The Bill of Rights 

of the Constitution 
of the United States of America
and subsequent Amendments
Amendment 1 compelled   in   any   criminal   case   to   be   a 
Congress shall make no law respecting an  witness   against   himself,   nor   be   deprived 
establishment   of   religion,   or   prohibiting  of   life,   liberty,   or   property,   without   due 
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the  process of law; nor shall private property 
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the  be   taken   for   public   use,   without   just 
right of the people peaceably to assemble,  compensation.
and   to   petition   the   Government   for   a 
redress of grievances. Amendment 6
In   all   criminal   prosecutions,   the   accused 
Amendment 2 shall   enjoy   the   right   to   a   speedy   and 
A well regulated Militia, being necessary  public   trial,   by   an   impartial   jury   of   the 
to the security of a free State, the right of  State and district wherein the crime shall 
the  people  to  keep and  bear  Arms,  shall  have been committed, which district shall 
not be infringed. have been  previously  ascertained  by   law, 
and   to   be   informed   of   the   nature   and 
cause of the accusation; to be confronted 
Amendment 3 with   the   witnesses   against   him;   to   have 
No   Soldier   shall,   in   time   of   peace   be 
compulsory   process   for   obtaining 
quartered   in   any   house,   without   the 
witnesses   in   his   favor,   and   to   have   the 
consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, 
Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment 7
Amendment 4 In Suits at common law, where the value 
The   right   of   the   people   to   be   secure   in 
in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, 
their persons, houses, papers, and effects, 
the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, 
against   unreasonable   searches   and 
and   no   fact   tried   by   a   jury,   shall   be 
seizures,   shall   not   be   violated,   and   no 
otherwise re­examined in any Court of the 
Warrants   shall   issue,   but   upon   probable 
United States, than according to the rules 
cause,  supported by Oath or affirmation, 
of the common law.
and particularly describing the place to be 
searched, and the persons or things to be 
seized. Amendment 8
Excessive   bail   shall   not   be   required,   nor 
excessive   fines   imposed,   nor   cruel   and 
Amendment 5 unusual punishments inflicted.
No   person   shall   be   held   to   answer   for  a 
capital,   or   otherwise   infamous   crime, 
unless on a presentment or indictment of a  Amendment 9
Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the  The   enumeration   in   the   Constitution,   of 
land   or   naval   forces,   or   in   the   Militia,  certain   rights,   shall   not   be   construed   to 
when in actual service in time of War or  deny or disparage others retained by the 
public   danger;   nor   shall   any   person   be  people.
subject for the same offense to be twice put 
in   jeopardy   of   life   or   limb;   nor   shall   be 
Amendment 10 for   as   President,   the   House   of 
The   powers   not   delegated   to   the   United  Representatives shall choose immediately, 
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited  by   ballot,   the   President.   But   in   choosing 
by   it   to   the   States,   are   reserved   to   the  the President, the votes shall be taken by 
States respectively, or to the people. states,  the  representation   from each   state 
having   one   vote;   a   quorum   for   this 
purpose   shall   consist   of   a   member   or 
Amendment 11 members   from   two­thirds   of   the   states, 
The   Judicial   power   of   the   United   States 
and   a   majority   of   all   the   states   shall   be 
shall not be construed to extend to any suit 
necessary to a choice. And if the House of 
in   law   or   equity,   commenced   or 
Representatives   shall   not   choose   a 
prosecuted   against   one   of   the   United 
President   whenever   the   right   of   choice 
States by Citizens of another State, or by 
shall devolve upon them, before the fourth 
Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
day   of   March   next   following,   then   the 
Vice­President shall act as President, as in 
Amendment 12 the   case   of   the   death   or   other 
The Electors shall meet in their respective  constitutional disability of the President.
states, and vote by ballot for President and 
Vice­President, one of whom, at least, shall  The person having the greatest number of 
not be an inhabitant of the same state with  votes as Vice­President, shall be the Vice­
themselves;   they   shall   name   in   their  President, if such number be a majority of 
ballots the person voted for as President,  the whole number of Electors appointed, 
and in distinct ballots the person voted for  and   if   no   person   have   a   majority,   then 
as   Vice­President,   and   they   shall   make  from the two highest numbers on the list, 
distinct   lists   of   all   persons   voted   for   as  the Senate shall choose the Vice­President; 
President, and of all persons voted for as  a quorum for the purpose shall consist of 
Vice­President and of the number of votes  two­thirds   of   the   whole   number   of 
for   each,   which   lists   they   shall   sign   and  Senators,   and   a   majority   of   the   whole 
certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of  number shall be necessary to a choice. But 
the   government   of   the   United   States,  no person constitutionally ineligible to the 
directed to the President of the Senate; office of President shall be eligible to that 
of Vice­President of the United States.
The   President   of   the   Senate   shall,   in   the 
presence   of   the   Senate   and   House   of  Amendment 13
Representatives,   open   all   the   certificates 
1.   Neither   slavery   nor   involuntary 
and the votes shall then be counted;
servitude,   except   as   a   punishment   for 
crime   whereof   the   party   shall   have   been 
The person having the greatest Number of 
duly   convicted,   shall   exist   within   the 
votes for President, shall be the President, 
United States, or any place subject to their 
if such number be a majority of the whole 
jurisdiction.
number   of   Electors   appointed;   and   if   no 
person have such majority, then from the 
2.   Congress   shall   have   power   to   enforce 
persons   having   the   highest   numbers   not 
this article by appropriate legislation.
exceeding three on the list of those voted 
Amendment 14 legislature,   or   as   an   executive   or   judicial 
1.  All  persons  born  or naturalized in  the  officer   of   any   State,   to   support   the 
United   States,   and   subject   to   the  Constitution   of   the   United   States,   shall 
jurisdiction   thereof,   are   citizens   of   the  have engaged in insurrection or rebellion 
United   States   and   of   the   State   wherein  against the same, or given aid or comfort 
they reside. No State shall make or enforce  to the enemies thereof. But Congress may 
any law which shall abridge the privileges  by   a   vote   of   two­thirds   of   each   House, 
or   immunities   of   citizens   of   the   United  remove such disability.
States;   nor   shall   any   State   deprive   any 
person of life, liberty, or property, without  4.   The   validity   of   the   public   debt   of   the 
due process of law; nor deny to any person  United   States,   authorized   by   law, 
within its jurisdiction the equal protection  including   debts   incurred   for   payment   of 
of the laws. pensions   and   bounties   for   services   in 
suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall 
2.   Representatives   shall   be   apportioned  not be questioned. But neither the United 
among the several States according to their  States   nor  any   State  shall  assume  or  pay 
respective   numbers,   counting   the   whole  any debt or obligation incurred in aid of 
number of persons in each State, excluding  insurrection   or   rebellion   against   the 
Indians   not taxed. But when  the right to  United States, or any claim for the loss or 
vote   at   any   election   for   the   choice   of  emancipation   of   any   slave;   but   all   such 
electors   for   President   and   Vice­President  debts, obligations and claims shall be held 
of   the   United   States,   Representatives   in  illegal and void.
Congress,   the   Executive   and   Judicial 
officers of a State, or the members of the  5.   The   Congress   shall   have   power   to 
Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the  enforce,   by   appropriate   legislation,   the 
male   inhabitants   of   such   State,   being  provisions of this article.
twenty­one   years   of   age,   and   citizens   of 
the United States, or in any way abridged,  Amendment 15
except   for   participation   in   rebellion,   or  1. The right of citizens of the United States 
other   crime,   the   basis   of   representation  to vote shall not be denied or abridged by 
therein shall be reduced in the proportion  the   United   States   or   by   any   State   on 
which   the   number   of   such   male   citizens  account   of   race,   color,   or   previous 
shall   bear   to   the   whole   number   of   male  condition of servitude.
citizens   twenty­one   years   of   age   in   such 
State. 2.   The   Congress   shall   have   power   to 
enforce   this   article   by   appropriate 
3.   No   person   shall   be   a   Senator   or  legislation.
Representative   in   Congress,   or   elector   of 
President and Vice­President, or hold any  Amendment 16
office,   civil or military, under the United  The Congress shall have power to lay and 
States,   or   under   any   State,   who,   having  collect   taxes   on   incomes,   from   whatever 
previously taken an oath, as a member of  source   derived,   without   apportionment 
Congress,   or   as   an   officer   of   the   United  among   the   several   States,   and   without 
States,   or   as   a   member   of   any   State 
regard to any census or enumeration. to  the  Constitution   by  the  legislatures   of 
the   several   States,   as   provided   in   the 
Amendment 17 Constitution, within seven years from the 
The   Senate   of   the   United   States   shall   be  date of the submission hereof to the States 
composed of two Senators from each State,  by the Congress.
elected by the people thereof, for six years; 
and each Senator shall have one vote. The  Amendment 19
electors   in   each   State   shall   have   the  The right of citizens of the United States to 
qualifications  requisite for electors  of the  vote shall not be denied or abridged by the 
most   numerous   branch   of   the   State  United States or by any State on account of 
legislatures. sex.

When   vacancies   happen   in   the  Congress shall have power to enforce this 

representation of any State in the Senate,  article by appropriate legislation.
the executive authority of such State shall 
issue   writs   of   election   to   fill   such  Amendment 20
vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of  1.   The   terms   of   the   President   and   Vice 
any   State   may   empower   the   executive  President shall end at noon on the 20th day 
thereof  to make temporary appointments  of January, and the terms of Senators and 
until   the   people   fill   the   vacancies   by  Representatives at noon on the 3d day of 
election as the legislature may direct. January, of the years in which such terms 
would  have  ended  if this   article  had   not 
This amendment shall not be so construed  been   ratified;   and   the   terms   of   their 
as   to   affect   the   election   or   term   of   any  successors shall then begin.
Senator chosen before it becomes valid as 
part of the Constitution. 2.   The   Congress   shall   assemble   at   least 
once in every year, and such meeting shall 
Amendment 18 begin  at  noon   on   the  3d  day  of January, 
1.   After   one  year  from  the   ratification   of  unless   they   shall   by   law   appoint   a 
this   article   the   manufacture,   sale,   or  different day.
transportation   of   intoxicating   liquors 
within, the importation thereof into, or the  3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of 
exportation thereof from the United States  the   term   of   the   President,   the   President 
and all territory subject to the jurisdiction  elect   shall   have   died,   the   Vice   President 
thereof   for   beverage   purposes   is   hereby  elect shall become President. If a President 
prohibited. shall not have been chosen before the time 
fixed for the beginning  of his  term,   or  if 
2.   The   Congress   and   the   several   States  the   President   elect   shall   have   failed   to 
shall have concurrent power to enforce this  qualify, then the Vice President elect shall 
article by appropriate legislation. act   as   President   until   a   President   shall 
have qualified; and the Congress may by 
3. This article shall be inoperative unless it  law provide for the case wherein neither a 
shall have been ratified as an amendment  President elect nor a Vice President  elect 
shall   have   qualified,   declaring   who   shall  Constitution, within seven years from the 
then   act   as   President,   or   the   manner   in  date of the submission hereof to the States 
which one who is to act shall be selected,  by the Congress.
and such person shall act accordingly until 
a   President   or   Vice   President   shall   have  Amendment 22
qualified. 1. No person shall be elected to the office 
of the President more than twice, and no 
4.   The  Congress  may  by  law provide for  person   who   has   held   the   office   of 
the case of the death of any of the persons  President, or acted as President, for more 
from whom the House of Representatives  than two  years  of a term to which   some 
may   choose   a   President   whenever   the  other   person   was   elected   President   shall 
right  of  choice shall have devolved upon  be   elected   to   the   office   of   the   President 
them, and for the case of the death of any  more than once. But this Article shall not 
of the persons from whom the Senate may  apply to any person holding the office of 
choose   a   Vice   President   whenever   the  President, when this Article was proposed 
right  of  choice shall have devolved upon  by the Congress, and shall not prevent any 
them. person who may be holding the office of 
President,   or   acting   as   President,   during 
5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the  the   term   within   which   this   Article 
15th   day   of   October   following   the  becomes operative from holding the office 
ratification of this article. of President or acting as President during 
the remainder of such term.
6. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
shall have been ratified as an amendment  2. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
to   the   Constitution   by  the  legislatures   of  shall have been ratified as an amendment 
three­fourths   of   the   several   States   within  to  the  Constitution   by  the  legislatures   of 
seven   years   from   the   date   of   its  three­fourths   of   the   several   States   within 
submission. seven years from the date of its submission 
to the States by the Congress.
Amendment 21
1. The eighteenth article of amendment to  Amendment 23
the   Constitution   of   the   United   States   is  1.   The   District   constituting   the   seat   of 
hereby repealed.  Government   of   the   United   States   shall 
appoint in   such   manner  as  the  Congress 
2.   The   transportation   or importation  into  may   direct:   A   number   of   electors   of 
any   State,   Territory,   or   possession   of   the  President and Vice President equal to the 
United States for delivery or use therein of  whole   number   of   Senators   and 
intoxicating   liquors,   in   violation   of   the  Representatives in Congress to which the 
laws thereof, is hereby prohibited. District would be entitled if it were a State, 
but   in   no   event   more   than   the   least 
3. The article shall be inoperative unless it  populous State; they shall be in addition to 
shall have been ratified as an amendment  those   appointed   by   the   States,   but   they 
to the Constitution by conventions in the  shall   be   considered,   for   the   purposes   of 
several   States,   as   provided   in   the 
the   election   of   President   and   Vice  be   discharged   by   the   Vice   President   as 
President,   to   be   electors   appointed   by   a  Acting President.
State;   and  they  shall  meet  in  the  District 
and   perform   such   duties   as   provided   by  4.   Whenever   the   Vice   President   and   a 
the twelfth article of amendment. majority of either the principal officers of 
the executive departments or of such other 
2.   The   Congress   shall   have   power   to  body   as   Congress   may   by   law   provide, 
enforce   this   article   by   appropriate  transmit to  the  President  pro   tempore  of 
legislation. the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives   their   written   declaration 
Amendment 24 that   the   President   is   unable   to   discharge 
1. The right of citizens of the United States  the   powers   and   duties   of   his   office,   the 
to vote in any primary or other election for  Vice   President   shall   immediately   assume 
President or Vice President, for electors for  the   powers   and   duties   of   the   office   as 
President or Vice President, or for Senator  Acting President.
or Representative in Congress, shall not be 
denied or abridged by the United States or  Thereafter,   when   the   President   transmits 
any State by reason of failure to pay any  to the President pro tempore of the Senate 
poll tax or other tax. and   the   Speaker   of   the   House   of 
Representatives   his   written   declaration 
2.   The   Congress   shall   have   power   to  that no inability exists, he shall resume the 
enforce   this   article   by   appropriate  powers and duties of his office unless the 
legislation. Vice President and a majority of either the 
principal   officers   of   the   executive 
department   or   of   such   other   body   as 
Amendment 25 Congress   may   by   law   provide,   transmit 
1. In case of the removal of the President 
within   four   days   to   the   President   pro 
from office or of his death or resignation, 
tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of 
the Vice President shall become President.
the House of Representatives their written 
declaration that the President is unable to 
2.   Whenever   there   is   a   vacancy   in   the 
discharge   the   powers   and   duties   of   his 
office of the Vice President, the President 
office.   Thereupon   Congress   shall   decide 
shall nominate a Vice President who shall 
the   issue,   assembling   within   forty   eight 
take   office   upon   confirmation   by   a 
hours for that purpose if not in session. If 
majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
the Congress, within twenty one days after 
receipt of the latter written declaration, or, 
3. Whenever the President transmits to the 
if Congress is not in session, within twenty 
President   pro   tempore  of  the  Senate and 
one   days   after   Congress   is   required   to 
the   Speaker   of   the   House   of 
assemble, determines by two thirds vote of 
Representatives   his   written   declaration 
both Houses that the President is unable 
that he is unable to discharge the powers 
to discharge the powers and duties of his 
and   duties   of   his   office,   and   until   he 
office, the Vice President shall continue to 
transmits to them a written declaration to 
discharge   the   same   as   Acting   President; 
the contrary, such powers and duties shall 
otherwise, the President shall resume the 
powers and duties of his office. enforce   this   article   by   appropriate 
legislation.
Amendment 26
1. The right of citizens of the United States,  Amendment 27
who are eighteen years of age or older, to  No law, varying the compensation for the 
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the  services   of   the   Senators   and 
United States or by any State on account of  Representatives, shall take effect, until an 
age. election   of   Representatives   shall   have 
intervened.
2.   The   Congress   shall   have   power   to