SEC. I.—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.
SEC. II.—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.
2. No person shall be a Representative 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 inhabitant of the State
in which he shall be chosen.
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.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the
executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such
vacancies.
5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other
officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
SEC. III.—1. The Senate of the United States shall be composed two
Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six
years; and each Senator shall have one vote.
2. 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, that one-third maybe chosen every second year; and,
if vacancies occur 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. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained 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
is chosen.
4. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the
Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided.
5. The Senate shall choose their other officers and also a President
_pro tempore_, in the absence of the Vice-President or when he shall
exercise the office of the President of the United States.
6. 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.
7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend farther 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.
SEC. IV.—1. 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 regulation, except as to the places of choosing Senators.
2. 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.
SEC. V.—1. Each House shall be 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the
consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any place
than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SEC. VI.—1. 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
for 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 or returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in
either House they shall not be questioned in any other place.
2. 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.
SEC. VII.—1. All bills for raising revenues shall originate in the House
of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with
amendments, as on other bills.
2. 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 approves, 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 must 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.
3. 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 face of a bill.