US Constitution Text

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

Links to Articles
Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
Article V
Article VI
Article VII
Signatories

 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.

Article I

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, and the Electors in each  State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous  Branch of the State Legislature.

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.

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. 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 choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence  Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania  eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South  Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive  Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall choose 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 two Senators  from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six  Years; and each  Senator shall have one Vote.

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  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.

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.

The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro  Moore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall  exercise the  Office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachment. 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.

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. 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 choosing Senators.

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.

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.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for  disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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 increased  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. 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.

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.

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 repaved 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. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties,  Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the  common Defense and  general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall  be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and  with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the  subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the  Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current  Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

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;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and  Offence against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Maraca and Reprisal, and make Rules  concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall  be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union,  suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

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;

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

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. 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.

The Privilege of the Writ of Herbs Corpus shall not be suspended, unless  when 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 Captivation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to  the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

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

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.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of  Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of Receipts and  Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

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. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation;  grant Letters of Maraca 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.

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  Contrail of the Congress.

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

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.

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 cause 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 cause the President. But in CH`ENG 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 cause from them by  Ballot the Vice President.

The Congress may determine the Time of CH`ENG the Electors, and the Day on  which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the  United States.

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.

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, 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.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a  Compensation, which shall neither be encased 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.

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. 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 Offence against the United States, except in  Cases of Impeachment.

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.

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

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;--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;--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.

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 appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, 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 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. 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.

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

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. 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.

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.

Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no  new States 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.

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

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

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.

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 notwith-standing.

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

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for  the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

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,

George Washington--President and deputy from Virginia

New Hampshire: John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts: Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King

Connecticut: William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman

New York: Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey: William Livingston, David Brearly, William Paterson, Jonathan  Dayton

Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George  Clymer, Thomas FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris

Delaware: George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard  Bassett, Jacob Broom

Maryland: James McHenry, Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll

Virginia: John Blair, James Madison, Jr.

North Carolina: William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson

South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney,  Pierce Butler

Georgia: William Few, Abraham Baldwin