When it was written in 1787, the Constitution had a preamble and seven main parts, called articles.
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.
The Preamble is not a law. It gives the reasons for writing the Constitution. The Preamble is one of the best known parts of the Constitution. The first three words, "We the people," are used very often.
Legislative power
Article One says that the U.S. Congress (the legislative branch) will make the laws for the United States. Congress has two parts, called "Houses," the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Article says who can be elected to each part of Congress, and how they are elected. The House of Representatives has members elected by the people in each state. The number of members from each state depends on how many people live there. Each member of the House of Representatives is elected for two years. The Senate has two members, called Senators, for each state, no matter how many people live there. Each Senator is elected for six years. The original Constitution says that Senators should be elected by the state legislatures, but this was changed later.
Article One also says how the Congress will do its business and what kinds of laws it can make. It lists some kinds of laws the Congress and the states cannot make. Article One also makes rules for Congress to impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, judges, and other government officers.
Executive power
Article Two says that the President (the executive branch) will carry out the laws made by Congress. This article says how the President and Vice President are elected, and who can be elected to these offices. The President and Vice President are elected by a special Electoral College chosen by the states, for four years. The Vice President takes over as President if the President dies, or resigns, or is unable to serve. Article Two also says that the President is in charge of the army and navy. He can make treaties with other countries, but these must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate. He appoints judges,
ambassadors, and other officers, but the Senate also must approve these appointments. The President can also veto bills. However Congress can over ride the veto.
Judicial power
Article Three says there will be a court system (the judicial branch), including the Supreme Court. The article says that Congress can decide which courts, besides the Supreme Court, are needed. It says what kinds of "cases and controversies" these courts can decide. Article Three also requires trial by jury in all criminal cases, and defines the crime of treason.
States' powers and limits
Article Four is about the states. It says that all states must give "full faith and credit" to the laws of the other states. It also says that state governments must treat citizens of other states as fairly as they treat their own citizens, and must send arrested people back to another state if they have been charged with a crime.
Article Four also says that Congress can make new states. There were only 13 states in 1787. Now there are 50 states in the United States. It says Congress can make rules for Federal property and can govern territories that have not yet been made into states. Article Four says the United States must make sure that each state has a republican form of government, and protect the states from invasion and violence.
Process of amendment
Article Five says how to amend, or change, the Constitution. Congress can write a change, if two-thirds of the members in each House agree. The state governments can call a convention to write changes, although this has not happened since 1787. Any change that is written by Congress or by a convention must be sent to the state legislatures or to state conventions for their approval. Congress decides whether to send a change to the legislatures or to conventions. Three-fourths of the states must approve a change for it to become part of the Constitution.
An amendment can change any part of the Constitution, except one — no amendment can change the rule that each state has the same number of seats in the Senate.
Federal power
Article Six says that the Constitution, and the laws and treaties of the United States, are higher than any laws. It also says that all federal and state officers must swear to "support" the Constitution.
Ratification
Article Seven says that the new government under the Constitution would not start until conventions in at least nine states approved the Constitution. At that time there were 13.
Amendments
Since 1787, Congress has written 33 amendments to change the Constitution, but the states have ratified only 27 of them.
The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They were made in 1791. All of these changes limited the power of the federal government. They were:
Number Year Description
1st 1791 Congress must protect the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of
the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition, and freedom
of religion. Congress cannot promote any one religion more than
others.
2nd 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." People have the right to have weapons, for example
guns.
3rd 1791 The government cannot send soldiers to live in private homes
without the permission of the owners.
4th 1791 The government cannot get a warrant to arrest a person or search
their property unless there is "probable cause" to believe a crime
has been committed.
5th 1791 The government cannot put a person on trial for a crime until a
grand jury has written an indictment. That a person cannot be put
on trial twice for the same crime. The government must follow due
process of law before punishing a person or taking their property. A person on trial for a crime does not have to testify against himself
in court.
6th 1791 Any person who is accused of a crime should get a speedy trial by a
jury. That person can have a lawyer during the trial. They must be
told what they are charged with. The person can question the
witnesses against them, and can get their own witnesses to testify.
7th 1791 A jury trial is needed for civil cases.
8th 1791 The government cannot require excessive bail or fines, or any cruel
and unusual punishment.
9th 1791 The listing of individual rights in the Constitution and Bill of Rights
does not include all of the rights of the people and the states.
10th 1791 Any powers that the Constitution does not give to the United States
belong to the states and the people. This does not include powers
that the Constitution says the states cannot have.
After the Bill of Rights, there are 17 more changes to the Constitution that were made at different times.
11th 1795 Citizens cannot sue states in federal courts. There are some
exceptions.
12th 1804 Changed the way the President and Vice President are elected.
13th 1865 Ended slavery in the United States.
14th 1868 Every person born in the United States is a citizen. States must
follow due process of law before taking away any citizen's rights or
property.
15th 1870 A citizen's right to vote cannot be taken away because of race or
the color of their skin.
16th 1913 Congress can put a tax on income.
17th 1913 The people will elect Senators. Before this, Senators were elected
by state legislatures.
18th 1919 Made a law against drinking alcohol, called Prohibition.
19th 1920 Gave women the right to vote.
20th 1933 Changed the days for meetings of Congress and for the start of the
President's term of office.
21st 1933 Ended the Prohibition law of the Eighteenth Amendment. States can
make laws about how alcohol is used in each state.
22nd 1951 A person may not be elected President more than two times.
23rd 1961 Gave the people in the District of Columbia the right to vote for
President.
24th 1964 Made it illegal to make anyone pay a tax to have the right to vote.
25th 1967 Changes what happens if a President dies, resigns, or is not able to
do the job. Says what happens if a Vice President dies or resigns.
26th 1971 Makes 18 years old the minimum age for people to be allowed to
vote.
27th 1992 Limits how Congress can increase how much its members are paid.
The 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.
The Preamble is not a law. It gives the reasons for writing the Constitution. The Preamble is one of the best known parts of the Constitution. The first three words, "We the people," are used very often.
Legislative power
Article One says that the U.S. Congress (the legislative branch) will make the laws for the United States. Congress has two parts, called "Houses," the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Article says who can be elected to each part of Congress, and how they are elected. The House of Representatives has members elected by the people in each state. The number of members from each state depends on how many people live there. Each member of the House of Representatives is elected for two years. The Senate has two members, called Senators, for each state, no matter how many people live there. Each Senator is elected for six years. The original Constitution says that Senators should be elected by the state legislatures, but this was changed later.
Article One also says how the Congress will do its business and what kinds of laws it can make. It lists some kinds of laws the Congress and the states cannot make. Article One also makes rules for Congress to impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, judges, and other government officers.
Executive power
Article Two says that the President (the executive branch) will carry out the laws made by Congress. This article says how the President and Vice President are elected, and who can be elected to these offices. The President and Vice President are elected by a special Electoral College chosen by the states, for four years. The Vice President takes over as President if the President dies, or resigns, or is unable to serve. Article Two also says that the President is in charge of the army and navy. He can make treaties with other countries, but these must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate. He appoints judges,
ambassadors, and other officers, but the Senate also must approve these appointments. The President can also veto bills. However Congress can over ride the veto.
Judicial power
Article Three says there will be a court system (the judicial branch), including the Supreme Court. The article says that Congress can decide which courts, besides the Supreme Court, are needed. It says what kinds of "cases and controversies" these courts can decide. Article Three also requires trial by jury in all criminal cases, and defines the crime of treason.
States' powers and limits
Article Four is about the states. It says that all states must give "full faith and credit" to the laws of the other states. It also says that state governments must treat citizens of other states as fairly as they treat their own citizens, and must send arrested people back to another state if they have been charged with a crime.
Article Four also says that Congress can make new states. There were only 13 states in 1787. Now there are 50 states in the United States. It says Congress can make rules for Federal property and can govern territories that have not yet been made into states. Article Four says the United States must make sure that each state has a republican form of government, and protect the states from invasion and violence.
Process of amendment
Article Five says how to amend, or change, the Constitution. Congress can write a change, if two-thirds of the members in each House agree. The state governments can call a convention to write changes, although this has not happened since 1787. Any change that is written by Congress or by a convention must be sent to the state legislatures or to state conventions for their approval. Congress decides whether to send a change to the legislatures or to conventions. Three-fourths of the states must approve a change for it to become part of the Constitution.
An amendment can change any part of the Constitution, except one — no amendment can change the rule that each state has the same number of seats in the Senate.
Federal power
Article Six says that the Constitution, and the laws and treaties of the United States, are higher than any laws. It also says that all federal and state officers must swear to "support" the Constitution.
Ratification
Article Seven says that the new government under the Constitution would not start until conventions in at least nine states approved the Constitution. At that time there were 13.
Amendments
Since 1787, Congress has written 33 amendments to change the Constitution, but the states have ratified only 27 of them.
The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They were made in 1791. All of these changes limited the power of the federal government. They were:
Number Year Description
1st 1791 Congress must protect the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of
the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition, and freedom
of religion. Congress cannot promote any one religion more than
others.
2nd 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." People have the right to have weapons, for example
guns.
3rd 1791 The government cannot send soldiers to live in private homes
without the permission of the owners.
4th 1791 The government cannot get a warrant to arrest a person or search
their property unless there is "probable cause" to believe a crime
has been committed.
5th 1791 The government cannot put a person on trial for a crime until a
grand jury has written an indictment. That a person cannot be put
on trial twice for the same crime. The government must follow due
process of law before punishing a person or taking their property. A person on trial for a crime does not have to testify against himself
in court.
6th 1791 Any person who is accused of a crime should get a speedy trial by a
jury. That person can have a lawyer during the trial. They must be
told what they are charged with. The person can question the
witnesses against them, and can get their own witnesses to testify.
7th 1791 A jury trial is needed for civil cases.
8th 1791 The government cannot require excessive bail or fines, or any cruel
and unusual punishment.
9th 1791 The listing of individual rights in the Constitution and Bill of Rights
does not include all of the rights of the people and the states.
10th 1791 Any powers that the Constitution does not give to the United States
belong to the states and the people. This does not include powers
that the Constitution says the states cannot have.
After the Bill of Rights, there are 17 more changes to the Constitution that were made at different times.
11th 1795 Citizens cannot sue states in federal courts. There are some
exceptions.
12th 1804 Changed the way the President and Vice President are elected.
13th 1865 Ended slavery in the United States.
14th 1868 Every person born in the United States is a citizen. States must
follow due process of law before taking away any citizen's rights or
property.
15th 1870 A citizen's right to vote cannot be taken away because of race or
the color of their skin.
16th 1913 Congress can put a tax on income.
17th 1913 The people will elect Senators. Before this, Senators were elected
by state legislatures.
18th 1919 Made a law against drinking alcohol, called Prohibition.
19th 1920 Gave women the right to vote.
20th 1933 Changed the days for meetings of Congress and for the start of the
President's term of office.
21st 1933 Ended the Prohibition law of the Eighteenth Amendment. States can
make laws about how alcohol is used in each state.
22nd 1951 A person may not be elected President more than two times.
23rd 1961 Gave the people in the District of Columbia the right to vote for
President.
24th 1964 Made it illegal to make anyone pay a tax to have the right to vote.
25th 1967 Changes what happens if a President dies, resigns, or is not able to
do the job. Says what happens if a Vice President dies or resigns.
26th 1971 Makes 18 years old the minimum age for people to be allowed to
vote.
27th 1992 Limits how Congress can increase how much its members are paid.
**Please note: This is a concise, shortened version of the Constitution
