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The PENGUIN GUIDE to the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

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The Constitution of the United States of America
as currently amended
(Last amended July 7, 1992)

Overview
Courtesy U.S. Archives "The Constitution of the United States contains a preamble and seven articles that describe the way the government is structured and how it operates. The first three articles establish the three branches of government and their powers: Legislative (Congress), Executive (office of the President,) and Judicial (Federal court system). A system of checks and balances prevents any one of these separate powers from becoming dominant. Articles four through seven describe the relationship of the states to the Federal Government, establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and define the amendment and ratification processes." U.S.Archives

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers Beeman

Article I

"Article I assigns the responsibility for making laws to the Legislative Branch (Congress). Congress is divided into two parts, or "Houses," the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bicameral Congress was a compromise between the large states, which wanted representation based on population, and the small ones, which wanted the states to have equal representation." U.S.Archives

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

3413-A-Article I
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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

The Senate shall chuse [ choose ] 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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

3413-A-Article I
Section 4
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 [ choosing ] Senators. > Heritage Miscellaneous Cornell Law Wikipedia

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

3413-A-Article I
Section 5
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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Cornell Law Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Cornell Law Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Cornell Law Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Cases Beeman

3413-A-Article I
Section 6
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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia
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; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia
and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

3413-A-Article I
Section 7
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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

3413-A-Article I
Section 10
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia
or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia
or grant any Title of Nobility. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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 Control of the Congress. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Cornell Law Wikipedia Federalist Papers Beeman

Article II

"Article II details the Executive Branch and the offices of the President and Vice President. It lays down rules for electing the President (through the Electoral College), eligibility (must be a natural-born citizen at least 35 years old), and term length. The 12th and 25th Amendments modified some of these rules." U.S.Archives

3413-A-Article II
Section 3
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
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; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers Beeman

3413-A-Article II
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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers Beeman

Article III

"Article III establishes the Judicial Branch with the U.S. Supreme Court as the federal court system's highest court. It specifies that Federal judges be appointed for life unless they commit a serious crime. This article is shorter than Articles I and II. The Federal Convention left much of the work of planning the court system to the First Congress. The 1789 Judiciary Act created the three-tiered court system in place today." U.S.Archives

Section 1
The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers
and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. > Heritage Miscellaneous
The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia
and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers Beeman

3413-A-Article III
Section 3
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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Federalist Papers Beeman

Article IV

"Article IV outlines states' powers in relationship to each other. States have the authority to create and enforce their own laws but must respect and help enforce the laws of other states. Congress may pass Federal laws regarding how states honor other states' laws and records." U.S.Archives

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

3413-A-Article IV
Section 2
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Beeman

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Cases Beeman

3413-A-Article IV
Section 3
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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia
and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

3413-A-Article IV
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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers Beeman

Article V

"Article V explains the amendment process, which is different and more difficult than the process for making laws. When two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House of Representatives vote to change the Constitution, an amendment goes to the state legislatures for a vote. Alternatively, two-thirds of the state legislatures can submit an application to Congress, and then Congress calls a national convention at which states propose amendments. Three-fourths of the state legislatures or state conventions must vote in favor of an amendment to ratify it." U.S.Archives

3413-A-Article V

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, > Heritage Miscellaneous Federalist Papers
or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which > Heritage Miscellaneous Federalist Papers
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; > Heritage Miscellaneous
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; > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia
and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

Article VI

"Article VI states that Federal law is supreme, or higher than, state and local laws. This means that if a state law conflicts with a Federal law, Federal law takes precedence." U.S.Archives

3413-A-Article VI

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Cornell Law Wikipedia

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; > Heritage Miscellaneous Cornell Law Wikipedia Federalist Papers
but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

Article VII

"Article VII describes the ratification process for the Constitution. It called for special state ratifying conventions. Nine states were required to enact the Constitution." New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788. (RYC editor's note) "Rhode Island became the 13th state to ratify the Constitution in 1790." U.S.Archives

3413-A-Article VII

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Federalist Papers Beeman

3413-A-Article VII

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. > Heritage Miscellaneous Wikipedia Beeman

President and deputy from Virginia

New York
Alexander Hamilton
Delaware
Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom
James McHenry
Maryland
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 Cotesworthy Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler
Georgia
William Few
Abr Baldwin
New Hampshire
John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorman
Rufus King
Connecticutt
Wm. Saml. Johnson
Roger Sherman
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

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