Founding Documents – The Constitution • Constitution.com

Constitution of the United States of America

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Bill of Rights: Amendments 1-10 to the U.S. Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendments 11-27 to the U.S. Constitution

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

The Judiciary Act of 1789

An Act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States on September 24th, 1789.

Northwest Ordinance

An Ordinance for the government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the River Ohio.

Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms

The Continental Congress issued this declaration on July 6, 1775, "setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms."

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

To these grievous acts and measures, Americans cannot submit, but in hopes that their fellow subjects in Great-Britain will, on a revision of them, restore us to that state in which both countries found happiness and prosperity, we have for the present only resolved to pursue the following peaceable measures

Lee Resolution

Lee Resolution June 7, 1776 Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States,

Constitution of the Confederate States

March 11, 1861 Preamble We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God do ordain […]

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Enacted May 29, 1999, inaugurating the Nigerian Fourth Republic Preamble We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding, and to provide […]

Constitution of the Seventh Republic of Niger

Niger gained independence from France in 1960. The current constitution is the seventh since their independence, adopted on November 25, 2010 the military coup ousted President Mamadou Tandja. Preamble We, The Sovereign Nigerien People Resolved to consolidate the gains of the Republic and of the national independence proclaimed respectively on the 18th of December of […]

Constitution of Nepal

On January 15, 2007, an interim constitution went into force due to the April 2006 people’s movement against the reigning monarchy. On September 16, 2015, Nepal’s parliament passed a new permanent constitution. PREAMBLE: Whereas His late Majesty King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Father of the Nation and revered descendant of the illustrious King Prithvi […]

Constitution of the Republic of Nauru

Formerly known as Pleasant Island. They became a trustee of the United Nations after the end of World War 2. The current constitution was adopted January 31, 1968 upon gaining its independence from the UN. Preamble WHEREAS we the people of Nauru acknowledge God as the almighty and everlasting Lord and the giver of all […]

Constitution of the Republic of Namibia

Adopted 1990 when independence gained from apartheid South Africa; amended through 2010 PREAMBLE Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is indispensable for freedom, justice and peace; Whereas the said rights include the right of the individual to life, liberty and the […]

Constitution of the Republic of Myanmar

Adopted 2008 Preamble Myanmar is a Nation with magnificent historical traditions. We, the National people, have been living in unity and oneness, setting up an independent sovereign State and standing tall with pride. Due to colonial intrusion, the Nation lost her sovereign power in 1885. The National people launched anti-colonialist struggles and National liberation struggles, […]

Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique

Meeting the age-old desires of our people, the armed struggle for national liberation, whose purpose was to liberate the land and Man, brought together all the patriotic sectors of Mozambican society in the same ideals of freedom, unity, justice and progress. When national independence was won on the 25th of June 1975, the Mozambican people […]

Constitution of Morocco

Passed by 98.49% of the voters on July 1, 2011. Preamble With fidelity to its irreversible choice to construct a democratic State of Law, the Kingdom of Morocco resolutely pursues the process of consolidation and of reinforcement of the institutions of a modern State, having as its bases the principles of participation, of pluralism and […]

Constitution of Montserrat

Preamble Whereas the people of Montserrat are entitled to preserve for themselves and future generations the fundamental rights and freedoms to which they are entitled by virtue of their inherent dignity as persons and as citizens of a free and democratic society; Believing in the concept of true democracy with free and fair elections; Acknowledging […]

Constitution of Montenegro

Stemming from: The decision of the citizens of Montenegro to live in an independent and sovereign state of Montenegro, made in the referendum held on May 21, 2006; The commitment of the citizens of Montenegro to live in a state in which the basic values are freedom, peace, tolerance, respect for human rights and liberties, multiculturalism, democracy […]

Constitution of Mauritius

Adopted March 11, 1968; amended through 2001 CHAPTER I – THE STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION 1- The State Mauritius shall be a sovereign democratic State which shall be known as the Republic of Mauritius. [Amended 48/91] 2- Constitution is supreme law This Constitution is the supreme law of Mauritius and if any other law is […]

Constitution of Mongolia

Adopted January 13, 1992, put into force February 12, 1992; amended 1999 and 2001. Preamble We, the people of Mongolia: consolidating and strengthening the independence and sovereignty of our state, respecting and upholding the human rights and freedom, justice, and unity of our nation, inheriting and cherishing the traditions of our statehood, history and culture, […]

Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia

Adopted 1975 PREAMBLE WE, THE PEOPLE OF MICRONESIA, exercising our inherent sovereignty, do hereby establish this Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia. With this Constitution, we affirm our common wish to live together in peace and harmony, to preserve the heritage of the past, and to protect the promise of the future. To make […]

Constitution of Mauritania

Adopted July 12, 1991; amended through 2012 Preamble Trusting in the omnipotence of Allah, the Mauritanian people proclaim their will to guarantee the integrity of its Territory, its Independence, and its National Unity and to assume its free political, economic and social evolution. Strong from its spiritual values and from the radiation of its civilization, […]

Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

PREAMBLE We, the people of the Marshall Islands, trusting in God, the Giver of our life, liberty, identity and our inherent rights do hereby exercise these rights and establish for ourselves and generations to come this Constitution, setting forth the legitimate legal framework for the governance of the Marshall Islands. We have reason to be […]

Constitution of Malta

The Malta Independence Order, 1964, as amended by Acts: XLI of 1965, XXXVII of 1966, IX of 1967, XXVI of 1970, XLVII of 1972, LVII, LVIII of 1974, XXXVIII of 1976, X of 1977, XXIX of 1979, IV of 1987, XXIII of 1989; Proclamations Nos. II and VI of 1990; Acts XIX of 1991, IX […]

Constitution of Mali

Approved by referendum January 12, 1992; suspended in 2012 after 2 military coups. Preamble The Sovereign People of Mali, fortified by their traditions of heroic struggle, committed to remain faithful to the ideals of the victims of repression and the fallen martyrs killed in battle for the advent of a nation of law and of […]

Federal Constitution of Malaysia

First introduced as the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya on Merdeka Day – 31 August 1957 Subsequently introduced as the Constitution of Malaysia on Malaysia Day – 16 September 1963 Latest amendment made by Act A1320 which came into operation on – 27 December 2007 Part I The States, Religion and Law of the […]

Constitution of Maldives

Ratified August 7, 2008 CHAPTER I STATE, SOVEREIGNTY AND CITIZENS Constitution 1- This is the “Constitution of the Republic of the Maldives”. Any reference to the “Constitution” herein is a reference to the Constitution of the Republic of the Maldives. Republic of the Maldives 2- The Maldives is a sovereign, independent, democratic Republic based on […]

Constitution of the Republic of Malawi

Put into force May 18, 1995 CHAPTER I THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI Malawi a sovereign state 1- The Republic of Malawi is a sovereign State with rights and obligations under the Law of Nations. The national flag, etc 2- Malawi shall have a National Flag, a National Coat of Arms, a National Anthem and a […]