The U.S. Constitution

Table of Contents

• Preamble
  
  
• Article I - The Legislative Branch
  • Section 1 - The Legislature
  • Section 2 - The House
  • Section 3 - The Senate
  • Section 4 - Elections, Meetings
  • Section 5 - Membership, Rules, Journals, Adjournment
  • Section 6 - Compensation
  • Section 7 - Revenue Bills, Legislative Process, Presidential Veto
  • Section 8 - Powers of Congress
  • Section 9 - Limits on Congress
  • Section 10 - Powers Prohibited of States
  
  
  
• Article II - The Executive Branch
  • Section 1 - The President
  • Section 2 - Civilian Power Over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments
  • Section 3 - State of the Union, Convening Congress
  • Section 4 - Disqualification
  
  
  
• Article III - The Judicial Branch
  • Section 1 - Judicial Powers
  • Section 2 - Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury Trials
  • Section 3 - Treason
  
  
  
• Article IV - The States
  • Section 1 - Each State to Honor all Others
  • Section 2 - State Citizens, Extradition
  • Section 3 - New States
  • Section 4 - Republican Government
  
  
  
• Article V - Amendment
  
  
• Article VI - The United States
  
  
• Article VII - Ratification
  
  
• Signatories
  
  

During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.

On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States therefore proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution that met arguments most frequently advanced against it. The first two proposed amendments, which concerned the number of constituents for each Representative and the compensation of Congressmen, were not ratified. Articles 3 to 12, however, ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.

• Amendments
  • Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
  • Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms
  • Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers
  • Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure
  • Amendment 5 - Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings
  • Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses
  • Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
  • Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment
  • Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution
  • Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People
  • Amendment 11 - Judicial Limits
  • Amendment 12 - Choosing the President, Vice President
  • Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished
  • Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights
  • Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote
  • Amendment 16 - Status of Income Tax Clarified
  • Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote
  • Amendment 18 - Liquor Abolished
  • Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage
  • Amendment 20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms
  • Amendment 21 - Amendment 18 Repealed
  • Amendment 22 - Presidential Term Limits
  • Amendment 23 - Presidential Vote for District of Columbia
  • Amendment 24 - Poll Taxes Barred
  • Amendment 25 - Presidential Disability and Succession
  • Amendment 26 - Voting Age Set to 18 Years
  • Amendment 27 - Limiting Congressional Pay Increases

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