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THE

CONSTITUTION

OF

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

CONSTITUTION.

WE the People of the United States in order to form a more Preamble. 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 I.

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vest- Congress. ed in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

SECTION 11.

Representa

The House of Representatives shall be composed tives, how of members chosen every second year by the people chosen. 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. No person shall be a Representative who shall not Qualifica have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and Representa been seven years a citizen of the United States, and

tion of

tives.

Apportionment of Representa

tives and Direct Taxes.

Census every ten years.

Vacancies, how filled.

Representa.

tives choose

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. 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.

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 officers and Speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole peachments. power of impeachment.

bring Im

SECTION III.

Senate, how chosen.

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.

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