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

Jump to an Article or an Amendment Preamble                                                                                 Amendment I - Freedom of Religion & Etc Amendment II - Right to Keep & Bear Arms Amendment III - Quartering Troops Amendment IV - Search & Seizure Amendment V - Rights of Persons Amendment VI - Rights of Accused Amendment VII - Rights in Civil Trials Amendment VIII - Guarantees in Criminal Cases Amendment IX - Unenumerated Rights Amendment X - Reserved Powers Amendment XI - Suits Against States Amendment XII - Presidential Elections Amendment XIII - Abolition of Slavery Amendment XIV - Rights Guaranteed Amendment XV - Rights of Citizens to Vote Amendment XVI - Income Tax Amendment XVII - Election of Senators Amendment XVIII - Prohibition Amendment XIX - Women's Suffrage Amendment XX - Presidential Succession Amendment XXI - Prohibition Repealed Amendment XXII - Presidential Tenure Amendment XXIII - Electors for DC Amendment XXIV - Prohibition of Poll Tax Amendment XXV - Presidential Succession Amendment XXVI- Reduction of Voting Age Amendment XXVII - Congressional Pay

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 Error: Missing closing tag 'HIDEIF' 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 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' 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 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' 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 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' 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 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' 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 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' 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 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' 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 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Bill of Rights Courtesy U.S. Archives "The Constitution might never have been ratified if the framers hadn't promised to add a Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution gave citizens more confidence in the new government and contain many of today's Americans' most valued freedoms."     U.S.Archives "The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans' rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual-like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States. And it specifies that "the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."     U.S.Archives Amendment I Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 "The First Amendment provides several rights protections: to express ideas through speech and the press, to assemble or gather with a group to protest or for other reasons, and to ask the government to fix problems. It also protects the right to religious beliefs and practices. It prevents the government from creating or favoring a religion."     U.S.Archives Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment II Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 "The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.""     U.S.Archives Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment III Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 "The Third Amendment prevents government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes. Before the Revolutionary War, laws gave British soldiers the right to take over private homes."     U.S.Archives Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment IV Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 "The Fourth Amendment bars the government from unreasonable search and seizure of an individual or their private property."     U.S.Archives Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment V Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 "The Fifth Amendment provides se Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment VI Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment VII Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment VIII Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment IX Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment X Date Ratified: 12/15/1791 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XI Date Passed by Congress: 03/04/1794 Date Ratified: 02/07/1795 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XII Date Passed by Congress: 12/09/1803 Date Ratified: 06/15/1804 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XIII Date Passed by Congress: 01/31/1865 Date Ratified: 12/06/1865 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XIV Date Passed by Congress: 06/13/1866 Date Ratified: 07/09/1868 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XV Date Passed by Congress: 02/26/1869 Date Ratified: 02/03/1870 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XVI Date Passed by Congress: 07/02/1909 Date Ratified: 02/03/1913 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XVII Date Passed by Congress: 05/13/1912 Date Ratified: 04/08/1913 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XVIII Date Passed by Congress: 12/18/1917 Date Ratified: 01/16/1919 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XIX Date Passed by Congress: 06/04/1919 Date Ratified: 08/18/1920 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XX Date Passed by Congress: 03/02/1932 Date Ratified: 01/23/1933 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XXI Date Passed by Congress: 02/20/1933 Date Ratified: 12/05/1933 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XXII Date Passed by Congress: 03/21/1947 Date Ratified: 02/27/1951 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XXIII Date Passed by Congress: 06/16/1960 Date Ratified: 03/29/1961 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XXIV Date Passed by Congress: 09/14/1962 Date Ratified: 01/23/1964 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XXV Date Passed by Congress: 07/06/1965 Date Ratified: 012/10/1967 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XXVI Date Passed by Congress: 03/23/1971 Date Ratified: 07/01/1971 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF' Amendment XXVII Date Passed by Congress: 09/25/1789 Date Ratified: 57/07/1992 Error: Missing closing tag 'SHOWIF'