Home / Federal / Constitution The United States Constitution Ratified on June 21, 1788, the Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It establishes the framework of the federal government and has been amended 27 times. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791.
Articles of the Constitution Article I: The Legislative Branch
Article II: The Executive Branch
Article III: The Judicial Branch
Article V: The Amendment Process
Article VI: Debts, Supremacy, Oaths
Article VII: Ratification
The Bill of Rights Amendments 1 through 10 — ratified December 15, 1791
Amendment 1 (1791) — Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
Amendment 2 (1791) — Right to Bear Arms
Amendment 3 (1791) — Quartering of Soldiers
Amendment 4 (1791) — Search and Seizure
Amendment 5 (1791) — Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process, Takings
Amendment 6 (1791) — Right to a Speedy and Public Trial
Amendment 7 (1791) — Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
Amendment 8 (1791) — Excessive Bail, Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Amendment 9 (1791) — Rights Retained by the People
Amendment 10 (1791) — Powers Reserved to the States and People
Later Amendments Amendments 11 through 27 — ratified 1795 to 1992
Amendment 11 (1795) — Suits Against States
Amendment 12 (1804) — Election of President and Vice President
Amendment 13 (1865) — Abolition of Slavery
Amendment 14 (1868) — Citizenship, Due Process, Equal Protection
Amendment 15 (1870) — Voting Rights (Race)
Amendment 16 (1913) — Income Tax
Amendment 17 (1913) — Direct Election of Senators
Amendment 18 (1919) — Prohibition of Alcohol
Amendment 19 (1920) — Women's Suffrage
Amendment 20 (1933) — Presidential and Congressional Terms
Amendment 21 (1933) — Repeal of Prohibition
Amendment 22 (1951) — Presidential Term Limits
Amendment 23 (1961) — District of Columbia Electors
Amendment 24 (1964) — Abolition of the Poll Tax
Amendment 25 (1967) — Presidential Succession and Disability
Amendment 26 (1971) — Voting Age Lowered to 18
Amendment 27 (1992) — Congressional Compensation