CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, 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.

ARTICLE I.

SECTION 1.

powers.

1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested Legislative in a congress of the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives.

SECTION 2.

sentatives; its

1. The house of representatives shall be composed of House of repre members chosen every second year by the people of the whom chosen. members; by several states; and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.

of representa

2. No person shall be a representative who shall not Qualifications have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been tives. seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.

tives and taxes

tioned accord

3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned Representa among the several states which may be included within to be appor. this union, according to their respective numbers, which ing to numbers. shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made Actual enumewithin three years after the first meeting of the congress

ration every ten years.

of the United States, and within every subsequent term of the ratio of rep. ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The

Limitation of

resentation,

The senate divided into three classes.

and filled.

number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New-Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three; Massachusetts eight; Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one; Connecticut five; New-York six; New-Jersey four; Pennsylvania eight; Delaware one; Maryland six; Virginia ten; North-Carolina five; South-Carolina five; and Georgia three.

4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

5. The house of representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeach

ment.

SECTION 3.

1. The senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one

vote.

2. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided, as equally as may be, into three classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the When vacated second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies.

Vacancies.

Qualifications of senators.

President of the senate.

Ib, and other officers.

The sole power to try impeach

3. No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. 4. The vice-president of the United States shall be president of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

5. The senate shall choose their other officers and also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the vice-president, or when he shall exercise the office of president of the United States.

6. The senate shall have the sole power to try all imments, in the peachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be. on oath or affirmation. When the president of the United

senate, &c.

States is tried, the chief justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

ment in case of

7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend Extent of Jude further than to removal from office, and disqualification to impeachment. hoid and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.

SECTION 4.

senators and

tives, how regu

1. The times, places and manner of holding elections Elections for for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each representastate by the legislature thereof; but the congress may, at lated. any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators.

2. The congress shall assemble at least once in every Meetings of year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in congress. December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

SECTION 5.

judge of the

own members.

1. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns Each house and qualifications, of its own members, and a majority of election of its each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller Quorum. number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide.

its own rules.

2. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, To determine punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the &c. concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

3. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

To keep and as, &c.

publish jour

4. Neither house, during the session of congress, shall, Adjournment. without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.

SECTION 6.

representa

&c.

1. The senators and representatives shall receive a com- Senators and pensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and tives to be paid. paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the Privileges.