The US Constitution


 

Here is the complete text of the U.S. Constitution. The original spelling and capitalization has been
                                   retained.

 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. 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 chuse 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 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 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 chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, 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 Impeachments. 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 chusing 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
            Behaviour, 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 encreased 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 repassed 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 Defence 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 Offences against the
                                Law of Nations;

  To declare War, grant Letters of Marque 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, dock-Yards, 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 Habeas 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 Capitation, 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
 Marque 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 Controul 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 chuse 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 chuse the President. But in chusing 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 chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.

 The Congress may determine the Time of chusing 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
  encreased 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 Offences 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 Behaviour, 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


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