List of clauses of the United States Constitution

The United States Constitution and its amendments comprise hundreds of clauses which outline the functioning of the United States Federal Government, the political relationship between the states and the national government, and affect how the United States federal court system interprets the law. When a particular clause becomes an important or contentious issue of law, it is given a name for ease of reference.

Clauses within the Articles

Clause Name Article Section Clause
1808 Clause[citation needed] I 9 1
Admissions Clause IV 3 1
Advice and Consent Clause II 2 2
Appointments Clause II 2 2
Apportionment of Representatives and Taxes Clause I 2 3
Arisings Clause[citation needed] III 2 1
Basket Clause I 8 18
Case or Controversy Clause III 2 1
Coefficient Clause I 8 18
Comity Clause IV 2 1
Commerce Clause I 8 3
Common Defense Clause I 8 1
Compact Clause I 10 3
Contract Clause I 10 1
Copyright Clause I 8 8
Diversity (of Citizenship) Clause[citation needed] III 2 1
Elastic Clause I 8 18
Emoluments Clause I 6 2
Emolument Clause I 9 8
Enclave Clause[citation needed] I 8 17
Excepting Clause[citation needed] II 2 2
Exceptions Clause III 2 2
Export Clause I 10 2
Extradition Clause IV 2 2
Faithful Execution Clause II 3

5

Foreign Commerce Clause[citation needed] I 8 3
Fugitive Slave Clause IV 2 3
Full Faith and Credit Clause IV 1
General Welfare Clause I 8 1
Guarantee Clause IV 4
Impeachment Clause[citation needed] II 4
Impeachment Clause (Power to Impeach)[citation needed] I 2 5
Impeachment Clause (Effect of)[citation needed] I 3 7
Implied Powers Clause[citation needed] I 8 18
Import/Export Clause I 10 2
Incompatibility Clause I 6 2
Indian Commerce Clause I 8 3
Ineligibility Clause I 6 2
Interstate Commerce Clause I 8 3
Loyalty Clause VI 3
Migration or Importation Clause[citation needed] I 9 1
Natural-born Citizen Clause II 1 5
Naturalization Clause I 8 4
Necessary and Proper Clause I 8 18
Orders, Resolutions, and Votes Clause I 7 3
Origination Clause I 7 1
Presentment Clause I 7 2-3
Privileges and Immunities Clause IV 2 1
Property Clause[citation needed] IV 3 2
Qualifications Clause[citation needed] I 2 1
Qualifications (of Senators) Clause[citation needed] I 3 3
Qualifications Clause (for Presidency)[citation needed] II 1 5
Reception Clause II 3 4
Republican Government Clause IV 4
Revenue Clause I 7 1
Sinecure Clause I 6 2
Speech or Debate Clause I 6 1
Spending Clause I 8 1
Supremacy Clause VI 2
Suspension Clause[citation needed] I 9 2
Sweeping Clause I 8 18
Take Care Clause[citation needed] II 3
Taxing and Spending Clause I 8 1
Territorial Clause[1] IV 3 2
Title of Nobility Clause (federal)[2]: 139  I 9 8
Tonnage Clause[citation needed] I 10 3
Treaty Clause II 2 2
Uniformity Clause I 8 1
Vesting Clause (Legislative) I 1
Vesting Clause (Executive) II 1
Vesting Clause (Judicial) III 1
War Powers Clause I 8 11
Weights and Measures Clause[2]: 21  I 8


Clauses within the Amendments

First Amendment

Fourth Amendment

Fifth Amendment

Sixth Amendment

Eighth Amendment

Fourteenth Amendment

Recurring clauses

Notes

  1. ^ Constitution Annotated (May 20, 2024), Power of Congress over Territories, retrieved 2024-05-20, Congress holds broad authority over territories of the United States.
  2. ^ a b Wexler, Jay (2011). The Odd Clauses: Understanding the Constitution Through Ten of its Most Curious Provisions. Boston: Beacon Press. ISBN 9780807000908.

References