ARTICLE VI. 9. Provision as to migration or importation of Constitution, how amended. Proviso. ' SECTION ARTICLE II. 1. President and vice president, their term of office.- Electors of president and vice president, number, and how appointed. - Eleotors to vote on same day. - Qualification of president. On whom his duties devolve in case of his removal, death, &c.-Presi dent's compensation. His oath. Certain debts, &c. adopted. Supremacy of constitution, treaties and laws of the United States. -Oath to support constitution, by whom taken.-No religious test. ARTICLE VII. 1. Religious establishment prohibited. Freedom of speech, of the press, and right to petition. 2. Right to keep and bear arms. 3. No soldier to be quartered in any house, unless, &c. Preamble. 2 Dall. 419. 1 Wheat. 304. 4 Wheat. 316. 9 Wheat. 1. Legislative powers, in whom vested. House of repre and by whom ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT. 4. Right of search and seizure regulated. 5. Provisions concerning prosecutions, trials, 6. Further provisions respecting criminal 7. Right of trial by jury secured. ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT. 8. Bail, fines, and punishments. 9. Rule of construction. 10. Same subject. 11. Same subject. 12. Manner of choosing president and vice president. WE the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure 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. 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. SECT. 2. The house of representatives shall be composed of members sentatives, how chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. chosen. Qualifications tive. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to of a representa- 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. Representa taxes, how portioned. Census. ap Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the tives and direct 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. 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 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. Vacancies to be filled. Power of choos When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. The house of representatives shall choose their speaker and other ing officers, and officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. of impeachment. Senators, how and by whom chosen. How classified. SECT. 3. 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.. 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 State executive happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature to make tempo- of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments ments, in case, until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such rary appoint &c. vacancies. No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age Qualifications of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and of a senator. who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. President of the senate, his right to vote. 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 choose their other officers, and also a president pro President pro tempore, in the absence of the vice president, or when he shall exercise tem. and other the office of president of the United States. officers of senate,how chosen. The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When Power to try sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When impeachments. When president the president of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall pre- is tried, chief side: and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two justice to prethirds of the members present. side. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to Sentence. 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. scribed. U. S. Statutes, 1842, 47, § 2. SECT. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for sen- Times, &c. of ators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legis- tions, how preholding eleclature thereof; but the congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators. The congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. One session in each year. SECT. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and Membership. qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall consti tute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from Quorum. day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent Adjournments. members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each house may provide. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, and punish Rules. Power to punish or exits members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two be thirds, expel a member. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to Journal. 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 con- Time of adsent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other journment limplace than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. ited, unless, &c. SECT. 6. The senators and representatives shall receive a compen- Compensation. sation 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, Privileges. 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 Disqualification elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the in certain cases. 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. nate all revenue SECT. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of House to origi representatives; but the senate may propose or concur with amend- bills." ments as on other bills. |