THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more 
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, 
provide for the common defence, 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. 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. 

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. 

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 chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence 
Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, 
Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North 
Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive 
Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. 

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; 
and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. 

Section 3. 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. 

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 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. 

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. 

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, 
but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall chuse 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. 

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. 

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. 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 chusing Senators. 

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. 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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 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. 

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 
encreased 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. 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. 

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. 

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. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, 
Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and 
general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises 
shall be uniform throughout the United States; 

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; 

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and 
with the Indian Tribes; 

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject 
of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; 

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the 
Standard of Weights and Measures; 

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current 
Coin of the United States; 

To establish Post Offices and post Roads; 

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; 

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; 

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and 
Offences against the Law of Nations; 

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

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be 
for a longer Term than two Years; 

To provide and maintain a Navy; 

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; 

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, 
suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; 

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; 

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 

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. 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. 

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. 

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. 

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

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. 

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. 

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations 
made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of Receipts and Expenditures of 
all public Money shall be published from time to time. 

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. 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. 

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 Controul 
of the Congress. 

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. 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: 

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. 

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 chuse 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 chuse the President. But in chusing 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 chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President. 

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day 
on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same 
throughout the United States. 

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. 

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. 

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a 
Compensation, which shall neither be encreased 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. 

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. 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 Offences against the United States, except in 
Cases of Impeachment. 

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. 

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. 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 Behaviour, and shall, at stated 
Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be 
diminished during their Continuance in Office. 

Section 2. 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. 

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. 

The 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. 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. 

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

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. 

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. 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. 

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

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. 

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 notwith-standing. 

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. 

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 Independence 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: William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman 
New York: Alexander Hamilton 
New Jersey: William Livingston, David Brearly, William Paterson, Jonathan Dayton 
Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, 
              Thomas FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris 
Delaware: George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, 
          Jacob Broom 
Maryland: James McHenry, Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll 
Virginia: John Blair, James Madison, Jr. North Carolina: William Blount, 
          Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson 
South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, 
          Pierce Butler Georgia: William Few, Abraham Baldwin 

fonte: http://www.imagesoft.net/flags/us-state.html