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Sect. 1
All legislative powers herein granted
shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
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Sect. 2
The House of Representatives shall be
composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors of each state
shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.
No person shall be a representative who
shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and shall have 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 apportioned among the several states which may be included
within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which 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. ]
1 This part was changed by Section 2 of Amendment XIV ] The actual enumeration shall be made within
three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten
years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. 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 eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantation
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.
When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the Executive authority
thereof shall issue writs of election to fill vacancies.
The house of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other officers;
and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
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Sect. 3
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each
State, [ chosen by
the Legislature thereof, ]
2 The clause was changed by clause 1 of Amendment XVII ] for six Years; and each Senator shall have
one Vote.
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 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. ] 3 The part enclosed by brackets was changed by
clause 2 of Amendment XVII ]
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.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but
shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall chuse 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.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. 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 Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from
Office, and disqualification to hold 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.
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Sect. 4
The Times, Places and Manner of holding
Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the
Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place of Chusing Senators. The
Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall [ be on the first Monday in December, ] 4 The clause enclosed
by brackets was changed by Section 2 of Amendment XX ] unless they shall by Law appoint a different
Day.
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Sect. 5
Each House shall be the Judge of
the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum
to do Business; but a smaller 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.
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for
disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.
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.
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, 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.
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Sect. 6
The Senators and Representatives
shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and 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 Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same;
and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected,
be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been created, or the
Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United
States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
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Sect. 7
All bills for raising Revenue shall
originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate,
shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign
it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall
enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two
thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other
House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become
a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the
Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill
shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to
him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent
its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and
House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President
of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by
him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations
prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
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Sect. 8
The Congress shall have Power:
To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and
provide for the common Defense
and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall
be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and
with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject
of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the
Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current
Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited
Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and
Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning
Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall
be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union,
suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing
such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively,
the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed
by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District
(not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become
the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the
Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals,
dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;
And ----- To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying
into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the
United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
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Sect. 9
The Migration or Importation of such Persons
as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to
the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding
ten dollars for each Person.
The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in
Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census
or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken. 5 See also Amendment XVI ]
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State. No Preference shall
be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels
bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made
by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published
from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: ----- And no Person holding
any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument,
Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.
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Sect. 10
No State shall enter into any Treaty,
Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing
but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing
the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on
Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce
of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the
United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress. No State shall,
without the Consent of Congress, lay any duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter
into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded,
or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
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