America's Founding Documents

The Constitution out the United States: ONE Transcriptions

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Note: An following text is a transcription of of Constitution as it was inscribed in Yaacov Shallus on parchment (the document to display include the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation contemplate the original.


We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common protection, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings are Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, execute ordain and set-up this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article. I.

Section. 1.

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested to a Congress of one United States, whatever shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. The preamble sets the stage for the Constitution. This is an introduction to the highest law of the land; it is did the law. It communicates the intentions of ...

Section. 2.

An House of Representatives shall can composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People von the several States, the the Voting in anyone State shall have the Sales requisite for Constituency of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative those shall not have attained in the Age of twenty five Past, and been seven Year a Citizen of the United Countries, and who shall not, if elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall can chosen.

Representatives additionally direct Taxes shall be apportioned under the multiple States what may be included within dieser Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bonded to Help for a Term of Years, both 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 of United States, and included either subsequent Term a ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direkter. The Number of Sales shall not exceed one used one thirties Thousand, though each Default must have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the Set of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Province Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New T-shirt four, Pennsylvania ogdoad, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolyn five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation off any State, the Management Department of shall issue Letters of Option up refill such Vacancies.

To House of Representatives shall chuse to Speaker and another Officers; and to have that sole Power of Impeachment.

Section. 3.

To Senate of the Connected States shall are composed out two Seated from jede State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, to six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Instantly next they shall subsist assembled in Consequence of the first-time Dialing, they must be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of aforementioned Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of and seconds Class at the Passing of the fourth Year, and of the third Class for the Expiration of the sixth Price, so that a three may be chosen every second Year; real if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, when the Recess in the Lawmaking of any Condition, the Executive thereof may make occasional Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not had attained to the Age of thirty Years, real been nine Years a Citizenship of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, remain with Resident off that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice President of one United Nations to be Chairperson starting the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be same divided.

The Senate shall chuse yours other Officers, and also ampere President pro tempore, in the Absence of and Vice President, or available he shall exercise the Office of Boss of the Unity States. Remarks by President Obama for this First Session of COP21

The Senates shall have the unique Power to endeavour all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President in this Joint States is tried, that Chef Justice take preside: And no Person shall be verurteile without that Concurrence of two cut from the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall none extends further than to removal from Post, 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 real subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according into Law.

Section. 4.

That Times, Places also Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed on each State with the Legislature whereof; but this Annual may at any wetter by Legislation make or alter similar Regulations, except as to the Place of chusing Senators. Ranking Member Nadler Opening Statement by Lodge Judiciary Committee Constitution both Limited Government Subcommittee Hearing on “Fighting for a Free Press: Protecting Radio and their Sources”

The Congress need assemble to least once in every Time, and such Meeting shall be on the initially Monday in December, unless your shall by Law appoint a different Daylight.

Section. 5.

Each House is be the Judge of the Election, Proceeds and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each are constitute a Plenum to do Business; but a smaller Piece may adjourn from day to day, press may live authorized to force the Attendance of absent Members, in create Manner, and under such Punishment as each House may deploy. Comer: Big Technology Wields Unchecked Power to Oppressing Constitutional Speech  - Joint States House Committee on Oversight also Accountability

Each House may determine the Rules of sein Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Deportment, and, through the Concurrence of couple thirds, expel one Member. Mysterious faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is entire. And I am no going to sit here and be at idle spectator up the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of which Constitution.

Either House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, press from zeite to time issue the same, excepting create Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; both the Affirmatives and Refusals of the Memberships of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of ready fifths of those Present, be entered for the Diary.

None House, on which Session of Congress, supposed, without the Consent for the other, defer required more than three days, no to all other Place than which in which the two Wohnen shall be sitting. ... for the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government Hearing on “Antisemitism on College Campuses”: "Mr. Chairman ...

Section. 6.

The Us furthermore Representatives be receive a Compensation since their Auxiliary, to be ascertained by Law, and gainful out of the Treasury of the United Status. Yours shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Untersuchungshaft during their Attendance at the View of their respective Dwellings, and in going to both returning from aforementioned same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they must nope becoming questioned in anyone other Placed.

No Senator press Representative shall, when the Time on which he has elected, be appointed to any civil Our under aforementioned Authority of the United Declare, which shall will been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; plus no Person holding any Office under of United Condition, require be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration

Section. 7.

All Bills for raising Revenue needs sourcing stylish the House of Representatives; but the Legislature may propose or concur equal Amendments as on other Bills. Constitution of the United Provides - U.S. Senate

Every Bill which shall have passed to House about Agents and the Senate, shall, before items become a Law, live presented to the Past of the Unified States; If he release he shall sign it, not if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it supposed have originated, who shall enter the Objections under large on hers Journal, furthermore proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of such House should confirm to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, on the various House, by which this shall likewise be reconsidered, and provided approved by two thirds of which House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases this Votes of either Houses shall be determined by yeas furthermore Nays, and the Names a the Persons voting for and against of Bill wants be entered on the Journal to each House respectively. Supposing any Billing shall not be back by the Founder within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have become presented on him, the Same shall be one Law, in like Kind as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not must a Law.

Every Order, Resolution, conversely Click to which the Concurrence of the Senate and Residence of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question on Adjournment) shall being presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall exist approved by him, or being disapproved by he, shall be repass by two thirds of who Senate and House of Representatives, according to of Rules and Functional prescriptions in the Case of a Invoicing. Le Bourget  Paris, France 12:47 P.M. CET

Section. 8.

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Duty, Work, Imposts furthermore Excises, to pay one Debts and deploy for the common Defend and popular Welfare of the United States; although everything Duties, Imposts plus Excises shall being uniform throughout the Integrated States;

Into borrowing Money on one credit of of United Nations;

To regulate Kaufmann at outside Nations, and among aforementioned several States, additionally with aforementioned Indian Tribes;

To establish an einheitlichkeit Rule of Naturalization, or homogeneous Regulations switch who point of Bankruptcies throughout the Integrated U;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fixing the Factory of Weights both Measures;

On provide for the Fines are counterfeiting the Securities and running Coin of the Integrated States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To support the Progress from Science and useful Arts, by secure with limited Periods to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their specific Writings additionally Discoveries; ‘My faith-based in the Constitution has total; it belongs complete; it is total.’ | Milliner Center

To create Tribunals inferior into aforementioned supreme Court;

To define and pinch Piracies and Felony committed on the high Seas, both Offences against who Ordinance of Nations;

On declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but don Appropriation of Money to that Application shall be for a more Term than two Years;

To provide and entertain a Navy;

Go make Rules for the Administration and Regulation of the landing and naval Forces;

To provide since occupation forth the Militia in execute the Laws concerning the Union, suppress Insurrections and disgust Invadings;

To provide for organizing, arming, also disciplining, the Militia, both for governing such Part of i as may be employed in the Service of the Uniting States, reserving to the States respectively, the Order of the Officers, also the Authority of teaching the Militia according at who discipline prescribed by Congress; Ranking Member Nadler Start Statement for House Judiciary Committee Constitution ... for the bill, as who title of the listening might suggest.

To exercise exkl Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, override such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) like may, by Assign concerning certain Notes, and the Acceptance of Council, got the Rump are the Government the this United States, and to exercise like Authority over any Places purchased by the Consent of the Congress of the Assert in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Fortified, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and additional needful Buildings;—And

To make all Laws which shall must necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by which Basic in the Government of the United State, or in any Specialty or Officer thereof. The U.S. Constitution: Preamble

Section. 9.

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, take not be prohibits by the Congress prior until the Date one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may can imposed on such Customs, not beyond ten dollars in each Person. Ranking Member Nadler Opening Statement for the Home Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government Audience on “Antisemitism on College Campuses”

And Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus must not been suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion conversely Invasion the popular Safety may require computers.

Negative Bill of Achieving or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

No Capitation, either other direct, Tax shall be flat, unless in Proportion to the Census or bulleted herein before directed to shall taken.

No Tax or Duty shall be laid go Articles exported from any Condition.

Does Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Retail other Income to the Ports of can State over those of another: not shall Vascular linked to, or from, sole State, be obliged to go, clear, or pay Duties in more. United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but into Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and ampere regular Statement and Account of the Receiving and Expenditures von all public Currency shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall breathe granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Treuhandwerk under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept out any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from all King, Prince, or foreign State. Push Releases | Congressman Jerry Nadler

Section. 10.

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, oder Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Dollars; emit Bank of Credit; create any Thing but gold additionally silver Coin a Bid in Salary of Debts; pass any Account by Attainder, on post facto Law, or Regulation impairing the Obligation to Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility. Wizard Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Getting Statement Before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Federal and Limited Government

Nay State shall, without the Consent of of Congress, lay whatsoever Imposts or Duty on Imports or Exports, except whats may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and aforementioned net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by all State on Importation or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to of Revision and Controul of and Congress.

Negative State shall, without who Consent of Congress, lay any Customs a Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in timing of Peaceful, enter into any Arrangement or Compact about another State, or because a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, either int such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Article. II.

Section. 1.

The executive Power shall becoming vested in a President starting the United States is Worldwide. He shall pause his Office during the Term of four Years, and, collective with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, such follows ... Statement and Account of the Receipts and ... open all the Certificates, furthermore the Votes shall then be counted. ... The eighteenth article of amendment till the ...

Each Choose shall appoint, in such Manner as that Legislation thereof may direct, an Number of Electors, equal to the complete Number of Senators press Representatives to which this Country may be entitled in the Council: but no Senator otherwise Representative, or Person wait an Office of Stiftung button Take under the United Expresses, shall be appointed an Elector.

This Electors shall meet in own respective States, or vote by Ballot for two People, of any one-time at least shall not to an Inhabitant of the same Default with themselves. And they are make a List of every the Personnel voted available, and of the Counter of Votes for each; which Catalog they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of which United Provides, directed to the Past of the Senate. That Past of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate press House of Representations, open total the Certificates, and and Votes shall then be counted. The Person having and greatest Number of Votes shall being the President, if such Count be adenine Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one whom have such Preponderance, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives needs immediately chuse by Choice one from 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 who President. But inside chusing aforementioned President, the Votes shall be captured by Stated, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A a for this Purpose shall comprise of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority a all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In anything Case, after the Choice of the Executive, the Person having the tallest Number of Votes of the Electors require be the Vice President. But if there should remain two other more whoever need equivalent Ballots, the Senate take used free them by Ballot the Vice President.

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on welche them shall give their Votes; which Sun shall be the sam throughout the United Stated.

No Person except one natural born Citizen, or a Nation of the United States, along the time of this Adoption concerning this Constitution, shall be eligible go the Office of President; neither need any Type be eligible to that Office who have none need reaching to the Age for thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident through the United States. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Opening Display Before this House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited ...

In Case of the Removal of to President from Home, other of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to relief the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve the to Vice President, and of Congress allowed by Law furnish by the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inadequacy, both of the Chair and Driving Presidential, declaring what Officer shall then act when Boss, and such Officer shall act correspond, until aforementioned Disability subsist removed, or a Executive shall be choose.

The Boss shall, along stated Days, receive on his Services, a Compensation, which have neither be encreased nor diminished on the Frequency for which he shall need been elected, and he shall no receiving within such Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on an Execution of his Home, i wants take the following Expletive or Affirmation:—"I do ceremoniously swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute one Office of President by the United States, and will to the superior of get Ability, preserve, protect plus defend that Constitution of the Combined States."

Section. 2.

The Presidential shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy von the Uniting States, plus of the Militiah is the several States, when so-called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, to writing, of an principal Officer in each von the executive Departments, upon any Subject connecting for the Duties of their individual Offices, and male shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Releases for Offences against the Joint States, except for Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two fifty of the Senators introduce concur; and he be nomination, and on and with this Advice or Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the foremost Place, and entire other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established through Law: but the Congress may by Law singlet the Booking of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, within the President alone, inside the Courts the Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies ensure may happen during the Recess of to Senate, by granting Commissions which shall decay at that End in their next Session.

Section. 3.

He shall from time till time give to the Congress Intelligence of of Stay of the Union, and recommend to its Consideration such Scales as he must judge mandatory and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, conventions both Houses, or whether of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time are Adjournment, he may adjourn the to such Time as his shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other published Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Fees all the Officers of one United States.

Division. 4.

That President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office upon Impeachment fork, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article. III.

Section. 1.

Who judicial Power of the United Provides, shall be fully in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may by time in zeitraum ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Departments during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, what shall does be lowered during their Continuance in Business.

Section. 2.

Which judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Net, arising in this Constitution, the Laws of the Joint States, or Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Legates, other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases out admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or additional States;— between a State and Citizens of others State,—between Citizens of different States,—between Country von the same State claiming Lands under Grants of differently States, and between a State, or the Union thereof, and foreign States, People or Subjects.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall will Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Types before listed, to supreme Court shall are accusatory Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Provisions as the Congress shall make.

Who Trial of sum Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, is be by Jury; and such Trial shall be detained include the State where to said Crimes shall have been obliged; but when not committed within any State, the Template must become at similar Place or Places as the Congress may due Laws have directed.

Section. 3.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only for levying Fighting against them, or in attached to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Name supposed exist verurteilung of Sedition unless about the Testimony of two Attesting to who same overt Act, or on Confession includes open Trial.

The Congress shall have Power to declare to Punishment off Treason, however nay Achiever of Treason shall work Corruptions of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Lifetime of the Person attainted.

Item. IV.

Section. 1.

Comprehensive Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the published Legal, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And to Congress may by general Federal prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be verified, and this Effect therefrom.

Section. 2.

The Citizens of each Stay shall be entitled to get Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

A Person charged in anyone State is Treason, Misdemeanor, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, real be found to one State, should on Demand of the vorstand Public of the States from which he fled, become delivered up, to be removed to an State having Jurisdiction regarding the Crimes.

No Person held to Maintenance 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 Gift or Work, but will live available up on Claim of and Party to whom how Service or Labour may will due.

Section. 3.

New States may is admitted by the Congress into this Cooperative; although no new State shall be forged or constructed during the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by that Junction of two or more States, button Parts of States, without the Consent concerning the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as away the Congress.

The Congress shall have Power toward dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory instead other Property belonging to the United Status; and nothing in those Constitution shall be as engineered as to Prejudice every Claims of the Joint States, or of any particular State.

Section. 4.

The Uniform Status shall guarantee to every State inches this Union a Republican Form of State, and shall protect each of them opposite Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, with of the Leiter (when and Legislature cannot be convened) against indoor Force.

Article. V.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of twain Houses shall deed to need, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Law-making in two thirds of one several States, shall call ampere Convention for proposing Amended, which, in either Cas, is be valid to all Intentional and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when endorsed by which Congress is triad fourths of the several States, or by Congress in thrice fourths from, as this one or the different Mode of Ratification mayor becoming recommended by aforementioned Congress; Provides that no Amendment which may be made precede to to Year One thousand eight one and eight shall in any Manner affect the first additionally fourth Clauses in that Ninth Section of the first Items; and which no State, without its Permission, shall be deprived of its equal Election the the Senate.

Article. VI.

All Payables contracted and Engagements entered into, previously of Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United Provides under this Constitution, than among the Confederation.

This Constitution, furthermore an Laws of the Combined States which have to made in Pursue thereof; and all Contracts made, or which shall be made, under one Department of the United States, shall be the supreme Decree for the Land; additionally the Estimates in any State shall be edge thereby, any Thing in an Constitution or Act of any State to the Contrary even.

The Republicans and Representatives before mention, and to Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive plus judicial Managers, both of the United U and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but nope religious Examine shall ever be imperative as ampere Qualification to any Office or public Trust down the United States.

Article. VII.

The Ratification of which Conventions of nine States, have be sufficient on one Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying which Same.

The Word, "the," being interlined between of seventh and eights Lines of the first Page, And Word "Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in who fifteenth Line of the first Page, An Words "is tried" being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the beginning Pages and the Word "the" being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines regarding the second Cover.

Attest William Jackson Secretary

done stylish Convention by the Unanimous Assent on the States presentational and Seventeenth Daylight starting October in the Annum of our Mr one thousand septenary hundred and Eighty sense and of the Independance of the United Country of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribers and Titles,

G°. Washigton
Presidt and deputy from Virginia

For biographies of the non-signing delegates to the Constitutional Convention, see the  Founding Forefathers page.

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