美利坚合众国宪法
（当根据联邦条例组成的第一个国家政府证明不能将原来的十三州结合成一个统一的国家时，美国人民探用了现在的合众国宪法。合众国宪法是世界上最古老的国家宪法之一，一七八九年三月四日正式成为美国的基本大法。数年之后，增加了首十条宪法修正案，亦即所谓权利法案，在其后的一个半世纪中又增加了另外十多条修正案。）
序 言
我们，美利坚合众国的人民，为了组织一个更完善的联邦，树立正义，保障国内的安宁，建立共同的国防，增进全民福利和确保我们自己及我们后代能安享自由带来的幸福，乃为美利坚合众国制定和确立这一部宪法。
第一条
第一款：本宪法所规定的立法权，全属合众国的国会，国会由一个参议院和一个众议院组成。
第二款：众议院应由各州人民每两年选举一次之议员组成， 各州选举人应具有该州州议会中人数最多之一院的选举人所需之资格。
凡年龄未满二十五岁，或取得合众国公民资格未满七年，或于某州当选而并非该州居民者，均不得任众议员。
众议员人数及直接税税额，应按联邦所辖各州的人口数目比例分配，此项人口数目的计算法，应在全体自由人民－－包括订有契约的短期仆役，但不包括未被课税的印第安人－－数目之外，再加上所有其它人口之五分之三。实际人口调查，应于合众国国会第一次会议三年内举行，并于其后每十年举行一次，其调查方法另以法律规定之。众议员的数目，不得超过每三万人口有众议员一人，但每州至少应有众议员一人；在举行人口调查以前，各州得按照下列数目选举众议员：新罕不什尔三人、麻萨诸塞八人、罗得岛及普罗维登斯垦殖区一人、康涅狄格五人、纽约州六人、新泽西四人、宾夕法尼亚八人、特拉华一人、马里兰六人、弗吉尼亚十人、北卡罗来纳五人、南卡罗来纳五人、乔治亚三人。
任何一州的众议员有缺额时，该州的行政长官应颁选举令，选出众议员以补充缺额。
众议院应选举该院议长及其它官员；只有众议院具有提出弹劾案的权力。
第三款： 合众国的参议院由每州的州议会选举两名参议员组成之，参议员的任期为六年，每名参议员有一票表决权。
参议员第一次选举后举行会议之时，应当立即尽量均等地分成三组。第一组参议员的任期，到第二年年终时届满，第二组到第四年年终时届满，第三组到第六年年终时届满，俾使每两年有三分之一的参议员改选；如果在某州州议会休会期间，有参议员因辞职或其它原因出缺，该州的行政长官得任命临时参议员，等到州议会下次集合时，再予选举补缺。
凡年龄未满三十岁，或取得合众国公民资格未满九年，或于某州当选而并非该州居民者，均不得任参议员。
合众国副总统应为参议院议长，除非在投票票数相等时，议长无投票权。
参议院应选举该院的其它官员，在副总统缺席或执行合众国总统职务时，还应选举临时议长。
所有弹劾案，只有参议院有权审理。在开庭审理弹劾案时，参议员们均应宣誓或誓愿。如受审者为合众国总统，则应由最高法院首席大法官担任主席；在未得出席的参议员的三分之二的同意时，任何人不得被判有罪。
弹劾案的判决，不得超过免职及取消其担任合众国政府任何有荣誉、有责任或有俸给的职位之资格；但被判处者仍须服从另据法律所作之控诉、审讯、判决及惩罚。
第四款： 各州州议会应规定本州岛岛参议员及众议员之选举时间、地点及程序；但国会得随时以法律制定或变更此种规定，惟有选举议员的地点不在此例。
国会应至少每年集合一次，开会日期应为十二月的第一个星期一，除非他们通过法律来指定另一个日期。
第五款： 参众两院应各自审查本院的选举、选举结果报告和本院议员的资格，每院议员过半数即构成可以议事的法定人数；不足法定人数时，可以一天推一天地延期开会，并有权依照各该议院所规定的程序和罚则，强迫缺席的议员出席。
参众两院得各自规定本院的议事规则，处罚本院扰乱秩序的议员，并且得以三分之二的同意，开除本院的议员。
参众两院应各自保存一份议事记录，并经常公布，惟各该院认为应保守秘密之部分除外；两院议员对于每一问题之赞成或反对，如有五分之一出席议员请求，则应记载于议事记录内。
在国会开会期间，任一议院未得别院同意，不得休会三日以上，亦不得迁往非两院开会的其它地点。
第六款： 参议员与众议员得因其服务而获报酬，报酬的多寡由法律定之，并由合众国国库支付。两院议员除犯叛国罪、重罪以及扰乱治安罪外，在出席各该院会议及往返各该院途中，有不受逮捕之特权；两院议员在议院内所发表之演说及辩论，在其它场合不受质询。
参议或众议员不得在当选任期内担任合众国政府任何新添设的职位，或在其任期内支取因新职位而增添的俸给；在合众国政府供职的人，不得在其任职期间担任国会议员。
第七款 ：有关征税的所有法案应在众议院中提出；但参议院得以处理其它法案的方式，以修正案提出建议或表示同意。
经众议院和参议院通过的法案，在正式成为法律之前，须呈送合众国总统；总统如批准，便须签署，如不批准，即应连同他的异议把它退还给原来提出该案的议院，该议院应将异议详细记入议事记录，然后进行复议。倘若在复议之后，该议院议员的三分之二仍然同意通过该法案，该院即应将该法案连同异议书送交另一院，由其同样予以复议，若此另一院亦以三分之二的多数通过，该法案即成为法律。但遇有这样的情形时，两院的表决均应以赞同或反对来定，而赞同和反对该法案的议员的姓名，均应由两院分别记载于各该院的议事记录之内。如总统接到法案后十日之内(星期日除外) ，不将之退还，该法案即等于曾由总统签署一样，成为法律，惟有当国会因而无法将该法案退还时，该法案才不得成为法律。
任何命令、决议或表决(有关休会问题者除外) ，凡须由参议院及众议院予以同意者，均应呈送合众国总统；经其批准之后，方始生效，如总统不予批准，则参众两院可依照对于通过法案所规定的各种组别和限制，各以三分之二的多数，再行通过。
第八款： 国会有权规定并征收税金、捐税、关税和其它赋税，用以偿付国债并为合众国的共同防御和全民福利提供经费； 但是各种捐税、关税和其它赋税，在合众国内应划一征收；
以合众国的信用举债；
管理与外国的、州与州间的，以及对印第安部落的贸易；
制定在合众内一致适用的归化条例，和有关破产的一致适用的法律；
铸造货币，调节其价值，并厘定外币价值，以及制定度量衡的标准；
制定对伪造合众国证券和货币的惩罚条例；
设立邮政局及建造驿路；
为促进科学和实用技艺的进步，对作家和发明家的著作和发明，在一定期限内给予专利权的保障；
设置最高法院以下的各级法院；
界定并惩罚海盗罪、在公海所犯的重罪和违背国际公法的罪行；
宣战，对民用船只颁发捕押敌船及采取报复行动的特许证，制定在陆地和海面虏获战利品的规则；
募集和维持陆军，但每次拨充该项费用的款项，其有效期不得超过两年；
配备和保持海军；
制定有关管理和控制陆海军队的各种条例；
制定召集民兵的条例，以便执行联邦法律，镇压叛乱和击退侵略；
规定民兵的组织、装备和训练，以及民兵为合众国服务时的管理辨法，但各州保留其军官任命权，和依照国会规定的条例训练其民团的权力；
对于由某州让与而由国会承受，用以充当合众国政府所在地的地区(不逾十哩见方)，握有对其一切事务的全部立法权；对 于经州议会同意，向州政府购得，用以建筑要塞、弹药库、兵工 厂、船坞和其它必要建筑物的地方，也握有同样的权力；－－并且
为了行使上述各项权力，以及行使本宪法赋予合众国政府或其各部门或其官员的种种权力，制定一切必要的和适当的法律。
第九款 ：对于现有任何一州所认为的应准其移民或入境的人，在一八○八年以前，国会不得加以禁止，但可以对入境者课税，惟以每人不超过十美元为限。
不得中止人身保护令所保障的特权，惟在叛乱或受到侵犯的情况下，出于公共安全的必要时不在此限。
不得通过任何褫夺公权的法案或者追溯既往的法律。
除非按本宪法所规定的人口调查或统计之比例，不得征收任何人口税或其它直接税。
对各州输出之货物，不得课税。
任何有关商务或纳税的条例，均不得赋予某一州的港口以优惠待遇；亦不得强迫任何开往或来自某一州的船只，驶入或驶出 另一州，或向另一州纳税。
除了依照法律的规定拨款之外，不得自国库中提出任何款项；一切公款收支的报告和帐目，应经常公布。
合众国不得颁发任何贵族爵位：凡是在合众国政府担任有俸给或有责任之职务者，未经国会许可，不得接受任何国王、王子 或外国的任何礼物、薪酬、职务或爵位。
第十款： 各州不得缔结任何条约、结盟或组织邦联；不得对民用船只颁发捕押敌船及采取报复行动之特许证；不得铸造货币；不得发行纸币；不得指定金银币以外的物品作为偿还债务的法定货币；不得通过任何褫夺公权的法案、追溯既往的法律和损害契约义务的法律；也不得颁发任何贵族爵位。
未经国会同意，各州不得对进口货物或出口货物征收任何税款，但为了执行该州的检查法律而有绝对的必要时，不在此限；任何州对于进出口货物所征的税，其净收益应归合众国国库使用；所有这一类的检查法律，国会对之有修正和监督之权。
未经国会同意，各州不得征收船舶吨位税，不得在和平时期保持军队和军舰，不得和另外一州或外国缔结任何协议或契约，除非实际遭受入侵，或者遇到刻不容缓的危急情形时，不得从事战争。
第二条
第一款： 行政权力赋予美利坚合众国总统。总统任期四年，总统和具有同样任期的副总统，应照下列手续选举：
每州应依照该州州议会所规定之手续，指定选举人若干名，其人数应与该州在国会之及众议员之总数相等；但参议员、众议员及任何在合众国政府担任有责任及有俸给之职务的人，均不得被指定为选举人。
各选举人应于其本身所属的州内集会，每人投票选举二人，其中至少应有一人不属本州岛岛居民。选举人应开列全体被选人名单，注明每人所得票数；他们还应签名作证明，并将封印后的名单送至合众国政府所在地交与参议院议长。参议院议长应于参众两院全体议员之前，开拆所有来件，然后计算票数。得票最多者，如其所得票数超过全体选举人的半数，即当选为总统；如同时不止一人得票过半数，且又得同等票数，则众议院应立即投票表决，选举其中一人为总统；如无人得票过半数，则众议院应自得票最多之前五名中用同样方法选举总统。但依此法选举总统时，应以州为单位，每州之代表共有一票；如全国三分之二的州各有一名或多名众议员出席，即构成选举总统的法定人数；当选总统者需获全部州的过半数票。在每次这样的选举中，于总统选出后，其获得选举人所投票数最多者，即为副总统。但如有二人或二人以上得票相等时，则应由参议院投票表决，选举其中一人为副总统。
国会得决定各州选出选举人的时期以及他们投票的日子；投票日期全国一律。
只有出生时为合众国公民，或在本宪法实施时已为合众国公民者，可被选为总统；凡年龄未满三十五岁，或居住合众国境内未满十四年者，不得被选为总统。
如遇总统被免职，或因死亡、辞职或丧失能力而不能执行其权力及职务时，总统职权应由副总统执行之。国会得以法律规定，在总统及副总统均被免职，或死亡、辞职或丧失能力时，由何人代理总统职务，该人应即遵此视事，至总统能力恢复，或新总统被选出时为止。
总统得因其服务而在规定的时间内接受俸给，在其任期之内，俸金数额不得增加或减低，他亦不得在此任期内，自合众国政府和任何州政府接受其它报酬。
在他就职之前，他应宣誓或誓愿如下：「我郑重宣誓（或矢言)我必忠诚地执行合众国总统的职务，并尽我最大的能力，维持、保护和捍卫合众国宪法。」
第二款： 总统为合众国陆海军的总司令，并在各州民团奉召为合众国执行任务时担任统帅；他可以要求每个行政部门的主管官员提出有关他们职务的任何事件的书面意见，除了弹劾案之外，他有权对于违犯合众国法律者颁发缓刑和特赦。
总统有权缔订条约，但须争取参议院的意见和同意，并须出席的参议员中三分之二的人赞成；他有权提名，并于取得参议院的意见和同意后，任命大使、公使及领事、最高法院的法官，以及一切其它在本宪法中未经明定、但以后将依法律的规定而设置之合众国官员；国会可以制定法律，酌情把这些较低级官员的任命权，授予总统本人，授予法院，或授予各行政部门的首长。
在参议院休会期间，如遇有职位出缺，总统有权任命官员补充缺额，任期于参议院下届会议结束时终结。
第三款： 总统应经常向国会报告联邦的情况，并向国会提出他认为必要和适当的措施，供其考虑；在特殊情况下，他得召集两院或其中一院开会，并得于两院对于休会时间意见不一致时，命令两院休会到他认为适当的时期为止；他应接见大使和公使；他应注意使法律切实执行，并任命所有合众国的军官。
第四款： 合众国总统、副总统及其它所有文官，因叛国、贿赂或其它重罪和轻罪，被弹劾而判罪者，均应免职。
第三条
第一款： 合众国的司法权属于一个最高法院以及由国会随时下令设立的低级法院。最高法院和低级法院的法官，如果尽忠职守，应继续任职，并按期接受俸给作为其服务之报酬，在其继续任职期间，该项俸给不得削减。
第二款：司法权适用的范围，应包括在本宪法、合众国法律、和合众国已订的及将订的条约之下发生的一切涉及普通法及衡平法的案件；一切有关大使、公使及领事的案件；一切有关海上裁判权及海事裁判权的案件；合众国为当事一方的诉讼；州与州之间的诉讼，州与另一州的公民之间的诉讼，一州公民与另一州公
民之间的诉讼，同州公民之间为不同之州所让与之土地而争执的诉讼，以及一州或其公民与外国政府、公民或其国民之间的诉讼。
在一切有关大使、公使、领事以及州为当事一方的案件中，最高法院有最初审理权。在上述所有其它案件中，最高法院有关于法律和事实的受理上诉权，但由国会规定为例外及另有处理条例者，不在此限。
对一切罪行的审判，除了弹劾案以外，均应由陪审团裁定，并且该审判应在罪案发生的州内举行；但如罪案发生地点并不在任何一州之内，该项审判应在国会按法律指定之地点或几个地点举行。
第三款：只有对合众国发动战争，或投向它的敌人，予敌人以协助及方便者，方构成叛国罪。无论何人，如非经由两个证人证明他的公然的叛国行为，或经由本人在公开法庭认罪者，均不得被判叛国罪。
国会有权宣布对于叛国罪的惩处，但因叛国罪而被褫夺公权者，其后人之继承权不受影响，叛国者之财产亦只能在其本人生存期间被没收。
第四条
第一款： 各州对其它各州的公共法案、记录、和司法程序，应给予完全的信赖和尊重。国会得制定一般法律，用以规定这种法案、记录、和司法程序如何证明以及具有何等效力。
第二款： 每州公民应享受各州公民所有之一切特权及豁免。
凡在任何一州被控犯有叛国罪、重罪或其它罪行者，逃出法外而在另一州被缉获时，该州应即依照该罪犯所逃出之州的行政当局之请求，将该罪犯交出，以便移交至小该犯罪案件有管辖权之州。
凡根据一州之法律应在该州服役或服劳役者，逃往另一州时，不得因另一州之任何法律或条例，解除其服役或劳役，而应依照有权要求该项服役或劳役之当事一方的要求，把人交出。
第三款： 国会得准许新州加入联邦；如无有关各州之州议会及国会之同意，不得于任何州之管辖区域内建立新州；亦不得合并两州或数州、或数州之一部分而成立新州。
国会有权处置合众国之属地及其它产业，并制定有关这些属地及产业的一切必要的法规和章则；本宪法中任何条文，不得作有损于合众国或任何一州之权利的解释。
第四款 ：合众国保证联邦中的每一州皆为共和政体，保障它们不受外来的侵略；并且根据掳各州州议会或行政部门(当州议会不能召集时)的请求，平定其内部的暴乱。
第五条
举凡两院议员各以三分之二的多数认为必要时，国会应提出对本宪法的修正案； 或者， 当现有诸州三分之二的州议会提出请求时，国会应召集修宪大会，以上两种修正案，如经诸州四分之三的州议会或四分之三的州修宪大会批准时，即成为本宪法之一部分而发生全部效力，至于采用那一种批准方式，则由国会议决；但一八○八年以前可能制定之修正案，在任何情形下，不得影响本宪法第一条第九款之第一、第四两项；任何一州，没有它的同意，不得被剥夺它在参议院中的平等投票权。
第六条
合众国政府于本宪法被批准之前所积欠之债务及所签订之条约，于本宪法通过后，具有和在邦联政府时同等的效力。
本宪法及依本宪法所制定之合众国法律；以及合众国已经缔结及将要缔结的一切条约，皆为全国之最高法律；每个州的法官都应受其约束，任何一州宪法或法律中的任何内容与之抵触时，均不得有违这一规定。
前述之参议员及众议员，各州州议会议员，合众国政府及各州政府之一切行政及司法官员，均应宣誓或誓愿拥护本宪法；但合众国政府之任何职位或公职，皆不得以任何宗教标准作为任职的必要条件。
第七条
本宪法经过九个州的制宪大会批准后，即在批准本宪法的各州之间开始生效。
（编辑者宗亚平提供如下中译文：）
附件条文，修补条文
依照本宪法第五条，经议会提议，各州制宪大会批准，联邦宪法具有修补条文如下:
修补条文 I [宗教、言论、出版、聚会、请愿 (1791)]
议会不能制定法律干涉宗教发展和宗教活动、或限制言论、出版、和平聚会和向政府请愿的自由。
修补条文 II [持枪权 (1791)]
不能限制守法民兵、人民为保证一个自由国度所必要的持枪权。
修补条文 III [Quartering of Troops (1791)]
除了法律赋予的形式，未经所有者容许，无论和平和战争时期，不能有军人进人任何房屋。
修补条文 IV [搜查、拘扣 (1791)]
不能以无理搜查和拘扣侵犯人身、房屋、书信、行动的安全权利。但是，具有合法命令，标明具体地点、人物和物品的情况除外。
修补条文 V [陪审团、双侵犯、自控告、程序 (1791)]
没有陪审团的控告和在场，不能对任何人进行财产和犯罪的询问。除非军人和民兵在战争任务中，不能给予任何人生命和肢体两次相同的冒险，不能强迫对犯罪作证，不能不经过法律程序剥夺生命、自由和财产，不经过合理补偿不能将私人财物作为公用。
修补条文 VI [犯罪起诉、法庭审理、面对和辩护权 (1791)]
在所有犯罪起诉中，被诉人有权要求在法律确认的罪行发生地区，由公正陪审团进行的快速和公开的审理，有权被告知起诉的事件和理由，有权面对证人，有权指定强制的获得证据的过程，有权获得法律辩护。
修补条文 VII [民法案、陪审团审理 (1791)]
民法案应超过20美元，由陪审团审理的程序应该保留，由陪审团根据民法审理过的事实不能在美国任何法庭进行重审。
修补条文 VIII [过度保释、罚款、残忍和非常惩罚 (1791)]
不能索求过高保释金、不能征收过度罚款，不能实施残忍或非寻常的惩罚。
修补条文 IX [权利不被剥夺 (1791)]
不能列举宪法其它条文，剥夺任何人宪法赋予的任何权利。
修补条文 X [州保留权 (1791)]
宪法没有赋予国家的权利，或宪法禁止施与州的权利，归州或人民所有。
修补条文 XI [对州的诉讼 (1795)]
注: 本条文对宪法的第3条第2款进行了修订。另一个州的公民，或外国公民或团体不能使用美国法律对美国任何一个州进行诉讼。
修补条文XII [总统、副总统的选举 (1804)]
注: 本条文对宪法的第2条第1款进行替换。选举人应该在他们所在州聚会投票选举总统和副总统，他们中的至少1人必须不是该州居民，选票应列出所赞同的总统的名字，独立的选票列出投票的副总统的名字，选举结果应分别列出2个独立的单子，分别标明所有被选举的总统的名字和各自得票数、所有被选举的副总统的名字和各自得票数，选举结果经签名确认后，密封交联邦政府直接给参议院总统；参议院总统应在参众两院会议当众拆读所有各州的单子进行选票统计；总统竞选中得票最高者，且得票数超过半数则为总统；如果没有超半数者，则选取得票最高的前3人，众议院立即进行投票确定总统。但是，确定总统的投票以州计票，每个州的议员们具有1票；确定总统必须具有2/3以上州的议员给出有效票，总统必须具有半数以上的赞成票。[如果众议院在随后4天没有确定出合法的总统，如同总统死亡或宪法确定的其它总统无效的情况，副总统将取代总统。]* 副总统竞选中得票最高者，且得票数超过半数则为副总统；如果没有超半数者，则选取得票最高的前2人，参议院进行投票确定副总统。确定付总统的投票必须有超过2/3的参议院议员给出有效票，并且具有半数以上的赞成票。但是，不符合宪法规定的总统候选人资格的人不能当选为联邦副总统。
*被第20修补条文的第3款代替。
修补条文 XIII [废除奴隶 (1865)]
注: 本条替代宪法第4条第2款。
款 1.
奴隶和强迫劳役不能在美国和她权利能够涉及的地方存在，但是，对被判决的罪行的惩罚除外。
款 2.
议会具有权利通过立法强化本条文。
修补条文 XIV [优先权, 法律程序, 相等保护, 议员分配, 战争债务Debt (1868)]
注: 宪法第一条第二款被本条文修订。
款 1.
任何在美国合法出生或移居者都是属于居住州的美国公民。任何州不能通过和执行任何法条没有经过法庭审理，剥夺人的生命、自由和财产的权利；不能诋毁任何人的平等法律保护 。
款 2.
各州众议院议员的数量应按照他们所代表的人数来分配，人数是除不赋税的印第安人以外的各州总人数。但是，当选举总统、副总统、众议院议员、州执行官、州法官和州立宪委员时，选举人的计算仅计满21周岁*的男性该州居住公民，但是，罪犯、暴乱者等其它减去人员不能计算，因此代表性应按照统计选举人比所有满21周岁男性公民总人数的比例减少。
款 3.
如果某人曾经宣誓捍卫美国宪法成为过议会议员、或政府官员、或国家法律人员、或任何州的执行官、或州法官，曾参加暴乱、或给敌人帮助或保护，该人不能成为参议院议员、或众议院议员，不能成为总统或副总统的选举人，不能主持任何联邦或州的任何民事或军事的政府部门。但是，议会可以通过超2/3赞成票豁免某人此否决性。
款 4.
联邦按照法律所发行的国债，包括养老金、平叛暴乱费用等国债的有效性莫容置疑。但是，联邦政府或任何州对帮助反对联邦的暴乱所发生的债务、损失和解放奴隶的费用等不具有赔付的责任；这样的债务、损伤和补偿申请是非法和无效的。
款 5.
议会有权通过立法强化此条文。
*被第26修补条文第一款所改变。
修补条文 XV [不能因为种族而拒绝的权利 (1870)]
款 1.
联邦和任何州不能因为种族、肤色或过去劳役种类否定或降低任何美国公民的投票权。
款 2.
议会有权通过立法强化此条文。
修补条文 XVI [所得税 (1913)]
注: 本条文对宪法第一条第9款进行了修订。议会有权不管收入的来源是什么征收个人所得税，不需要对各州分配配额或考虑任何州优先和豁免。
修补条文 XVII [参议院选举 (1913)]
注: 本条文对宪法第一条第3款进行了修订。联邦参议院由每州选举的两名参议院议员组成，任期6年；每个议员有一个表决权。每个州的议员选举人与州选举选举人的资质条件相同。
当任何州的参议院议员空缺时，该州执行长官应该颁发书面选举令填补空缺：州立宪委员会可以授权执行委员会指定临时替代，直到立宪委员会组织选举选出正式议员为止。
本修订条文不能延伸影响本条文成为宪法以前的参议院议员的任期和选举。
修补条文 XVIII [禁止 (1919)]
款 1.
本条文确认一年后，在美国和所能管辖的区域，一切酿造、销售、运输、进出口有瘾酒类饮品被禁止。
款 2.
议会和各州有权通过法律强化本条文。
款 3.
本条文依照宪法，议会通过后送交各州立宪委员会7年内进行确认，在确认通过之前本条文不执行。
修补条文 XIX [妇女选举权 (1920)]
联邦和各州不能因为性别诋毁或降低美国公民的选举权。
议会有权通过立法强化此条文。
修补条文 XX [总统任期和连任 (1933)]
款 1.
本条文通过有效后，总统和副总统的任期在任期结束年的1月20日中午结束，参议员和众议员的任期交接时间是1月3日的中午，相同的时间接任者的任期开始。
款 2.
议会每年至少召开全会1次，召开日期为1月3日中午，除非他们依照法律另行指定不同的日期。
款 3.
如果在固定的总统就任时间时，选举的总统死亡，选举的副总统就任总统。如果在规定的时间总统没有选定，或选举的总统不够资格，选举的副总统将执行总统职责直到够格总统被确定；如果总统和副总统都不够资格，议会可以依法指定谁执行总统职责，或指定以什么方式确定谁执行总统职责，直到够格总统和副总统被确定。
款 4.
当众议院选择总统的候选人有死亡时，议会可以依法提供谁补充作为候选人，如果是参议院副总统候选人有死亡的情况，议会同样确定谁补充作为副总统候选人。
款 5.
款 1 和 2 将在本条文通过后的第一个10月15日生效。
款 6.
本条文在提交各州审定的7年时间内，只有在3/4州立宪委员会同意通过后，才开始执行。
修补条文 XXI [禁止取消 (1933)]
款 1.
联邦宪法的第18修补条文从此取消。
款 2.
违法的在美国各州、区域、领地之间运输和使用有瘾酒是禁止的。
Section 3.
本条文依照宪法，议会通过后送交各州立宪委员会7年内进行确认，在确认通过之前本条文不执行。
修补条文 XXII [总统连任2届的限制 (1951)]
款 1.
不能有人被选为总统多于2次，不能有人曾担任总统或执行总统职责多于2年后，再被选为总统多于1次。但是当本条文由议会提交的期间，不能应用给任何执行总统，不妨碍在本条文执行时就任总统的任何人继续作为总统完成剩余任期。
款 2.
本条文依照宪法，议会通过后送交各州立宪委员会7年内进行确认，在确认通过之前本条文不执行。
修补条文 XXIII [特区的总统选举 (1961)]
款 1.
在联邦政府具有席位的特区以议会指定的如下方式确定选举人：特区具有与一个州相同的总统、副总统的选举人的数目，等同于特区具有的众议员和参议员的总数， 但是，不能比人口最稀少的州的数目多；他们应该添加到各州指定的人选中，但是，在选举总统和副总统时，如同州指定的选举人，他们应该按照第20条修补条文的规定，在所在地区集合进行选举。
款 2.
议会有权通过立法强化此条文。
修补条文 XXIV [人头税 (1964)]
款 1.
任何美国公民在交了人头税和其它税后，联邦和任何州都不能剥夺和降低其任何基础和其它选举总统、副总统、总统选举人、副总统选举人、众议员和参议员的权利。
款 2.
议会有权通过立法强化此条文。
修补条文 XXV [总统接任 (1967)]
注: 本条文影响宪法第二条第1款。
款 1.
在总统被移走或死亡或辞职的情况下，副总统应该成为总统。
款2.
每当副总统位置空缺时，总统将提议一个人选，经众议院、参议院多数投票通过后，担任执行副总统。
款3.
每当总统递交给参议院执行总统和众议院议长一份书面声明，声称无法行使总统权利和事务时，直到他递交议会书面无法实施无效之前，副总统应该作为执行总统履行该职责。
款4.
每当副总统和多数议会依法设置的执行部门的负责人，递交给参议院执行总统和众议院议长一份书面声明，声称总统无法行使其权利和事务时，副总统应该立即施行总统权利和事务处理成为执行总统。
随后，当总统递交给参议院执行总统和众议院议长一份书面声明，声称无法行使总统权利和事务不再存在时, 除非副总统和多数议会依法设置的执行部门的负责人，在4日内递交给参议院执行总统和众议院议长一份书面声明，声称总统无法行使其权利和事务，总统应该立即恢复他的权利和职责。有双方声明的情况下，议会如果不在全会期间应该在48小时内召集全会做出决定。如果议会在接到后者声明的21天内，或者议会不在会期则在应该召开会议的时间以后的21天内，议会不能以多于2/3支持票做出如下决定：总统不能行使权利和职责，由副总统继续履行执行总统，那么总统应该恢复他的权利和职责。
修补条文XXVI [18岁投票权 (1971)]
注: 本条文第一款对宪法第14修补条文第二款进行了修订。
款1.
联邦和各州因为年龄，不能对年满18岁以上任何美国公民的投票权进行剥夺和降低。
款2.
议会有权通过立法强化此条文。
修补条文XXVII [议员的报酬 (1992)]
任何改变众参两院议员报酬的法律在议员选举期间没有效力。
一个注解〔英文来自 (www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html)， 宗亚平翻译〕：
序言 ["我们人民...."]；
第一条 [合法权利结构] , ..款 1. [法定权利归属] , .. 款2. [众议院], .. 款3. [参议院], .. 款4. [议员选举] , .. 款5. [参众院规则], .. 款6. [议员报酬和特权], .. 款7. [议案通过程序] , .. 款8. [法定权利范畴] , .. 款9. [法定权利限定] , .. 款10. [对州的限制] ；
第二条[总统] , .. 款1. [选举、就职、卸职] , .. 款2. [总统权利] , .. 款3. [联盟, 大使, 执法, 行政长官] , .. 款4. [弹劾]；
第三条[司法], .. 款1. [司法权归属], .. 款2. [司法权利范围], .. 款3. [叛国] ；
第四条[州], .. 款1. [诚信], .. 款2. [优先、免责、引渡、逃亡奴隶] , .. 款3. [Admission of States] , .. 款4. [Guarantees to States] ；
第五条[修补程序]；第六条[宪法的法律化]；第七条[确认] ；签字；修补条文。
==========================================================================
The Constitution of the United States of America
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
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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. [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 choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pensylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.
5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
Section 3
1. 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.
2. 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 of 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.
3. 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.
4. The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.
5. The Senate shall choose 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.
6. 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.
7. 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
1. 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 choosing Senators.
2. 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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
1. 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.
2. 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 increased 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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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
1. The Congress shall have power: To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
2. To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
3. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes;
4. To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States;
5. To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;
6. To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States;
7. To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
8. 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;
9. To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;
10. To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations;
11. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
12. To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;
13. To provide and maintain a navy;
14. To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;
15. To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;
16. 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;
17. 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
18. 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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.
4. No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
5. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State.
6. 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.
7. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.
8. 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
1. 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.
2. 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 control of the Congress.
3. 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
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:
2. 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.
3. 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 choose 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 choose the President. But in choosing 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 choose from them by ballot the Vice-President.
4. The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United States.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services, a compensation, which shall neither be increased 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.
8. 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
1. 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 offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
2. 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.
3. 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
1. 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 behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.
Section 2
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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
1. 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.
2. 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
1. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States.
2. 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.
3. 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
1. 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.
2. 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
1. 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.
2. 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 notwithstanding.
3. 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.
Signatures
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 Independance (sic) 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 - Wm Saml Johnson, Roger Sherman
New York - Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey - Wil Livingston, David Brearley, Wm Paterson, Jona. Dayton
Pensylvania[1] - B Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robt Morris, Geo. Clymer, Thos FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouv Morris
Delaware - Geo. Read, Gunning Bedford jun, John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jaco. Broom
Maryland - James McHenry, Dan of St Tho Jenifer, Danl Carroll
Virginia - John Blair, James Madison Jr.
North Carolina - Wm Blount, Richd Dobbs Spaight, Hu Williamson
South Carolina - J. Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler
Georgia - William Few, Abr Baldwin
Attest: William Jackson, Secretary
Articles in Addition to, and Amendment of,
The Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the Several States pursuant to the Fifth Article of the Original Constitution:
Amendment I [Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition (1791)]
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II [Right to Bear Arms (1791)]
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III [Quartering of Troops (1791)]
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV [Search and Seizure (1791)]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V [Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process (1791)]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI [Criminal Prosecutions - Jury Trial, Right to Confront and to Counsel (1791)]
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII [Common Law Suits - Jury Trial (1791)]
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII [Excess Bail or Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment (1791)]
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX [Non-Enumerated Rights (1791)]
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X [Rights Reserved to States (1791)]
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Amendment XI [Suits Against a State (1795)]
Note: Article III, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 11. The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
Amendment XII [Election of President and Vice-President (1804)]
Note: A portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th amendment. The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists 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 for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing 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. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. --]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.
*Superseded by section 3 of the 20th amendment.
Amendment XIII [Abolition of Slavery (1865)]
Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.
Section 1.
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XIV [Privileges and Immunities, Due Process, Equal Protection, Apportionment of Representatives, Civil War Disqualification and Debt (1868)]
Note: Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th amendment.
Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2.
Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,* and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3.
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4.
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
*Changed by section 1 of the 26th amendment.
Amendment XV [Rights Not to Be Denied on Account of Race (1870)]
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XVI [Income Tax (1913)]
Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
Amendment XVII [Election of Senators (1913)
Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
Amendment XVIII [Prohibition (1919)]
Section 1.
After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2.
The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Amendment XIX [Women's Right to Vote (1920)
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XX [Presidential Term and Succession (1933)]
Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
Section 3.
If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
Section 4.
The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
Section 5.
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.
Section 6.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.
Amendment XXI [Repeal of Prohibition (1933)]
Section 1.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Amendment XXII [Two Term Limit on President (1951)]
Section 1.
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
Section 2.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.
Amendment XXIII [Presidential Vote in D.C. (1961)]
Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXIV [Poll Tax (1964)]
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXV [Presidential Succession (1967)]
Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.
Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3.
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Section 4.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
Amendment XXVI [Right to Vote at Age 18 (1971)]
Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXVII [Compensation of Members of Congress (1992)]
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.
An index note (www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html):
Preamble ["We the people...."], Article I [The Legislative Branch] , ..Section 1. [Legislative Power Vested] , ..Section 2. [House of Representatives], ..Section 3. [Senate], ..Section 4. [Elections of Senators and Representatives] , ..Section 5. [Rules of House and Senate], ..Section 6. [Compensation and Privileges of Members], ..Section 7. [Passage of Bills] , ..Section 8. [Scope of Legislative Power] , ..Section 9. [Limits on Legislative Power] , ..Section 10. [Limits on States] , Article II [The Presidency] , ..Section 1. [Election, Installation, Removal] , ..Section 2. [Presidential Power] , ..Section 3. [State of the Union, Receive Ambassadors, Laws Faithfully Executed, Commission Officers] , ..Section 4. [Impeachment], Article III [The Judiciary], ..Section 1. [Judicial Power Vested], ..Section 2. [Scope of Judicial Power], ..Section 3. [Treason] , Article IV [The States], ..Section 1. [Full Faith and Credit], ..Section 2. [Privileges and Immunities, Extradiction, Fugitive Slaves] , ..Section 3. [Admission of States] , ..Section 4. [Guarantees to States] , Article V [The Amendment Process], Article VI [Legal Status of the Constitution], Article VII [Ratification] , Signers, Amendments.
