest and their permanent harmony; and to report to the several States such an act, relative to
this great object, as, when ratified by them, will enable the United States in Congress effectually to provide for the same. The
Virginia commissioners, after some correspondence, fixed the first Monday in September as the time, and the city of Annapolis
as the place for the meeting, but only four other States were represented, viz: Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania; the commissioners appointed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Rhode Island failed to
attend. Under the circumstances of so partial a representation, the commissioners present agreed upon a report, (drawn by Mr.
Hamilton, of New York,) expressing their unanimous conviction that it might essentially tend to advance the interests of the
Union if the States by which they were respectively delegated would concur, and use their endeavors to procure the concurrence
of the other States, in the appointment of commissioners to meet at Philadelphia on the Second Monday of May following, to
take into consideration the situation of the United States; to devise such further provisions as should appear to them necessary
to render the Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union; and to report such an act for that
purpose to the United States in Congress assembled as, when agreed to by them and afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures
of every State, would effectually provide for the same.
Congress, on the 21st of February, 1787, adopted a resolution in favor of a convention, and the Legislatures of those States
which had not already done so (with the exception of Rhode Island) promptly appointed delegates. On the 25th of May, seven
States having convened, George Washington, of Virginia, was unanimously elected President, and the consideration of the
proposed constitution was commenced. On the 17th of September, 1787, the Constitution as engrossed and agreed upon was
signed by all the members present, except Mr. Gerry of Massachusetts, and Messrs. Mason and Randolph, of Virginia. The
president of the convention transmitted it to Congress, with a resolution stating how the proposed Federal Government should
be put in operation, and an explanatory letter. Congress, on the 28th of September, 1787, directed the Constitution so framed,
with the resolutions and letter concerning the same, to “be transmitted to the several Legislatures in order to be submitted to a
convention of delegates chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity to the resolves of the convention.”
On the 4th of March, 1789, the day which had been fixed for commencing the operations of Government under the new
Constitution, it had been ratified by the conventions chosen in each State to consider it, as follows: Delaware, December 7,
1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9,
1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21,
1788; Virginia, June 25, 1788; and New York, July 26, 1788.
The President informed Congress, on the 28th of January, 1790, that North Carolina had ratified the Constitution November 21,
1789; and he informed Congress on the 1st of June, 1790, that Rhode Island had ratified the Constitution May 29, 1790.
Vermont, in convention, ratified the Constitution January 10, 1791, and was, by an act of Congress approved February 18, 1791,
“received and admitted into this Union as a new and entire member of the United States”. Constitution
[Article I] through [Article X] (The Bill of Rights)
The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States (and two others, one of which failed of ratification and the
other which later became the 27th amendment) were proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the First Congress on
September 25, 1789. The first ten amendments were ratified by the following States, and the notifications of ratification by the
Governors thereof were successively communicated by the President to Congress: New Jersey, November 20, 1789; Maryland,
December 19, 1789; North Carolina, December 22, 1789; South Carolina, January 19, 1790; New Hampshire, January 25, 1790;
Delaware, January 28, 1790; New York, February 24, 1790; Pennsylvania, March 10, 1790; Rhode Island, June 7, 1790;
Vermont, November 3, 1791; and Virginia, December 15, 1791.
Ratification was completed on December 15, 1791.
The amendments were subsequently ratified by the legislatures of Massachusetts, March 2, 1939; Georgia, March 18, 1939; and
Connecticut, April 19, 1939. Bill of Rights
[Article XI]
The eleventh amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the
Third Congress, on the 4th of March 1794; and was declared in a message from the President to Congress, dated the 8th of
January, 1798, to have been ratified by the legislatures of threefourths of the States. The dates of ratification were: NewYork,
March 27, 1794; Rhode Island, March 31, 1794; Connecticut, May 8, 1794; New Hampshire, June 16, 1794; Massachusetts,
June 26, 1794; Vermont, between October 9, 1794 and November 9, 1794; Virginia, November 18, 1794; Georgia,
November 29, 1794; Kentucky, December 7, 1794; Maryland, December 26, 1794; Delaware, January 23, 1795; North Carolina,
February 7, 1795.
Ratification was completed on February 7, 1795.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by South Carolina on December 4, 1797. New Jersey and Pennsylvania did not take
action on the amendment. amendment 11
[Article XII]
The twelfth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the
Eighth Congress, on the 9th of December, 1803, in lieu of the original third paragraph of the first section of the second article;
and was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 25th of September, 1804, to have been ratified by the
legislatures of 13 of the 17 States. The dates of ratification were: North Carolina, December 21, 1803; Maryland, December 24,
1803; Kentucky, December 27, 1803; Ohio, December 30, 1803; Pennsylvania, January 5, 1804; Vermont, January 30, 1804;
Virginia, February 3, 1804; New York, February 10, 1804; New Jersey, February 22, 1804; Rhode Island, March 12, 1804;
South Carolina, May 15, 1804; Georgia, May 19, 1804; New Hampshire, June 15, 1804.
Ratification was completed on June 15, 1804.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Tennessee, July 27, 1804.
The amendment was rejected by Delaware, January 18, 1804; Massachusetts, February 3, 1804; Connecticut, at its session
begun May 10, 1804. amendment 12
Article XIII
The thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the
Thirtyeighth Congress, on the 31st day of January, 1865, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated
the 18th of December, 1865, to have been ratified by the legislatures of twentyseven of the thirtysix States. The dates of
ratification were: Illinois, February 1, 1865; Rhode Island, February 2, 1865; Michigan, February 2, 1865; Maryland, February
3, 1865; New York, February 3, 1865; Pennsylvania, February 3, 1865; West Virginia, February 3, 1865; Missouri, February 6,
1865; Maine, February 7, 1865; Kansas, February 7, 1865; Massachusetts, February 7, 1865; Virginia, February 9, 1865; Ohio,
February 10, 1865; Indiana, February 13, 1865; Nevada, February 16, 1865; Louisiana, February 17, 1865; Minnesota,
February 23, 1865; Wisconsin, February 24, 1865; Vermont, March 9, 1865; Tennessee, April 7, 1865; Arkansas, April 14,
1865; Connecticut, May 4, 1865; New Hampshire, July 1, 1865; South Carolina, November 13, 1865; Alabama, December 2,
1865; North Carolina, December 4, 1865; Georgia, December 6, 1865.
Ratification was completed on December 6, 1865.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Oregon, December 8, 1865; California, December 19, 1865; Florida, December 28,
1865 (Florida again ratified on June 9, 1868, upon its adoption of a new constitution); Iowa, January 15, 1866; New Jersey,
January 23, 1866 (after having rejected the amendment on March 16, 1865); Texas, February 18, 1870; Delaware, February 12,
1901 (after having rejected the amendment on February 8, 1865); Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on
February 24, 1865).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Mississippi, December 4, 1865. amendment 13
Article XIV
The fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the
Thirtyninth Congress, on the 13th of June, 1866. It was declared, in a certificate of the Secretary of State dated July 28, 1868
to have been ratified by the legislatures of 28 of the 37 States. The dates of ratification were: Connecticut, June 25, 1866;
New Hampshire, July 6, 1866; Tennessee, July 19, 1866; New Jersey, September 11, 1866 (subsequently the legislature
rescinded its ratification, and on March 24, 1868, readopted its resolution of rescission over the Governor's veto, and on Nov.
12, 1980, expressed support for the amendment); Oregon, September 19, 1866 (and rescinded its ratification on October 15,
1868); Vermont, October 30, 1866; Ohio, January 4, 1867 (and rescinded its ratification on January 15, 1868); New York,
January 10, 1867; Kansas, January 11, 1867; Illinois, January 15, 1867; West Virginia, January 16, 1867; Michigan, January 16,
1867; Minnesota, January 16, 1867; Maine, January 19, 1867; Nevada, January 22, 1867; Indiana, January 23, 1867; Missouri,
January 25, 1867; Rhode Island, February 7, 1867; Wisconsin, February 7, 1867; Pennsylvania, February 12, 1867;
Massachusetts, March 20, 1867; Nebraska, June 15, 1867; Iowa, March 16, 1868; Arkansas, April 6, 1868; Florida, June 9,
1868; North Carolina, July 4, 1868 (after having rejected it on December 14, 1866); Louisiana, July 9, 1868 (after having
rejected it on February 6, 1867); South Carolina, July 9, 1868 (after having rejected it on December 20, 1866).
Ratification was completed on July 9, 1868.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Alabama, July 13, 1868; Georgia, July 21, 1868 (after having rejected it on
November 9, 1866); Virginia, October 8, 1869 (after having rejected it on January 9, 1867); Mississippi, January 17, 1870;
Texas, February 18, 1870 (after having rejected it on October 27, 1866); Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having rejected it
on February 8, 1867); Maryland, April 4, 1959 (after having rejected it on March 23, 1867); California, May 6, 1959; Kentucky,
March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on January 8, 1867). amendment 14
Article XV
The fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the
Fortieth Congress, on the 26th of February, 1869, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated
March 30, 1870, to have been ratified by the legislatures of twentynine of the thirtyseven States. The dates of ratification
were: Nevada, March 1, 1869; West Virginia, March 3, 1869; Illinois, March 5, 1869; Louisiana, March 5, 1869; North Carolina,
March 5, 1869; Michigan, March 8, 1869; Wisconsin, March 9, 1869; Maine, March 11, 1869; Massachusetts, March 12, 1869;
Arkansas, March 15, 1869; South Carolina, March 15, 1869; Pennsylvania, March 25, 1869; New York, April 14, 1869 (and the
legislature of the same State passed a resolution January 5, 1870, to withdraw its consent to it, which action it rescinded on
March 30, 1970); Indiana, May 14, 1869; Connecticut, May 19, 1869; Florida, June 14, 1869; New Hampshire, July 1, 1869;
Virginia, October 8, 1869; Vermont, October 20, 1869; Missouri, January 7, 1870; Minnesota, January 13, 1870; Mississippi,
January 17, 1870; Rhode Island, January 18, 1870; Kansas, January 19, 1870; Ohio, January 27, 1870 (after having rejected it
on April 30, 1869); Georgia, February 2, 1870; Iowa, February 3, 1870.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1870, unless the withdrawal of ratification by New York was effective; in which event
ratification was completed on February 17, 1870, when Nebraska ratified.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Texas, February 18, 1870; New Jersey, February 15, 1871 (after having rejected it
on February 7, 1870); Delaware, February 12, 1901 (after having rejected it on March 18, 1869); Oregon, February 24, 1959;
California, April 3, 1962 (after having rejected it on January 28, 1870); Kentucky, March 18, 1976 (after having rejected it on
March 12, 1869).
The amendment was approved by the Governor of Maryland, May 7, 1973; Maryland having previously rejected it on February
26, 1870.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Tennessee, November 16, 1869. amendment 15
Article XVI
The sixteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the
Sixtyfirst Congress on the 12th of July, 1909, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 25th of
February, 1913, to have been ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Alabama, August 10, 1909;
Kentucky, February 8, 1910; South Carolina, February 19, 1910; Illinois, March 1, 1910; Mississippi, March 7, 1910; Oklahoma,
March 10, 1910; Maryland, April 8, 1910; Georgia, August 3, 1910; Texas, August 16, 1910; Ohio, January 19, 1911; Idaho,
January 20, 1911; Oregon, January 23, 1911; Washington, January 26, 1911; Montana, January 30, 1911; Indiana, January 30,
1911; California, January 31, 1911; Nevada, January 31, 1911; South Dakota, February 3, 1911; Nebraska, February 9, 1911;
North Carolina, February 11, 1911; Colorado, February 15, 1911; North Dakota, February 17, 1911; Kansas, February 18, 1911;
Michigan, February 23, 1911; Iowa, February 24, 1911; Missouri, March 16, 1911; Maine, March 31, 1911; Tennessee, April 7,
1911; Arkansas, April 22, 1911 (after having rejected it earlier); Wisconsin, May 26, 1911; New York, July 12, 1911; Arizona,
April 6, 1912; Minnesota, June 11, 1912; Louisiana, June 28, 1912; West Virginia, January 31, 1913; New Mexico, February 3,
1913.
Ratification was completed on February 3, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, March 4, 1913; New Hampshire, March 7, 1913 (after having
rejected it on March 2, 1911).
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Utah. amendment 16
[Article XVII]
The seventeenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by
the Sixtysecond Congress on the 13th of May, 1912, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the
31st of May, 1913, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Massachusetts,
May 22, 1912; Arizona, June 3, 1912; Minnesota, June 10, 1912; New York, January 15, 1913; Kansas, January 17, 1913;
Oregon, January 23, 1913; North Carolina, January 25, 1913; California, January 28, 1913; Michigan, January 28, 1913; Iowa,
January 30, 1913; Montana, January 30, 1913; Idaho, January 31, 1913; West Virginia, February 4, 1913; Colorado, February
5, 1913; Nevada, February 6, 1913; Texas, February 7, 1913; Washington, February 7, 1913; Wyoming, February 8, 1913;
Arkansas, February 11, 1913; Maine, February 11, 1913; Illinois, February 13, 1913; North Dakota, February 14, 1913;
Wisconsin, February 18, 1913; Indiana, February 19, 1913; New Hampshire, February 19, 1913; Vermont, February 19, 1913;
South Dakota, February 19, 1913; Oklahoma, February 24, 1913; Ohio, February 25, 1913; Missouri, March 7, 1913; New
Mexico, March 13, 1913; Nebraska, March 14, 1913; New Jersey, March 17, 1913; Tennessee, April 1, 1913; Pennsylvania,
April 2, 1913; Connecticut, April 8, 1913.
Ratification was completed on April 8, 1913.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Louisiana, June 11, 1914.
The amendment was rejected by Utah (and not subsequently ratified) on February 26, 1913. amendment 17
Article [XVIII]16
The eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the
Sixtyfifth Congress, on the 18th of December, 1917, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the
29th of January, 1919, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Mississippi,
January 8, 1918; Virginia, January 11, 1918; Kentucky, January 14, 1918; North Dakota, January 25, 1918; South Carolina,
January 29, 1918; Maryland, February 13, 1918; Montana, February 19, 1918; Texas, March 4, 1918; Delaware, March 18,
1918; South Dakota, March 20, 1918; Massachusetts, April 2, 1918; Arizona, May 24, 1918; Georgia, June 26, 1918; Louisiana,
August 3, 1918; Florida, December 3, 1918; Michigan, January 2, 1919; Ohio, January 7, 1919; Oklahoma, January 7, 1919;
Idaho, January 8, 1919; Maine, January 8, 1919; West Virginia, January 9, 1919; California, January 13, 1919; Tennessee,
January 13, 1919; Washington, January 13, 1919; Arkansas, January 14, 1919; Kansas, January 14, 1919; Alabama,
January 15, 1919; Colorado, January 15, 1919; Iowa, January 15, 1919; New Hampshire, January 15, 1919; Oregon,
January 15, 1919; Nebraska, January 16, 1919; North Carolina, January 16, 1919; Utah, January 16, 1919; Missouri,
January 16, 1919; Wyoming, January 16, 1919.
Ratification was completed on January 16, 1919. See Dillon v. Gloss, 256 U.S. 368, 376 (1921).
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Minnesota on January 17, 1919; Wisconsin, January 17, 1919; New Mexico,
January 20, 1919; Nevada, January 21, 1919; New York, January 29, 1919; Vermont, January 29, 1919; Pennsylvania,
February 25, 1919; Connecticut, May 6, 1919; and New Jersey, March 9, 1922.
The amendment was rejected (and not subsequently ratified) by Rhode Island. amendment 18
Women's Suffrage Rights Article [XIX]

The nineteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the
Sixtysixth Congress, on the 4th of June, 1919, and was declared, in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 26th of
August, 1920, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Illinois, June 10,
1919 (and that State readopted its resolution of ratification June 17, 1919); Michigan, June 10, 1919; Wisconsin, June 10, 1919;
Kansas, June 16, 1919; New York, June 16, 1919; Ohio, June 16, 1919; Pennsylvania, June 24, 1919; Massachusetts, June 25,
1919; Texas, June 28, 1919; Iowa, July 2, 1919; Missouri, July 3, 1919; Arkansas, July 28, 1919; Montana, August 2, 1919;
Nebraska, August 2, 1919; Minnesota, September 8, 1919; New Hampshire, September 10, 1919; Utah, October 2, 1919;
California, November 1, 1919; Maine, November 5, 1919; North Dakota, December 1, 1919; South Dakota, December 4, 1919;
Colorado, December 15, 1919; Kentucky, January 6, 1920; Rhode Island, January 6, 1920; Oregon, January 13, 1920; Indiana,
January 16, 1920; Wyoming, January 27, 1920; Nevada, February 7, 1920; New Jersey, February 9, 1920; Idaho, February 11,
1920; Arizona, February 12, 1920; New Mexico, February 21, 1920; Oklahoma, February 28, 1920; West Virginia, March 10,
1920; Washington, March 22, 1920; Tennessee, August 18, 1920.
Ratification was completed on August 18, 1920.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Connecticut on September 14, 1920 (and that State reaffirmed on September 21,
1920); Vermont, February 8, 1921; Delaware, March 6, 1923 (after having rejected it on June 2, 1920); Maryland, March 29,
1941 (after having rejected it on February 24, 1920, ratification certified on February 25, 1958); Virginia, February 21, 1952
(after having rejected it on February 12, 1920); Alabama, September 8, 1953 (after having rejected it on September 22, 1919);
Florida, May 13, 1969; South Carolina, July 1, 1969 (after having rejected it on January 28, 1920, ratification certified on
August 22, 1973); Georgia, February 20, 1970 (after having rejected it on July 24, 1919); Louisiana, June 11, 1970 (after
having rejected it on July 1, 1920); North Carolina, May 6, 1971; Mississippi, March 22, 1984 (after having rejected it on
March 29, 1920). amendment 19
Article [XX]
The twentieth amendment to the Constitution was proposed to the legislatures of the several states by the SeventySecond
Congress, on the 2d day of March, 1932, and was declared, in a proclamation by the Secretary of State, dated on the 6th day of
February, 1933, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Virginia, March 4,
1932; New York, March 11, 1932; Mississippi, March 16, 1932; Arkansas, March 17, 1932; Kentucky, March 17, 1932;
New Jersey, March 21, 1932; South Carolina, March 25, 1932; Michigan, March 31, 1932; Maine, April 1, 1932; Rhode Island,
April 14, 1932; Illinois, April 21, 1932; Louisiana, June 22, 1932; West Virginia, July 30, 1932; Pennsylvania, August 11, 1932;
Indiana, August 15, 1932; Texas, September 7, 1932; Alabama, September 13, 1932; California, January 4, 1933;
North Carolina, January 5, 1933; North Dakota, January 9, 1933; Minnesota, January 12, 1933; Arizona, January 13, 1933;
Montana, January 13, 1933; Nebraska, January 13, 1933; Oklahoma, January 13, 1933; Kansas, January 16, 1933; Oregon,
January 16, 1933; Delaware, January 19, 1933; Washington, January 19, 1933; Wyoming, January 19, 1933; Iowa, January 20,
1933; South Dakota, January 20, 1933; Tennessee, January 20, 1933; Idaho, January 21, 1933; New Mexico, January 21,
1933; Georgia, January 23, 1933; Missouri, January 23, 1933; Ohio, January 23, 1933; Utah, January 23, 1933.
Ratification was completed on January 23, 1933.
The amendment was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts on January 24, 1933; Wisconsin, January 24, 1933; Colorado,
January 24, 1933; Nevada, January 26, 1933; Connecticut, January 27, 1933; New Hampshire, January 31, 1933; Vermont,
February 2, 1933; Maryland, March 24, 1933; Florida, April 26, 1933. amendment 20
Article [XXI]
The twentyfirst amendment to the Constitution was proposed to the several states by the SeventySecond Congress, on the
20th day of February, 1933, and was declared, in a proclamation by the Secretary of State, dated on the 5th day of December,
1933, to have been ratified by 36 of the 48 States. The dates of ratification were: Michigan, April 10, 1933; Wisconsin, April 25,
1933; Rhode Island, May 8, 1933; Wyoming, May 25, 1933; New Jersey, June 1, 1933; Delaware, June 24, 1933; Indiana,
June 26, 1933; Massachusetts, June 26, 1933; New York, June 27, 1933; Illinois, July 10, 1933; Iowa, July amendment 21
Amendment XXII
Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951. amendment 22
Amendment XXIII
Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961. amendment 23
Amendment XXIV
Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964. amendment 24
Amendment XXV
Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967. amendment 25
Amendment XXVI
Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971. amendment 26
Amendment XXVII
Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.
The date of September 25, 1789, is correct. The amendment was initially ratified by 6 states (MD, NC, SC, DE, VT, VA), and the
other 8 states excluded, omitted, rejected, or excepted it. The amendment was ratified by various states over time, and in 1992
was fully ratified as an amendment to the Constitution.
For more information see: United States. The Constitution of the United States of America : with a summary of the actions by
the states in ratification thereof ; to which is appended, for its historical interest, the Constitution of the Confederate States of
America / prepared and distributed by the Virginia on Constitutional Government. Richmond : Virginia Commission on
Constitutional Government, 1961. 94 p. amendment 27
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Constitution For The United States - We The People

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Constitution For The United States - We The People

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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

The Bill of Rights & All Amendments

Constitution Day is September 17.

2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

13: To provide and maintain a Navy;

3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

Article II (Article 2 ­ Executive)

Article III (Article 3 ­ Judicial)

Article IV (Article 4 ­ States' Relations)

Article V (Article 5 ­ Mode of Amendment)

Article VI (Article 6 ­ Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office)

Article VII (Article 7 ­ Ratification)

By the unanimous Order of the

Letter of Transmittal to the President of Congress

With great respect,

Amendments to the Constitution

(The Preamble to The Bill of Rights)

(Articles I through X are known as the Bill of Rights) ratified

Article [II] (Amendment 2 ­ Bearing Arms)

Article [III] (Amendment 3 ­ Quartering Soldiers)

Article [IV] (Amendment 4 ­ Search and Seizure)

Article [V] (Amendment 5 ­ Rights of Persons)

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

Article [VII] (Amendment 7 ­ Civil Trials)

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

Article [IX] (Amendment 9 ­ Unenumerated Rights)

Article [X] (Amendment 10 ­ Reserved Powers)

Attest, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Speaker of the House of

(end of the Bill of Rights)

[Article XI] (Amendment 11 ­ Suits Against States)

[Article XII] (Amendment 12 ­ Election of President)

Article XIII (Amendment 13 ­ Slavery and Involuntary Servitude)

Article XV (Amendment 15 ­ Rights of Citizens to Vote)

Article XVI (Amendment 16 ­ Income Tax)

[Article XVII] (Amendment 17 ­ Popular Election of Senators)

Article [XVIII] (Amendment 18 ­ Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors)16

Article [XIX] (Amendment 19 ­ Women's Suffrage Rights)

Article [XXI] (Amendment 21 ­ Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment)

Amendment XXII (Amendment 22 ­ Presidential Tenure)

Amendment XXIII (Amendment 23 ­ Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia)

Amendment XXV affects 9 (Amendment 25 ­ Presidential Vacancy, Disability, and Inability)

Amendment XXVI (Amendment 26 ­ Reduction of Voting Age Qualification)

Amendment XXVII (Amendment 27 ­ Congressional Pay Limitation)

Note 5: Article 1 Section 4 Clause 2 has been affected by Amendment XX.

Note 6: Article 1 Section 6 Clause 1 has been affected by Amendment XXVII.

Note 7: Article 1 Section 9 Clause 4 has been affected by Amendment XVI.

Note 8: Article 2 Section 1 Clause 3 has been superseded by Amendment XII.

Note 16: Amendment XVIII repealed by Amendment XXI Section 1.

Given (first) name abbreviations:

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Article II (Article 2 Executive)

Article III (Article 3 Judicial)

Article IV (Article 4 States' Relations)

Article V (Article 5 Mode of Amendment)

Article VI (Article 6 Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office)

Article VII (Article 7 Ratification)

Article [II] (Amendment 2 Bearing Arms)

Article [III] (Amendment 3 Quartering Soldiers)

Article [IV] (Amendment 4 Search and Seizure)

Article [V] (Amendment 5 Rights of Persons)

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

Article [VII] (Amendment 7 Civil Trials)

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

Article [IX] (Amendment 9 Unenumerated Rights)

Article [X] (Amendment 10 Reserved Powers)

[Article XI] (Amendment 11 Suits Against States)

[Article XII] (Amendment 12 Election of President)

Article XIII (Amendment 13 Slavery and Involuntary Servitude)

Article XV (Amendment 15 Rights of Citizens to Vote)

Article XVI (Amendment 16 Income Tax)

[Article XVII] (Amendment 17 Popular Election of Senators)

Article [XVIII] (Amendment 18 Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors)16

Article [XIX] (Amendment 19 Women's Suffrage Rights)

Article [XXI] (Amendment 21 Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment)

Amendment XXII (Amendment 22 Presidential Tenure)

Amendment XXIII (Amendment 23 Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia)

Amendment XXV affects 9 (Amendment 25 Presidential Vacancy, Disability, and Inability)

Amendment XXVI (Amendment 26 Reduction of Voting Age Qualification)

Amendment XXVII (Amendment 27 Congressional Pay Limitation)