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The United States Constitution (summary)

© Copyright 2001, Jim Loy

The U.S. Constitution defines, empowers, and limits the U.S. government. Here is a summary:

Constitution of the United States 1791

• Preamble
• Article 1 - Legislature (Congress)
  • Section 1 - definition
  • Section 2 - House of Representatives
  • Section 3 - Senate
  • Section 4 - elections
  • Section 5 - rules
  • Section 6 - pay...
  • Section 7 - revenue bills, presidential veto...
  • Section 8 - powers of Congress
  • Section 9 - limits
  • Section 10 - limits on states
• Article 2 - Executive (President)
  • Section 1 - definition...
  • Section 2 - powers
  • Section 3 - some duties
  • Section 4 - impeachment
• Article 3 - Judicial power (Supreme Court)
  • Section 1 - definition
  • Section 2 - powers
  • Section 3 - definition of treason
• Article 4 - States
  • Section 1 - other states
  • Section 2 - citizens...
  • Section 3 - new states
  • Section 4 - state governments
• Article 5 - Constitutional amendments
• Article 6 - Constitutional supremacy...
• Article 7 - Ratification
• signatures

Bill of Rights (first ten amendments) 1791

• Amendment 1 - Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
• Amendment 2 - Right to keep and bear arms
• Amendment 3 - Quartering of soldiers
• Amendment 4 - Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
• Amendment 5 - Due process...
• Amendment 6 - Speedy trial...
• Amendment 7 - Trial by jury
• Amendment 8 - Cruel and unusual punishment
• Amendment 9 - Rights...
• Amendment 10 - States

Amendments (year ratified)

• Amendment 11 - Judicial powers (1795)
• Amendment 12 - Election of president and vice-president (1804)
• Amendment 13 - Slavery abolished (1865)
• Amendment 14 - Limits upon states (1868)
• Amendment 15 - Right to vote not limited by race (1870)
• Amendment 16 - Income tax (1913)
• Amendment 17 - Election of senators (1913)
• Amendment 18 - Prohibition of alcohol (1919) [repealed by 21st Amendment (1933)]
• Amendment 19 - Right to vote given to women (1920)
• Amendment 20 - Terms of office of president, vice president, senators, and representatives (1933)
• Amendment 21 - Repeal of Prohibition (Amendment 18) (1933)
• Amendment 22 - Presidency limited to two terms (1951)
• Amendment 23 - Presidential vote in D.C. (1961)
• Amendment 24 - No poll tax (1964)
• Amendment 25 - Presidential disability and succession (1967)
• Amendment 26 - Voting age lowered to 18 (1971)
• Amendment 27 - Congressional pay (proposed in 1789, ratified in 1992)

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