Constitutions of the United States

The federal charter and state constitutions, reproduced in full and browsable down to the individual section. A state constitution governs within its own borders; where the two conflict, the federal Constitution prevails.

Federal

State charters

1788

OLDEST FEDERAL IN FORCE

Published here

Constitutions

2 published

FederalU.S. ConstitutionThe founding charter of the federal government. 7 articles divide power between the three branches and between the federal government and the States; 27 amendments guarantee individual rights and set governmental procedures. Text as transcribed by the National Archives.7 articles · 27 amendments CaliforniaCalifornia ConstitutionWritten at the Constitutional Convention of 1878–79 and ratified in 1879, replacing the original charter of 1849. Far longer than the federal charter, and amended more often than almost any constitution in the country.Ratified 1879

Disclaimer: Each constitution is reproduced from the official source for its jurisdiction — the United States National Archives for the federal Constitution, and the state’s own legislative database for each state charter. Original spelling and capitalization are preserved.