CLAUSE 1. 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.
CLAUSE 2. No person shall be a representative who shall not have
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.
CLAUSE 3. 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.
[Footnote: PREAMBLE.--Name the six objects of the Constitution. Who
"ordained and established" this Constitution? Is the "union" one of
states or of people? What branches of government are established
under the first three articles of the Constitution?
ARTICLE I.--_Section_ 1. What body has the "power of
legislation"? (_Note_.--The "power of legislation" is that of
making laws.) Of what does Congress consist?
_Section_ 2. Who compose the House of Representatives? Who
choose the representatives? What are the necessary qualifications
of an elector (or voter) for a representative? How long is the term
of a representative? Name the three qualifications necessary for a
representative. Is a foreign-born person eligible to the office of
representative? How are representatives and direct taxes to be
apportioned among the states? How was the representative population
of the different states to be determined? What limit is there to
the number of representatives? Is every state entitled to
representation? How many members were there in the first House of
Representatives? How often must the Census be taken? How are
vacancies in the House to be filled? Who elect the officers of the
House? What body has the sole power of impeachment?]
[Footnote: (_Notes_.--The first census was taken in 1790; the
"ratio of representation" being one representative for 33,000
persons. The census of 1870 gave 1:3,533 persona as the "ratio of
representation," The number of representatives is fixed by Congress
each decade: at present it is 292. In March of the odd year there
is a new House of Representatives. Each organized territory has a
delegate who can sit in the House, but not vote. The states are
each divided, by its own laws, into congressional districts, as
many as Ihe number of representatives to which it is entitled; and
the electors in each one of these vote for their representative.
The phrase "all other persons" meant "slaves": but this has been
amended by the XIVth Amendment. The speaker is always a member of
the House; the clerk, sergeant-at-arms, chaplain, etc., are not
members. To impeach an officer is to accuse him of official
misconduct.)]
CLAUSE 4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any
State, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of
election to fill such vacancies.
CLAUSE 5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker
and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
[Footnote: Section 3. Of how many members does the Senate of the
United States consist? Who elect the senators? What is a senator's
term of office? Explain the classification originally made. What
was the object? How are vacancies filled? State the three
qualifications necessary for a senator. Who is the president of the
Senate? When only can he vote? Who chooses the other officers of
the Senate? When can the Senate choose a president _pro tempore_ (for
the time being)? What "sole power" does the Senate possess? Who
presides when the President of the United States is impeached? What
number is needed to convict? What penalties can be inflicted in case
of conviction? Is a person so convicted liable to a trial-at-law for
the same offence?]