ELS - ERD - Law By Country - United States Substantive Law

Constitution of the United States

Adopted by convention of States, September 17, 1787;
Ratification completed, June 21, 1788¹
(Current Through 1995)

Table of Contents

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 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: The Legislative Branch

Section 1: "All legislative Powers herein granted..."
Section 2: "The House of Representatives shall be composed..."
Section 3: "The Senate of the United States shall be composed..."
Section 4: "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections..."
Section 5: "Each House shall be the Judge..."
Section 6: "The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation..."
Section 7: "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate..."
Section 8: "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes..."
Section 9: "The Migration or Importation of such Persons..."
Section 10: "No State shall enter into any Treaty..."

ARTICLE II: The Executive Branch

Section 1: "The executive Power shall be vested in a President..." Section 2: "The President shall be Commander in Chief..." Section 3: "He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information..." Section 4: "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States..."

ARTICLE III: The Judicial Branch

Section 1: "The judicial Power of the United States..."
Section 2: "The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases..."
Section 3: "Treason against the United States..."

ARTICLE IV: Relations Between the States

Section 1: "Full Faith and Credit shall be given..."
Section 2: "The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities..."
Section 3: "New States may be admitted by the Congress..."
Section 4: "The United States shall guarantee to every State..."

ARTICLE V: The Amendment Process

ARTICLE VI: General Provisions, Supremacy of the Constitution

ARTICLE VII: Ratification Process

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION:


The Bill of Rights

Amendment I: Freedom of speech, religion, press, petition and assembly.

Amendment II: Right to bear arms and militia.

Amendment III: Quartering of soldiers.

Amendment IV: Warrants and searches.

Amendment V: Individual debt and double jeopardy.

Amendment VI: Speedy trial, witnesses and accusations.

Amendment VII: Right for a jury trial.

Amendment VIII: Bail and fines.

Amendment IX: Existence of other rights for the people.

Amendment X: Power reserved to the states and people.

End of The Bill of Rights

Amendment XI: Suits against states.

Amendment XII: Election of executive branch.

Amendment XIII: Prohibition of slavery.

Section 1: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude..."
Section 2: "Congress shall have power to enforce..."

Amendment XIV: Privileges or immunities, due process, elections and debt.

Section 1: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States..."
Section 2: "Representatives shall be apportioned..."
Section 3: "No person shall be a Senator or Representative..."
Section 4: "The validity of the public debt of the United States..."
Section 5: "The Congress shall have power to enforce..."

Amendment XV: Race and the right to vote.

Section 1: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote..."
Section 2: "The Congress shall have power to enforce..."

Amendment XVI: Income tax.

Amendment XVII: Senator election and number.

Amendment XVIII: Prohibition on sale of alcohol.

Section 1: "After one year from the ratification of this article..."
Section 2: "The Congress and the several States..."
Section 3: "This article shall be inoperative unless..."

Amendment XIX: Sex and the right to vote.

Amendment XX: "Lame duck" session of Congress eliminated.

Section 1: "The terms of the President and Vice President shall end..."
Section 2: "The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year..."
Section 3: "If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President..."
Section 4: "The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death..."
Section 5: "Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day..."
Section 6: "This article shall be inoperative unless..."

Amendment XXI: Repeal of Article XVIII.

Section 1: "The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution..."
Section 2: "The transportation or importation into any State..."
Section 3: "This article shall be inoperative unless..."

Amendment XXII: Limit of Presidential terms.

Section 1: "No person shall be elected to the office of the President..."
Section 2: "This article shall be inoperative unless..."

Amendment XXIII: Election rules for the District of Columbia.

Section 1: "The District constituting the seat of Government..."
Section 2: "The Congress shall have power to enforce..."

Amendment XXIV: Taxes and the right to vote.

Section 1: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote..."
Section 2: "The Congress shall have power to enforce..."

Amendment XXV: Rules of Presidential succession.

Section 1: "In case of the removal of the President from office..."
Section 2: "Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President..."
Section 3: "Whenever the President transmits..."
Section 4: "Whenever the Vice President..."

Amendment XXVI: Age and the right to vote.

Section 1: "The right of citizens of the United States..."
Section 2: "The Congress shall have power to enforce..."

Amendment XXVII: Pay raises and Congress.

AMENDMENTS NEVER RATIFIED.