7 Articles & 27 Amendments

1st Amendment

The First Amendment protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government

2nd Amendment

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

3rd Amendment

The Third Amendment prohibits the government from quartering soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent during peacetime

4th Amendment

The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government

5th Amendment

The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from government overreach by guaranteeing several rights, including the right to a grand jury indictment for serious crimes, protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination, the right to "due process of law," and the requirement that private property taken for public use be compensated with "just compensation"

6th Amendment

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, the right to be informed of the charges, the right to confront witnesses, the right to compel witnesses in their favor, and the right to legal counsel.

7th Amendment

guarantees the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases

8th Amendment

prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments

9th Amendment

The Ninth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution addresses the existence of rights that are not specifically listed, or "enumerated," in the Bill of Rights

10th Amendment

The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that any powers not delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to those respective states, or to the people

11th Amendment

protects states from being sued in federal court by citizens of another state or foreign nations

12th Amendment

changed how the President and Vice President are elected by requiring separate ballots for each office in the Electoral College

13th Amendment

abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime

14th Amendment

granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people, and guaranteed all citizens "equal protection of the laws" and "due process of law" from the states

15th Amendment

granted all male citizens the right to vote, prohibiting states from denying suffrage based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude

16th Amendment

grants the U.S. Congress the power to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states based on population

17th Amendment

provides for the direct, popular election of U.S. senators

18th Amendment

established the Prohibition Era by prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors

19th Amendment

prohibits states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens based on their sex

20th Amendment

moved the presidential inauguration to January 20 and the start of the congressional term to January 3, ending the "lame duck" period

21st Amendment

repealed the 18th Amendment, which had established Prohibition, ending the nationwide ban on alcohol on December 5, 1933

22nd Amendment

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice

23rd Amendment 

grants the District of Columbia (D.C.) electors for presidential elections, allowing its residents to vote for President and Vice President

24th Amendment

abolished and forbids the federal and state governments from imposing taxes on voters during federal elections.

25th Amendment

deals with presidential succession and disability

26th Amendment

lowered the national voting age from 21 to 18

27th Amendment

prevents members of Congress from raising their own salaries in the same term

Preamble

an introductory statement that explains the purpose, goals, and principles of a document

Article 1

establishes the legislative branch of the government, known as Congress

Article 2

establishes the executive branch and the office of the President, outlining their powers, duties, and election and removal procedures

Article 3

establishes the judicial branch of government, which includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts

Article 4

establishes the relationship between the states, the federal government, and the relationship between the states themselves

Article 5

outlines the process for amending the Constitution

Article 6

deals with national issues like the Supremacy Clause, which establishes that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the highest law of the land, and requires all government officials to take an oath to support the Constitution, with no religious test required

Article 7

the final article of the U.S. Constitution, which outlined the process for its ratification