U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights

Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
Preamble to the U.S. Constitution - While the Preamble has no legal standing, it explains the purpose of the Constitution and reflects the goals of the Founders for the new government they were creating.The Preamble explains in just a few words what the people could expect their new government to provide them -- the defense of their liberty.

U.S. Constitution - Twenty-seventh Amendment
US Constitution - Twenty-seventh Amendment - Establishes that laws raising the pay of members of Congress cannot take effect until after an election

U.S. Constitution - Twenty-sixth Amendment
US Constitution - Twenty-sixth Amendment - Grants 18-year olds the right to vote

U.S. Constitution - Twenty-fifth Amendment
US Constitution - Twenty-fifth Amendment - Further clarifies the process of presidential succession

U.S. Constitution - Twenty-fourth Amendment
US Constitution - Twenty-fourth Amendment - Prohibits the charging of a tax (Poll Tax) in order to vote in federal elections

U.S. Constitution - Twenty-third Amendment
US Constitution - Twenty-third Amendment - Grants the District of Columbia three electors in the Electoral College

U.S. Constitution - Twenty-second Amendment
US Constitution - Twenty-second Amendment - Limits to two the number of 4-year terms a President can serve.

U.S. Constitution - Twenty-first Amendment
US Constitution - Twenty-first Amendment - Repealed the 18th Amendment (Prohibition)

U.S. Constitution - Twentieth Amendment
US Constitution - Twentieth Amendment - Creates new starting dates for sessions of Congress, addresses the death of Presidents before they are sworn in

U.S. Constitution - Nineteenth Amendment
US Constitution - Nineteenth Amendment - Prohibited the use of gender as a qualification to vote (Women's Suffrage)

U.S. Constitution - Eighteenth Amendment
US Constitution - Eighteenth Amendment - Prohibited the sale or manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. (Prohibition)

U.S. Constitution - Seventeenth Amendment
US Constitution - Seventeenth Amendment - US Constitution Seventeenth Amendment two senators each state

U.S. Constitution - Sixteenth Amendment
US Constitution - Sixteenth Amendment - Authorizes the collection of income taxes

U.S. Constitution - Fifteenth Amendment
US Constitution - Fifteenth Amendment - Prohibits the use of race as a qualification to vote

U.S. Constitution - Fourteenth Amendment
US Constitution - Fourteenth Amendment - Guarantees citizens of all states rights on both the state and federal level

U.S. Constitution - Thirteenth Amendment
US Constitution - Thirteenth Amendment - Abolishes slavery in all states

U.S. Constitution - Twelfth Amendment
US Constitution - Twelfth Amendment - Redefines how the Electoral College chooses the President and Vice President

U.S. Constitution - Eleventh Amendment
US Constitution - Eleventh Amendment - Clarifies the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

U.S. Constitution - Tenth Amendment
US Constitution - Tenth Amendment - States that powers not granted to the federal government are granted either to the states or the people

U.S. Constitution - Ninth Amendment
US Constitution - Ninth Amendment - States that just because a right is not specifically listed in the Constitution, does not mean that right should not be respected

U.S. Constitution - Eighth Amendment
US Constitution - Eighth Amendment - Protects against "cruel and unusual" criminal punishments and extraordinarily large fines

U.S. Constitution - Seventh Amendment
US Constitution - Seventh Amendment - Guarantees the right to trial by jury in federal civil court cases

U.S. Constitution - Sixth Amendment
US Constitution - Sixth Amendment - Establishes the rights of citizens in regard to trials and juries

U.S. Constitution - Fifth Amendment
US Constitution - Fifth Amendment - Establishes the rights of citizens accused of crimes

U.S. Constitution - Third Amendment
US Constitution - Third Amendment - Ensures private citizens that they cannot be forced to house U.S.soldiers during peace

U.S. Constitution - Second Amendment
US Constitution - Second Amendment - ensures the right to own firearms (defined by the Supreme Court as an individual right)

U.S. Constitution - First Amendment
US Constitution - First Amendment - Ensures the five basic freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble and freedom to petition the government to remedy ("redress") grievances

U.S. Constitution - Article VII
Article VII of the US Constitution - Signatures

U.S. Constitution - Article VI
Article VI of the US Constitution - Defines the Constitution as the supreme law of the United States

U.S. Constitution - Article V
Article V of the US Constitution - Defines the method of amending the Constitution

U.S. Constitution - Article IV, Section 4
Article IV, Section 4 of the US Constitution - Ensures each state a "Republican form of Government" (functioning as a representative democracy), and protection against invasion

U.S. Constitution - Article IV, Section 2
Article IV, Section 2 of the US Constitution - Ensures that citizens of each state will be treated fairly and equally in all states, and requires the interstate extradition of criminals

U.S. Constitution - Article IV, Section 1
Article IV, Section 1 of the US Constitution - Requires that each state must respect the laws of all other states

U.S. Constitution - Article III, Section 3
Article III, Section 3 of the US Constitution - Defines the crime of treason

U.S. Constitution - Article III, Section 2
Article III, Section 2 of the US Constitution - Defines the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, and guarantees trial by jury in criminal courts

U.S. Constitution - Article III, Section 1
Article III, Section 1 of the US Constitution - Establishes the Supreme Court and defines the terms of service of all U.S. federal judges

U.S. Constitution - Article II, Section 4
Article II, Section 4 of the US Constitution - Addresses the removal from office of the President by impeachment

U.S. Constitution - Article II, Section 3
Article II, Section 3 of the US Constitution - Defines miscellaneous duties of the President

U.S. Constitution - Article II, Section 2
Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution - Defines the powers of the President and establishes the President's Cabinet

U.S. Constitution - Article II, Section 1
Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution - Establishes the offices of the President and Vice President, establishes the Electoral College

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 10
Article I, Section 10 of the US Constitution - Defines specific powers denied to the states

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 9
Article I, Section 9 of the US Constitution - Defines the legal limitations on Congress' powers

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 8
Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution - Defines the powers of Congress

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 7
Article I, Section 7 of the US Constitution - Defines the legislative process - how bills become laws

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 6
Article I, Section 6 of the US Constitution - Establishes that members of Congress will be paid for their service, that members cannot be detained while traveling to and from meetings of Congress, and that members can hold no other elective office while serving in Congress.

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 5
Article I, Section 5 of the US Constitution - Establishes procedural rules of Congress

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 4
Article I, Section 4 of the US Constitution - Defines how members of Congress are to be elected, and how often Congress must meet

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 3
Article I, Section 3 of the US Constitution - Defines the Senate

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 2
Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution - Defines the House of Representatives

The U.S. Constitution
Index to the US Constitution

U.S. Constitution - Fourth Amendment
US Constitution - Fourth Amendment - Protects against police searches or seizures with out a warrant issued by a court and based on probable cause

U.S. Constitution - Article IV, Section 3
Article IV, Section 3 of the US Constitution - Defines how new states may be incorporated as part of the United States, and defines the control of federally-owned lands

U.S. Constitution - Article I, Section 1
Article I, Section 1 of the US Constitution - Establishes the legislature -- Congress -- as the first of the three branches of government

What is a Bill of Attainder?
Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 of the U.S. Constitution provides that: "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed." What is a bill of attainder?

About the Writ of Habeas Corpus
Article I, Section 9, clause 2 of the Constitution ensures Americans the right to a writ of habeas corpus. What is a writ of habeas corpus?

The Original 13 States
The original 13 states of the United States of America as recognized by the Articles of Confederation.

Amending the U.S. Constitution
Article V of the U.S. Constitution spells out the processes by which amendments can be proposed and ratified.

Separation of Powers
Separation of powers forms the cornerstone of the constitutional framework envisioned by the Founding Fathers to ensure a form of government in which no individual or group ever becomes too powerful.

U.S. Government 101
The basics of U.S. Government. The three branches of government, from which grow checks and balances, and the separation of powers as envisioned by the Founding Fathers.

The Branches of Government
The United States has three branches of government: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. Each of these branches has a distinct and essential role in the function of the government, and they were established in Articles 1 (legislative), 2 (executive) and 3 (judicial) of the U.S. Constitution.

Constitution -- Complete Text
Democracy in four pages. The full text of the United States Constitution plus amendments, from your About Guide.

The Federalist Papers
The 85 Federalist Papers were written between October 1787 and May 1788 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Through publishing them, the authors hoped to both explain the new Constitution to the people of America and to garner their support for it.

The Constitution in Spanish
Constitución de los Estados Unidos de América - from Georgetown University.

Rumsfeld Defends Super-snooper Project
If you think a high-tech government anti-terror plan to learn almost everything about everybody will violate your rights, you just need to "take a nice deep, deep breath," says Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. From your About Guide.

Congress Confirms 'God' in Pledge, Motto
In the latest chapter of the constitutional saga of separating church and state, the US Congress has passed a law affirming "under God" as an official part of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge of Allegiance Declared Unconstitutional
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional under the First Amendment due to its inclusion of the phrase "under God."

Bush Declares Constitution Week
On Sept. 17, 1787, a group of 55 men in Philadelphia signed the US Constitution and changed the world forever. Now, President Bush has declared a week just for celebrating the Constitution.

Does God Belong In US Government?
Saying "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance -- unconstitutional. Using tax-supported vouchers for tuition to religious schools -- constitutional. Being free to argue about it -- priceless. What’s your opinion?

Constitution Day – Celebrate it!
On September 17, 1787, the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting. Only one item of business occupied the agenda that day, to sign the Constitution of the United States of America. From your About Guide.

Bill of Rights -- Text
  The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, from your About Guide.

Bill of Rights -- the Original
Transcript of the Bill of Rights as originally submitted to the people for ratification. There was an amendment that failed to be ratified. From your About Guide.

Religious Liberty Archive
An extensive repository of valuable information and a useful resource for anyone seeking information about state and federal laws pertaining to religious freedom in the United States. Users can view Supreme Court cases and commentaries, state statutes, and important historical documents and speeches relevant to religious freedom in the United States.

Federalist Papers
The 85 Federalist Papers were written between October 1787 and May 1788 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Through publishing them, the authors hoped to both explain the new Constitution to the people of America and to garner their support for it.

The Americans Who Risked Everything
Written by Rush H. Limbaugh, Jr., a great and inspiring paper on the lives of the Founding Fathers before, during and after the creation of the Constitution. Fascinating history.

Church and State: How the Court Decides
The Court applies these three "tests" to religious practices when deciding their constitutionality under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. From your About Guide.

Separating Church and State
A look at current and past legislation and laws involving school prayer and the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools. From your About Guide.

Supreme Court - No Football Prayers
Finding that the practice violates the constitutionally required separation of church and state, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that public school districts may not allow students to lead prayers at high school football games. From your About Guide.

Supreme Court Strikes Anti-abortion Law
The U.S. Supreme Court today issued a 5-4 ruling striking down as unconstitutional a state law prohibiting the procedure referred to as a "partial birth abortion" in the state of Nebraska. From your About Guide.

The Six 'Constitutional' Commandments
The Supreme Court would throw out a law allowing schools to post the Ten Commandments. But, the last six Commandments are clearly constitutionally clean by Court standards. From your About Guide.

The Constitution Explained
A simple, article-by-article explanation of the Constitution from Constitution.net

Things NOT in the Constitution
Lots of things you have always assumed come from the Constitution don't. Like "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It's from the Declaration of Independence. Find out many more from Constitution.net

US Constitutional Government and Civics
If you teach government or civics, and need some lesson plans or great ideas, look no further. This US Government Info/Resources affiliate site has what you need.

What the Founding Fathers Said
Quotes by Jefferson, Madison, Adams and the other framers on the "right to keep and bear arms." Compiled by the Second Amendment Resource Center.

Religious Liberty in the Public Schools
Materials from the First Amendment Center on how schools can legally teach about religion and the Bible.