The United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence

The table below includes links to text, relevant videos, and other resources. See our web site for a free Pocket Constitution.

See also: ConText. “The Notes of Debates in ConText addresses a real need in our constitutional scholarship. There is currently no systematic, accessible commentary on the Notes that explains the details and context of each decision made at the [constitutional] convention, while also describing the subsequent (and ongoing) debates over constitutional meaning that have stemmed from those decisions. With this site, we are providing the most up-to-date analysis of the Framers’ debates by some of the country’s leading academic voices.” – From the Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier in partnership with the Brookings Institution.

James Madison, Father of the Constitution (1751-1836)
George Mason, Grandfather of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)

George Mason wrote the first draft of The Virginia Declaration of Rights in May 1776.

Signing of the Constitution, by Howard Chandler Christy Oil on canvas, 20' x 30' 1940 House wing, east stairway, from the Architect of the Capitol

Also see our Congressional Glossary.

The Declaration of Independence

Constitution of the United States

Preamble

Article 1 – The Legislative Branch

Section 1 – The Legislature

Section 2 – The House

Section 3 – The Senate

Section 4 – Elections, Meetings

Section 5 – Membership, Rules, Journals, Adjournment

Section 6 – Compensation

Section 7 – Revenue Bills, Legislative Process, Presidential Veto

Section 8 – Powers of Congress

Section 9 – Limits on Congress

Section 10 – Powers Prohibited of States

Article 2 – The Executive Branch

The President

Section 2 – Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments

Section 3 – State of the Union, Convening Congress

Section 4 – Disqualification

Article 3 – The Judicial Branch

Judicial Powers

Section 2 – Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury Trials

Section 3 – Treason

Article 4 – The States

Each State to Honor All Others

Section 2 – State Citizens, Extradition

Section 3 – New States

Section 4 – Republican Government

Article 5 – Amendment

Article 6 – Debts, Supremacy, Oaths

Article 7 – Ratification

Signatories

Amendments
Also see Amending the Constitution; Bill of Rights Card, from Two Seas Media.

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 -10, ratified 1789)

1 – Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression

2 – Right to Bear Arms

3 – Quartering of Soldiers

4 – Search and Seizure

5 – Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings

6 – Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses

7 – Trial by Jury in Civil Cases

8 – Cruel and Unusual Punishment

9 – Construction of Constitution

10 – Powers of the States and People

11 – Judicial Limits (ratified 1795)

12 – Choosing the President, Vice President (ratified 1804)

13 – Slavery Abolished (ratified 1865)

14 – Citizenship Rights (ratified 1868)

15 – Race No Bar to Vote (ratified 1870)

16 – Status of Income Tax Clarified (ratified 1913)

17 – Senators Elected by Popular Vote (ratified 1913)

18 – Liquor Abolished (ratified 1919)

19 – Women’s Suffrage (ratified 1920)

20 – Presidential, Congressional Terms (ratified 1933)

21 – Amendment 18 Repealed (ratified 1933)

22 – Presidential Term Limits (ratified 1951)

23 – Presidential Vote for District of Columbia (ratified 1961)

24 – Poll Taxes Barred (ratified 1964)

25 – Presidential Disability and Succession (ratified 1967)

26 – Voting Age Set to 18 Years (ratified 1971)

27 – Limiting Congressional Pay Increases (ratified 1992)

A free download of our Pocket Constitution is available on Scribd.
While supplies last, single copies of this Pocket Constitution are available at no charge. For details, see TCNConst.com

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Constitution of the United States – Official, from The National Archives
CRS Annotated Constitution at Cornell’s Legal Information Institute
United States Constitution – Wikipedia
U.S. Constitution – Findlaw
CRS Annotated Constitution
Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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