The Constitution of the United States Preamble We the People of the United States, in Order to for m a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for t he common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Libert y to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Unit ed States of America. Article. I. - The Legislative Branch Section 1 - The Legislature All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vest ed in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Repres entatives. Section 2 - The House The House of Representatives shall be composed of M embers chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electo rs in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most n umerous Branch of the State Legislature. No Person shall be a Representative who shall not h ave attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been 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. (Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportio ned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to the ir respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Pe rsons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.) (The previous sentence in parentheses was modified by the 14th Amendment, section 2.) The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United Sta tes, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law d irect. The 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 chuse three, Massachusetts eig ht, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, Ne w Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Car olina five, South Carolina five and Georgia three. When vacancies happen in the Representation from an y State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. The House of Representatives shall chuse their Spea ker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. Section 3 - The Senate The Senate of the United States shall be composed o f two Senators from each State, (chosen by the Legislature thereof,) (The preceding words in parentheses superseded by 17th Amendment, section 1.) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vot e. Immediately after they shall be assembled in Conseq uence 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 sec ond Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Cla ss 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 u ntil the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.) (The preceding words in parentheses were superseded by the 17th Amendment, section 2.) No person shall be a Senator who shall not have att ained 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 chos en. The Vice President of the United States shall be Pr esident of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and al so a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exe rcise the Office of President of the United States. The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Imp eachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Pers on shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present. Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend f urther than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office o f honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevert heless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, accordi ng to Law. Section 4 - Elections, Meetings The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections f or Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislatur e thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place of Choosing Senators.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:01:59 +0000
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