Key U.S. Constitutional Clauses

Congress cannot pass a law singling out a person for punishment without trial.

• Bill of Attainder

• Due Process, 5th Amendment

• Ex Post Facto Clause

• Full Faith and Credit Clause

States cannot pass laws voiding or impairing contracts (including debt).

• Elastic Clause

• Contracts Clause

• Equal protection Clause, 14th Amendme

• Full Faith and Credit Clause

Congress can regulate trade between nations, between states, and between Native American tribes.

• Bill of Attainder

• Contracts Clause

• Commerce Clause

• Extradition Clause

The national government must observe fair procedures when depriving a person of life, liberty, or property.

• Due Process, 14th Amendment

• Due Process, 5th Amendment

• Extradition Clause

• Elastic Clause

State governments must observe the fair procedures of the 5th amendment [denying or depriving life, liberty, or property].

• Equal protection Clause, 14th Amendment

• Due Process, 14th Amendment

• Ex Post Facto Clause

• Preamble

Congress can exercise non-stated power in a "necessary and proper" manner while executing expressed powers.

• Elastic Clause

• Commerce Clause

• Bill of Attainder

• Privileges and Immunities Clause

States cannot unreasonably discriminate against individuals.

• Equal protection Clause, 14th Amendment

• Due Process, 14th Amendment

• Supremacy Clause

• Privileges and Immunities Clause

Congress cannot establish an official religion; effectively creating a separation of church and state.

• Ex Post Facto Clause

• Extradition Clause

• Establishment Clause, 1st Amendment

• Preamble

People cannot be retroactively punished for something that was not a crime at the time.

• Takings Clause, 5th Amendment

• Search and Seizure Clause, 4th Amendment

• Extradition Clause

• Ex Post Facto Clause

An accused person who flees to another state after committing crime must be returned to the state in which s/he allegedly committed the crime.

• Takings Clause, 5th Amendment

• Extradition Clause

• Supremacy Clause

• Search and Seizure Clause, 4th Amendment