CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[Went into operation first Wednesday in March, 1789.]

ARTICLE I.

SECTION 1. Legislative powers; in whom vested.

SEC. 2. House of Representatives, how and by whom chosen Qualifications of a Representative - Representatives and direct taxes, how apportioned - Enumeration Vacancies to be filled

of choosing officers, and of impeachment.

Power

How classified

SEC. 3. Senators, how and by whom chosen State Executive, when to make temporary appointments, in case, etc.- Qualifications of a Senator President of the Senate, his right to vote-President pro tem., and other officers of the Senate, how chosen Power to try impeachments When President is tried,

SEC. 4. Times, etc., of holding elections, how prescribed -At least one Session in each year.

SEC. 5. Membership Quorum Power to punish or expel

limited, etc.

SEC. 6. Compensation

Journal

Privileges

-

cases.

SEC. 7. House to originate all revenue bills- Veto Bill may be passed by two-thirds of each house, notwithstanding, etc.- Bill, not returned in ten days, to become a law - Provisions as to orders, concurrent resolutions, etc.

Powers of Congress.

SEC. 8. SEC. 9. Provision as to migration or importation of certain persons-Habeas Corpus Bills of attainder, etc.- Taxes, how apportioned No export duty No commercial preference how drawn from treasury, etc.- No titular nobility - Officers not to receive presents, etc.

SEC. 10. States prohibited from the exercise of certain powers.

ARTICLE II.

SECTION 1. President; his term of office-Electors of President; number and how appointed Electors to vote on same day - Qualification of President On whom his duties devolve in case of his removal, death, etc.- President's compensation His oath of office. SEC. 2. President to be commander-in-chief- He may require opinions of Cabinet Officers, etc., may pardon - Treaty-making power Nomination of certain officers -When President may fill vacancies. SEC. 3. President shall communicate to Congress He may convene and adjourn Congress, in case of disagreement, etc.- Shall receive ambassadors, execute laws, and commission officers. SEC. 4. All civil offices forfeited for certain crimes.

SEC. 2. Judicial power; to what cases it extends - - Original jurisdiction of Supreme Court Appellate Trial by jury, etc.— Trial, where.

SEC. 3. Treason defined

Proof of -Punishment of.

ARTICLE IV.

SECTION 1. Each State to give credit to the public acts, etc., of every other State.

SEC. 2. Privileges of citizens of each State Fugitives from justice to be delivered up Persons held to service having escaped,

to be delivered up.

-

SEC. 3. Admission of new States - Power of Congress over territory and other property.

SEC. 4. Republican form of government guaranteed Each State to be protected.

ARTICLE V.

Constitution; how amended - Proviso.

ARTICLE VI.

Certain debts, etc., declared valid Supremacy of Constitution, treaties, and laws of the United States

No religious test.

Oath to support Consti.

ARTICLE VII.

What ratification shall establish Constitution.

III.

Right to keep and bear arms.

Freedom of speech, of

No soldier to be quartered in any house, unless, etc.

IV. Right of search and seizure regulated.

V. Provisions concerning prosecution, trial and punishment Private property not to be taken for public use, without compensation.

VI.

VII. VIII.

IX.

Further provision respecting criminal prosecutions.
Right of trial by jury secured.

Excessive bail or fines and cruel punishments prohibited.
Rule of construction of Constitution.

X. Same subject; rights of States.

XI. XII.

Same subject; judicial powers construed.

Manner of choosing President and Vice-President.

XIII. Slavery abolished.

XIV. Citizenship; representation

Public debt.

XIX. Suffrage; not to be denied because of sex.

THE CONSTITUTION.

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.

ARTICLE I.

SECTION 1.

Legislative powers vested in Congress.— All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of

ARTICLE I- Continued.

the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

SECTION 2.

Composition of the House of Representatives.— 1. 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.

Qualifications of Representatives.-2. 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.

Apportionment of Representatives and direct taxes

census.

* 3. [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 chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four,

*The clause included in brackets is amended by the fourteenth amendment, second section.