The Constitution of the United States
(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 (Article 1 – Legislative)
Article II (Article 2 – Executive)
Article III (Article 3 – Judicial)
Article IV (Article 4 – States’ Relations)
Article V (Article 5 – Mode of Amendment)
Article VI (Article 6 – Prior Debts, National Supremacy, Oaths of Office)
Article VII (Article 7 – Ratification)
Letter of Transmittal
Letter of Transmittal to the President of Congress
Amendments to the Constitution
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Article [I] (Amendment 1 – Freedom of expression and religion)
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Article [II] (Amendment 2 – Bearing Arms)
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Article [III] (Amendment 3 – Quartering Soldiers)
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Article [IV] (Amendment 4 – Search and Seizure)
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Article [V] (Amendment 5 – Rights of Persons)
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Article [VI] (Amendment 6 – Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions)
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Article [VII] (Amendment 7 – Civil Trials)
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Article [VIII] (Amendment 8 – Further Guarantees in Criminal Cases)
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Article [IX] (Amendment 9 – Unenumerated Rights)
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Article [X] (Amendment 10 – Reserved Powers)
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[Article XI] (Amendment 11 – Suits Against States)
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[Article XII] (Amendment 12 – Election of President)
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Article XIII (Amendment 13 – Slavery and Involuntary Servitude)
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Article XIV (Amendment 14 – Rights Guaranteed: Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection)
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Article XV (Amendment 15 – Rights of Citizens to Vote)
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Article XVI (Amendment 16 – Income Tax)
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Article XVII (Amendment 17 – Popular Election of Senators)
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Article XVIII (Amendment 18 – Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors)
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Article XIX (Amendment 19 – Women’s Suffrage Rights)
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Article XX (Amendment 20 – Terms of President, Vice President, Members of Congress: Presidential Vacancy)
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Article XXI (Amendment 21 – Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment)
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Amendment XXII (Amendment 22 – Presidential Tenure)
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Amendment XXIII (Amendment 23 – Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia)
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Amendment XXIV (Amendment 24 – Abolition of the Poll Tax Qualification in Federal Elections)
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Amendment XXV (Amendment 25 – Presidential Vacancy, Disability, and Inability)
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Amendment XXVI (Amendment 26 – Reduction of Voting Age Qualification)
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Amendment XXVII (Amendment 27 – Congressional Pay Limitation)
Dates
- May 25, 1787: The Constitutional Convention opens with a quorum of seven states in Philadelphia to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation. Eventually, all states but Rhode Island are represented.
- Sept. 17, 1787: All 12 state delegations approve the Constitution, 39 delegates sign it of the 42 present, and the Convention formally adjourns.
- June 21, 1788: The Constitution becomes effective for the ratifying states when New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify it.
- Mar. 4, 1789: The first Congress under the Constitution convenes in New York City.
- Apr. 30, 1789: George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States.
- June 8, 1789: James Madison introduces proposed Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives.
- Sept. 24, 1789: Congress establishes a Supreme Court, 13 district courts, three ad hoc circuit courts, and the position of Attorney General.
- Sept. 25, 1789: Congress approves 12 amendments and sends them to the states for ratification.
- Feb. 2, 1790: Supreme Court convenes for the first time after an unsuccessful attempt February 1.
- Dec. 15, 1791: Virginia ratifies the Bill of Rights, and 10 of the 12 proposed amendments become part of the U.S. Constitution.
Special thanks to http://constitutionus.com for the information provided here and on subsequential pages.
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