James Madison
The U.S. Constitution
Author: James Madison
Final Version Written: Monday, September 17, 1787
Presented: Friday, September 28, 1787
Ratified: Saturday, June 21, 1788
Effective: Wednesday, March 4, 1789
First Amendment Added: Thursday, December 15, 1791
Most Recent Amendment Added: Thursday, May 7, 1992
The United States Constitution is essentially a legal contract among all U.S. citizens. It outlines how the government will function and some of the foundational rights of all citizens, based on natural law, that cannot be denied to any citizen. Article V (5) describes the process for making changes to the Constitution.
The Constitution of the United States of America
Preamble "We the People"
Article I (1) Legislative Branch
Article II (2) Executive Branch
Article III (3) Judicial Branch
Article IV (4) State Government
Article V (5) Amendment Process
Article VI (6) Status of the Constitution
Article VII (7) Ratification
Signers (Those Who Signed the Constitution)
Amendments I-XXVII (1-27) 1791-1992
Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10) 1791
Amendment I (1) Religion & Expression (1791)
Amendment II (2) Bear Arms (1791)
Amendment III (3) Quartering of Soldiers (1791)
Amendment IV (4) Search & Seizure (1791)
Amendment V (5) Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process (1791)
Amendment VI (6) Criminal Prosecutions, Jury Trial, Witnesses, & Counsel (1791)
Amendment VII (7) Jury Trial (1791)
Amendment VIII (8) Bail, Fines, Punishment (1791)
Amendment IX (9) Non-Enumerated Rights (1791)
Amendment X (10) Power Reserved for the States (1791)
Additional Amendments (Amendments 11-27) 1795-1992
Amendment XI (11) Suits Against a State (1795)
Amendment XII (12) Election of the President & Vice President (1804)
Amendment XIII (13) Slavery & Involuntary Servitude (1865)
Amendment XIV (14) Privileges & Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process, & Equal Protection (1868)
Amendment XV (15) Voting Rights (1870)
Amendment XVI (16) Federal Income Tax (1913)
Amendment XVII (17) Election of US Senators (1913)
Amendment XVIII (18) Prohibition (1919)
Amendment XIX (19) Women's Right to Vote (Women's Suffrage) (1920)
Amendment XX (20) Terms & Succession for President, Vice President, and Members of Congress (1933)
Amendment XXI (21) Repeal of Prohibition (18th Amendment) (1933)
Amendment XXII (22) Presidential Term Limits (1951)
Amendment XXIII (23) Presidential Vote for District of Columbia (1961)
Amendment XXIV (24) Abolition of Federal Poll Tax Requirement (1964)
Amendment XXV (25) Presidential Vacancy, Disability, or Incapacity (1967)
Amendment XXVI (26) Voting Age (1971)
Amendment XXVII (27) Congressional Compensation Limitations (1992)
Note: Signers' Religions
