CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

PREAMBLE.

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union,

establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,

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 I.

1. [Legislative power.]-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.

SECTION II.

1. [House of representatives.]-The house of representatives shall be

composed of members 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.

2. [Representatives Qualifications.]—No person shall be a represent-

ative who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years, and been seven

years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an in-

habitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.

3. [Apportionment.] 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. 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 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. [Vacancies.]-When vacancies happen in the representation from any

state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such

vacancies.

5. [Speaker-Power of impeachment.]-The house of representatives

shall chuse their speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of

impeachment.

SECTION III.

1. [Senate.]-The senate of the United States shall be composed of two

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nt in relation to bills.]-Every representatives and the senate, shall, The president of the United States; if he hall return it, with his objections, to that who shall enter the objections, at large, sider it. If, after such reconsideration,

ss the bill, it shall be sent, together with which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and se, it shall become a law. But, in all such be determined by yeas and nays; and the against the bill, shall be entered on the jourany bill shall not be returned by the president d) after it shall have been presented to him, manner as if he had signed it, unless the congress,

return; in which case, it shall not be a law. utions.-Every order, resolution, or vote, to enate and house of representatives may be necesndjournment), shall be presented to the president fore the same shall take effect, shall be approved by by him, shall be repassed by two-thirds of the senate es, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in

rs.]-The congress shall have power

lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises; to pay the for the common defense and general welfare of the United imposts and excises, shall be uniform throughout the

money on the credit of the United States.

gulate commerce with foreign nations, and among e Indian tribes.

ankruptcy.]-To establish an uniform rule of ws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout t