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The Constitution of the United States of

America
PREAMBLE (opening words)

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.

Articles I II and III discuss the separation of powers.

Article I: The Legislative Branch

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United
States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every

second Year by the People of the several States… No person shall be a Representative who
shall not have attained 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.

Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each
State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one
Vote… one-third chosen every second Year… 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.
The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no
Vote, unless they be equally divided…

Article II: The Executive Branch

Section 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: 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…

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,
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and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. 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, the same shall devolve on the Vice President…

Article III: The Judicial Branch

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
Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall
not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section 2. 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…

Article IV: The States

Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records and
judicial Proceedings of every other State.

Section 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of
Citizens in the several States. 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.

Article V: Amending the Constitution

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…
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The Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution on

Dec 15, 1791. It came to ensure that the Government not be able to
assume too much power over the citizens. This summary contains
the original language followed by an explanation in modern
language. Learn why this document is so important.

 The Meaning of the Bill of Rights: The 1st Amendment

Amendment 1: 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.
Summary and Analysis: The separation of Church and State
(freedom from religion) is guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Government, specifically Congress, cannot dictate how citizens
worship, nor can the federal government prevent someone from
worshipping (freedom of religion). The Constitution's framers
understood the importance of religion and understood the
importance of allowing citizens to worship as they choose. These
two rights are seen as man's fundamental right of freedom of
thought. The First Amendment also protects a citizen's right to
speak his conscience without fear of reprisal and to express his
ideas through the arts. It gives the press the same protection
(newspapers at the time, and extending to other media such as
radio, TV, and Internet as technology progressed). The press has the
right to publish and the right not to publish. The First Amendment
protects the right of citizens to petition, or complain to the
government, without fear of arrest or persecution.

It is critical to understand that the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of

Rights, or Government do not grant these rights. The founding
fathers of the United States truly believed that these rights are
granted by God--as set forth in The Declaration of Independence. In
fact, governments were formed, according to the founding fathers,
to protect these rights. The Declaration of Independence asserts
that any government which attempts to take away these rights
should be overthrown.

 The 2nd Amendment

Amendment 2: 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 (upon).
Summary and Analysis: Citizens have a right to own guns.
Government cannot violate this right. The 2nd amendment, unlike
the first, provides a justification for its existence. The 2nd
amendment has come under fire (no pun intended) in recent years
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as gun control laws proliferate. Not including the U.S. military, no

organization owns more hand guns than the United States
government, something you may want to remember when
government officials try to restrict your right to bear arms.

 The 3rd Amendment

Amendment 3: 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.
Summary and Analysis: The government cannot force you to let a
soldier stay in your home in times of peace. If during war it becomes
necessary, it will be done orderly as directed by law. The founding
fathers understood the importance of property rights in
guaranteeing individual liberty.

 The 4th Amendment

Amendment 4: 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.
Summary and Analysis: Nobody can enter your house without
your permission unless they have a search warrant. In order to
obtain a search warrant, one must have a really good reason. The
warrant must be authorized, documented, and state specifically the
place being searched and what is being looked for. The 4th
amendment is another example of the importance of property rights
to the founding fathers.

 The 5th Amendment

Amendment 5: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
otherwise infamous(felony) 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 offense 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.
Explanation: The Fifth Amendment deals with the rights of the
accused. If arrested for a serious crime, the accuser must
demonstrate good reason to pursuit a trial. One cannot be tried
twice for the same crime in the same judiciary=Double Jeopardy,
cannot be forced to testify against himself=self incrimination, and is
entitled to certain procedures. The government cannot seize private
property without paying fair price for it. The purpose of the Fifth
Amendment is to limit government's ability to harass its citizens.
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 The 6th Amendment

Amendment 6: 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=jurisdiction, 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 defense.
Explanation: The purpose of the Sixth Amendment is to prevent
the government from detaining citizens unfairly. Citizens have a
right to a speedy and public trial, and have the right to be tried
fairly and near the same location=venue they were arrested. The
accused must also be told what it is they're being tried
for=understand accusations, know who is testifying against
them=face accuser, and the right to provide witnesses for himself
and an attorney for himself.

 The 7th Amendment

Amendment 7: In Suits at common law, where the value in
controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury
shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-
examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the
rules of the common law.
Explanation: The 7th amendment deals with the rights of those
being sued=civil cases. If the amount of the lawsuit exceeds a
certain amount (much higher than the $20 originally established),
the defendant has the right to a trial by jury=civil jury.

 The 8th Amendment

Amendment 8: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive
fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Explanation: The Eighth Amendment protects citizens from unfair
punishments. The punishment, according to the 8th amendment,
must fit the crime. The federal government and most states have
sentencing guidelines to prevent judges from imposing excessive
bail, fines, or punishments.

 The 9th Amendment

Amendment 9: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain
rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained
by the people.
Explanation: Many framers of the U.S. Constitution did not feel a
Bill of Rights was necessary. After all, they argued, these rights are
not granted by the government. They also feared that rights not
listed in the Bill of Rights would be, therefore, taken away. The 9th
amendment calmed their fears by emphasizing that rights not
necessarily listed by the Constitution cannot be taken away by the
government. It is important to remember that the whole purpose of
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the United States Constitution is to limit government, something

politicians throughout the years have needed to be reminded.

 The 10th Amendment

Amendment 10: 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.
Explanation: With the exception of the 2nd Amendment, no
Amendment has been infringed upon by the federal government
more than the 10th. The United States is a republic, not a
democracy, which many poorly written history and government text
books call it. As a republic, states are promised autonomy over
matters not mentioned in the Constitution. The increasing size of
the federal government and the use of powers not granted to the
federal government have all but destroyed rights guaranteed by the
10th Amendment, the most recent attempt being the effort to
eliminate the system of electing a president after Al Gore's defeat in
2000.

Amendments 11 (XI) – 27 (XXVII)

Amendment XI - 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 1795]

Amendment XII - The Electors shall meet in their respective States and vote by ballot for
President and Vice-President… [Ratified 1804]

Amendment XIII - 1. 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. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation… [Ratified 1865]

Amendment XIV – 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.
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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 to 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… [Ratified 1868]

Amendment XV - 1. 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. 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation… [Ratified 1870]

Amendment XVI - The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from
whatever sources derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without
regard to any census or enumeration… [Ratified 1913]

Amendment XVII - The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from
each State, elected by the people thereof, for six year… [Ratified 1913]

Amendment XVIII - 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… [Ratified 1919; Repealed in 1933]

Amendment XIX - 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. Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate legislation… [Ratified 1920]

Amendment XX - 1. The terms of the President and the Vice-President shall end at noon on
the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3rd
day of January… 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such
meeting shall begin at noon on the 3rd day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a
different day… [Ratified 1933]

Amendment XXI - The Eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United
States is hereby repealed. [Ratified 1933]

Amendment XXII - 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 that two
years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the
office of President more that once… [Ratified 1951]

Amendment XXIII - The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States
shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and
Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to
which the District would be entitled if it were a State, 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
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appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided
by the twelfth article of amendment. [Ratified 1961]

Amendment XXIV - 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 poll tax or any tax. 2. Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. [Ratified 1964]

Amendment XXV - 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
the office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress… [Ratified
1967]

Amendment XXVI – 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. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.…
[Ratified 1971]

Amendment XXVII – 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 1993]

Amendment XIII – Note the date of ratification. Ight after the Civil War- 1861-1865
President Lincoln abolished slavery.

1. 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. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation… [Ratified 1865]

The Fourteenth Amendment Ratified in 1868 three years after the Civil War
ended.

Amendment XIV Taken from Cornell Institute

The Fourteenth Amendment addresses many aspects of citizenship and the rights of citizens.
The most commonly used -- and frequently litigated -- phrase in the amendment is "equal
protection of the laws", which figures prominently in a wide variety of landmark cases,
including Brown v. Board of Education (racial discrimination), Roe v. Wade (reproductive
rights), Bush v. Gore (election recounts), Reed v. Reed (gender
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discrimination), and University of California v. Bakke (racial quotas in education). It is

referred to as the STATE AMENDMENT. Its purpose was to ensure that the bill of rights was
integrated into each state.

Section 1.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United
States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.

Section 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 twenty-one years of age, 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 twenty-one years of age in such
state.

Section 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 two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 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
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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.

Section 5.

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