The United States Constitution

The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States and the source of the rights this site helps you understand and exercise — from the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches to the Fifth Amendment's right against self-incrimination.

Read the official text

We link directly to the authoritative government sources so you always get the complete, accurate text:

• Full transcript — U.S. National Archives
• Annotated Constitution — Congress.gov
• The Bill of Rights (Amendments 1–10)

The amendments that matter most in police encounters

• First Amendment — protects your right to record police and to assemble and protest.
• Fourth Amendment — protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
• Fifth Amendment — protects your right to remain silent and against self-incrimination.
• Sixth Amendment — guarantees your right to an attorney.
• Fourteenth Amendment — applies these protections to state and local police.