The articles
The articles of the Constitution of the United States. Note. Phrases contained in brackets are those obsoleted or amended by later amendments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Article I. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Section 1.All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in aCongress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and Houseof Representatives. Section 2.The House of Representatives shall be composed of Memberschosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and theElectors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to theAge of twenty-five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the UnitedStates, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that Statein which he shall be chosen. [Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the severalStates which may be included within this Union, according to their respectiveNumbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of freePersons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excludingIndians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.][1]The actual Enumeration shall be made withinthree Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, andwithin every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall byLaw direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for everythirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; anduntil such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall beentitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and ProvidencePlantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four,Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolinafive, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the ExecutiveAuthority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers;and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. Section 3.The Senate of the United States shall be composed of twoSenators from each State, [chosen by the Legislature thereof,][2]for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote. Immediately after they have been assembled in Consequence of the firstElection, 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 theExpiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of thefourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, sothat one third may be chosen every second Year; [and if Vacancies happen byResignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State,the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meetingof the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.][3] No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age ofthirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and whoshall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall bechosen. The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate,but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President protempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise theOffice of President of the United States. The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sittingfor that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President ofthe United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Personshall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the Memberspresent. Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removalfrom Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trustor Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall neverthelessbe liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, accordingto Law. Section 4.The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senatorsand Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislaturethereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter suchRegulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meetingshall be [on the first Monday in December,][4]unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day. Section 5.Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns andQualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitutea 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 suchManner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide. Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Membersfor disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel aMember. Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to timepublish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment requireSecrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any questionshall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal. Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consentof the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place thanthat in which the two Houses shall be sitting. Section 6.The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensationfor their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasuryof the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony, andBreach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during Attendance at theSession of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from thesame; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place. No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he waselected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the UnitedStates, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall havebeen encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under theUnited States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance inOffice. Section 7.All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House ofRepresentatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as onother Bills. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and theSenate, shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented to the President of theUnited 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, whoshall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed toreconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shallagree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, tothe other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approvedby two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases theVotes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas or Nays, and the Names ofthe persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journalof each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the Presidentwithin 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 theCongress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall notbe a Law. Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senateand House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question ofAdjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; andbefore the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or beingdisapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and Houseof Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in theCase of a Bill. Section 8.The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties,Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence andgeneral Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excisesshall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on thesubject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fixthe Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and currentCoin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and post Roads; To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing forlimited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to theirrespective Writings and Discoveries; To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas,and Offenses against the Law of Nations; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rulesconcerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Useshall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of theUnion, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, andfor governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of theUnited States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment ofthe Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to thediscipline prescribed by Congress; To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over suchDistrict (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by Cession of particularStates, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Governmentof the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Placespurchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Sameshall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards andother needful Buildings; -- And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying intoExecution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by thisConstitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Departmentor Officer thereof. Section 9.The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of theStates now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited bythe Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but aTax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollarsfor each Person. The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unlesswhen in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. [No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportionto the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.][5] No Tax or Duty shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue tothe Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, orfrom, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another. No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence ofAppropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of theReceipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from timeto time. No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Personholding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consentof Congress, accept any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kindwhatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State. Section 10.No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, orConfederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Billsof Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment ofDebts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing theObligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility. No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts orDuties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary forexecuting 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 Treasuryof the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision andControul of the Congress. No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Duty ofTonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into anyAgreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engagein War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admitof delay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Article II. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Section 1.The executive Power shall be vested in a President of theUnited States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of fourYears, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, beelected, as follows Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof maydirect, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators andRepresentatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but noSenator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profitunder the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. [The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballotfor two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the sameState with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons votedfor, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign andcertify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the UnitedStates, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senateshall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open allCertificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having thegreatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majorityof the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one whohave such Majority, and have an Equal Number of Votes, then the House ofRepresentatives 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 thesaid House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing thePresident, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from eachState having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Memberor Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the Statesshall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of thePresident, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electorsshall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who haveequal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.][6] The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Dayon which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughoutthe United States. No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States,at the time of the Adoption of the Constitution, shall be eligible to theOffice of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office whoshall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteenYears 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 saidOffice, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress mayby Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation, or Inability,both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall thenact as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disabilitybe removed, or a President shall be elected.][7] The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, aCompensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during thePeriod for which he shall have been elected,and he shall not receive withinthat Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them. Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take thefollowing Oath or Affirmation: -- "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I willfaithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will tothe best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of theUnited States." Section 2.The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navyof the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when calledinto the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, inwriting, of the Principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, uponany Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shallhave Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the UnitedStates, except in Cases of Impeachment. He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, tomake Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and heshall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shallappoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of thesupreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointmentsare 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 theHeads of Departments. The Vice President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that mayhappen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shallexpire at the End of their next Session. Section 3.He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information ofthe State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures ashe shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions,convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement betweenthem, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to suchTime as he think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other publicMinisters; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shallCommission all the Officers of the United States. Section 4.The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of theUnited States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Convictionof, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Article III. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Section 1.The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in onesupreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time totime ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferiorCourts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at statedTimes, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not bediminished during their Continuance in Office. Section 2.The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law andEquity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, andTreaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; -- to all Casesaffecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; -- to all Cases ofadmiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; -- to Controversies to which the UnitedStates shall be a Party; -- to Controversies between two or more States;-- [between a State and Citizens of another State; --][8]between Citizens of different States, -- between Citizens of thesame State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, [and between aState, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.][ 9] In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls,and those in which a State shall be a Party, the supreme Court shall haveoriginal jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supremeCourt shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with suchExceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make. The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment; shall be by Jury;and such Trial shall be held in the State when the said Crimes shall havebeen committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall beat such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed. Section 3.Treason against the United States, shall consist only inlevying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aidand Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimonyof two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but noAttainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture exceptduring the Life of the Person attainted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Article IV. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Section 1.Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to thepublic Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State; And theCongress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Recordsand Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. Section 2.The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privilegesand Immunities of Citizens in the several States. A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, whoshall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand ofthe executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, tobe removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime. [No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under 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 Claimof the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.][10] 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 anyother State; nor any other State be formed by the Junction of two or moreStates, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of theStates concerned as well as of the Congress. The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rulesand Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to theUnited States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as toPrejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any Particular State. Section 4.The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Uniona Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them againstInvasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (whenthe Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Article V. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary,shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of theLegislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention forproposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intentsand Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislaturesof three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourthsthereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by theCongress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year Onethousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first andfourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State,without its Consent, shall be deprived of it's equal Suffrage in the Senate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Article VI. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption ofthis Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under thisConstitution, as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be madein Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under theAuthority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and theJudges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitutionor Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of theseveral State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both ofthe United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath orAffirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall everbe Required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the UnitedStates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Article VII. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficientfor the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifyingthe Same. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signatures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present theSeventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand sevenhundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States ofAmerica the Twelfth In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed ourNames,
Present, The States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton from New York, NewJersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, SouthCarolina and Georgia. Resolved, That the preceeding Constitution be laid before the United States inCongress assembled, and that it is the Opinion of this Convention, that itshould afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in eachstate by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of its Legislature, fortheir Assent and Ratification; and that each Convention assenting to, andratifying the Same, should give Notice thereof to the United States inCongress assembled. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, thatas soon as the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified thisConstitution, the United states in Congress assembled should fix a Day onwhich Electors should be appointed by the States which shall have ratifiedthe same, and a Day, on which the Electors should assemble to vote for thePresident, and the Time and Place for commencing Proceedings under thisConstitution. That after such Publication the electors should be appointed, and theSenators and Representatives elected; That the Electors should meet on theDay fixed for the Election of the President, and should transmit their Votescertified, signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to theSecretary of the United States in Congress assembled, that the Senators andRepresentatives should convene at the Time and Place assigned; that theSenators should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole Purpose ofreceiving, opening and counting the Votes for President; and, that after heshall be chosen, the Congress, together with the President, should, withoutDelay, proceed to execute this Constitution. W. Jackson, Secretary. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Footnotes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Modified by Amendment XIV, Section 2. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. Modified by Amendment XVII. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. Modified by Amendment XVII. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4. Modified by Amendment XX, Section 2. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5. Modified by Amendment XVI. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. Modified by Amendment XII. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7. Modified by Amendment XV. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8. Modified by Amendment XI. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9. Modified by Amendment XI. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10. Modified by Amendment XIII. |
2011-12-28
The articles of the Constitution
