§ 1. The Legislature of the United States shall have power
to pass all laws which they shall judge necessary to the
common defence and general welfare of the Union: But no
Bill, Resolution, or act of the Senate and assembly shall
have the force of a law until it shall have received the
assent of the President, or of the vice-President when
exercising the powers of the President; and if such assent
shall not have been given within ten days, after such bill,
resolution or other act shall have been presented to him
for that purpose, the same shall not be a law. No bill,
resolution or other act not assented to shall be revived in
the same Session of the Legislature. The mode of signifying
such assent, shall be by signing the bill act of [r]
resolution, and returning it so signed to either House of
the Legislature.
§ 2. The enacting stile of all laws shall be "Be it enacted
by the people of the United States of America."
§ 3. No bill of attainder shall be passed, nor any ex post
facto law; nor shall any title of nobility be granted by
the United States, or by either of them; nor shall any
person holding an office or place of trust under the United
States without the permission of the Legislature accept any
present, emolument office or title from a foreign prince or
State. Nor shall any Religious Sect, or denomination, or
religious test for any office or place, be ever established
by law.
§ 4. Taxes on lands, houses and other real estate, and
capitation taxes shall be proportioned in each State by the
whole number of free persons, except Indians not taxed, and
by three fifths of all other persons.
§ 5. The two Houses of the Legislature may by joint ballot
appoint a Treasurer of the United States. Neither House in
the Session of both Houses, without the consent of the other
shall adjourn for more than three days at a time. The
Senators and Representatives, in attending, going to and
coming from the Session of their respective houses shall be
privileged from arrest, except for crimes and breaches of
the peace. The place of meeting shall always be at the seat
of Government which shall be fixed by law.
§ 6. The laws of the United States, and the treaties which
have been made under the articles of the confederation, and
which shall be made under this Constitution shall be the
supreme law of the Land, and shall be so construed by the
Courts of the several States.
§ 7. The Legislature shall convene at least once in each
year, which unless otherwise provided for by law, shall be
on the first Monday in December.
§ 8. The members of the two Houses of the Legislature shall
receive a reasonable compensation for their services, to
be paid out of the Treasury of the United States and
ascertained by law. The law for making such provision shall
be passed with the concurrence of the first Assembly and
shall extend to succeeding Assemblies; and no succeeding
assembly shall concur in an alteration of such provision, so
as to increase its own compensation; but there shall be
always a law in existence for making such provision.