United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States was drafted in Philadelphia in 1787 and took effect in 1789. It has a Preamble, seven Articles and twenty-seven amendments. This section publishes the Preamble, each Article and fifteen amendments, with the National Archives transcription of the text and a plain-English guide to each.
Start with the Preamble for the purposes, then read Articles I, II and III for the three branches. Articles IV through VII cover the states, amendment, supremacy and ratification. The amendments record how the document has changed.
The Preamble and the seven Articles
- PreamblePreamble to the United States Constitution
- Article IArticle I of the United States Constitution
- Article IIArticle II of the United States Constitution
- Article IIIArticle III of the United States Constitution
- Article IVArticle IV of the United States Constitution
- Article VArticle V of the United States Constitution
- Article VIArticle VI of the United States Constitution
- Article VIIArticle VII of the United States Constitution
Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 to 10)
- Amendment 1Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly and Petition
- Amendment 2The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
- Amendment 4Searches and Seizures
- Amendment 5Grand Juries, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process and Takings
- Amendment 6Criminal Trials: Speedy Trial, Jury, Confrontation and Counsel
- Amendment 8Excessive Bail and Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishments
- Amendment 10Powers Reserved to the States and the People
All ten amendments, including the Third, Seventh and Ninth, are compared on the Bill of Rights overview.