The United States Constitution

Beginning with the words “We the People,” the U.S. Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.

In our Interactive Constitution, learn about the text, history, and meaning of the U.S. Constitution from leading scholars of diverse legal and philosophical perspectives.

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Bringing Together Experts to Interpret the Constitution

We selected two scholars for each clause with guidance from the American Constitution Society and the Federalist Society—America’s leading legal organizations representing different perspectives on the Constitution. These experts explore areas of agreement and disagreement about the Constitution’s text and history, how it’s been interpreted over time, and what it means today.

Learn more about the Interactive Constitution
Common Interpretation

Check out this essay to see where our scholars agree and found common ground.

Matters of Debate

Explore these essays to see interpretations based on their divergent viewpoints.

Preamble

The famous first 52 words of the Constitution introduce the articles and amendments that follow.

Read the Preamble

Articles

The seven articles make up the structural constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788.

Article I
Legislative Branch
Article II
Executive Branch
Article III
Judicial Branch
Article IV
States, Citizenship, New States
Article V
Amendment Process
Article VI
Debts, Supremacy, Oaths, Religious Tests
Article VII
Ratification

Amendments

There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution, beginning with the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, ratified December 15, 1791.

Bill of Rights
First Amendment
Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
Second Amendment
Right to Bear Arms
Third Amendment
Quartering of Soldiers
Fourth Amendment
Search and Seizure
Fifth Amendment
Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self Incrimination, Due Process, Takings
Sixth Amendment
Right to Speedy Trial by Jury, Witnesses, Counsel
Seventh Amendment
Jury Trial in Civil Lawsuits
Eighth Amendment
Excessive Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Ninth Amendment
Non-Enumerated Rights Retained by People
10th Amendment
Rights Reserved to States or People
11th Amendment
Suits Against States
12th Amendment
Election of President and Vice President
Reconstruction Amendments
13th Amendment
Abolition of Slavery
14th Amendment
Citizenship Rights, Equal Protection, Apportionment, Civil War Debt
15th Amendment
Right to Vote Not Denied by Race
16th Amendment
Income Tax
17th Amendment
Popular Election of Senators
18th Amendment
Prohibition of Liquor
19th Amendment
Women’s Right to Vote
20th Amendment
Presidential Term and Succession, Assembly of Congress
21st Amendment
Repeal of Prohibition
22nd Amendment
Two-Term Limit on Presidency
23rd Amendment
Presidential Vote for D.C.
24th Amendment
Abolition of Poll Taxes
25th Amendment
Presidential Disability and Succession
26th Amendment
Right to Vote at Age 18
27th Amendment
Congressional Compensation
The Constitution