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The U.S. Constitution & Amendments: The U.S. Constitution

ONSTITUTION

ACTS.COMThe Constitution of the United States

The signing of the Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at the Pennsylvania State House(now called Independence Hall) in Philadelphia.

PREAMBLE

We the People o the United States, in Order to orm a more perect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide or the common deense, promote the general Welare, and secure the Blessings o Lib-erty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution or the United States o America.

Article I.THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress o the United States, which shallconsist o a Senate and House o Representatives.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Section 2. [1] The House o Representatives shall be composed o Members chosen every second Year by thePeople o the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifcations requisite or Electorso the most numerous Branch o the State Legislature. [2] No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age o twenty-fve Years, and beenseven Years a Citizen o the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant o that State inwhich he shall be chosen.[3] [Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be includedwithin this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the wholeNumber o ree Persons, including those bound to Service or a Term o Years, and excluding Indians nottaxed, three fths o all other Persons.] (Note: Changed by section 2 o the Fourteenth Amendment.) Theactual Enumeration shall be made within three Years ater the frst Meeting o the Congress o the UnitedStates, and within every subsequent Term o ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Num-ber o Representatives shall not exceed one or every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least oneRepresentative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State o New Hampshire shall be entitled tochuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut fve, New-York six, New Jersey our, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina fve, SouthCarolina fve, and Georgia three.

The U.S. Constitution & Amendments: The U.S. Constitution

ONSTITUTION

ACTS.COM

(continued)

[4] When vacancies happen in the Representation rom any state, the Executive Authority thereo shall issueWrits o Election to ll such Vacancies.[5] The House o Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Ofcers; and shall have the sole Power o Impeachment.

THE SENATE

Section 3. [1] The Senate o the United States shall be composed o two Senators rom each State, [chosen bythe Legislature thereo,] (Note: Changed by section 1 o the Seventeenth Amendment.) or six Years; and eachSenator shall have one Vote.[2] Immediately ater they shall be assembled in Consequence o the rst Election, they shall be divided asequally as may be into three Classes. The Seats o the Senators o the rst Class shall be vacated at the Expira-tion o the second Year, o the second Class at the Expiration o the ourth Year, and o the third Class at theExpiration o the sixth Year, so that one-third may be chosen every second Year; [and i Vacancies happen byResignation, or otherwise, during the Recess o the Legislature o any State, the Executive thereo may maketemporary Appointments until the next Meeting o the Legislature, which shall then ll such Vacancies.](Note: Changed by clause 2 o the Seventeenth Amendment.)[3] No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age o thirty Years, and been nine Years aCitizen o the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant o that State or which he shallbe chosen.[4] The Vice President o the United States shall be President o the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless theybe equally divided.[5] The Senate shall chuse their other Ofcers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence o the VicePresident, or when he shall exercise the Ofce o President o the United States.[6] The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting or that Purpose, they shall beon Oath or Afrmation. When the President o the United States is tried, the Chie Justice shall preside: And noPerson shall be convicted without the Concurrence o two thirds o the Members present.[7] Judgment in Cases o Impeachment shall not extend urther than to removal rom Ofce, and disquali-cation to hold and enjoy any Ofce o honor, Trust or Prot under the United States: but the Party convictedshall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

The U.S. Constitution & Amendments: The U.S. Constitution

ONSTITUTION

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(continued)

THE ORGANIZATION OF CONGRESS

Section 4. [1] The Times, Places and Manner o holding Elections or Senators and Representatives, shall beprescribed in each State by the Legislature thereo; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or altersuch Regulations, except as to the Place o Chusing Senators.[2] The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be [on the rst Monday inDecember,] (Note: Changed by section 2 o the Twentieth Amendment.) unless they shall by Law appoint adierent Day.Section 5. [1] Each House shall be the Judge o the Elections, Returns and Qualications o its own Members,and a Majority o each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn rom dayto day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance o absent Members, in such Manner, and undersuch Penalties as each House may provide.[2] Each House may determine the Rules o its Proceedings, punish its Members or disorderly Behavior, and,with the Concurrence o two thirds, expel a Member.[3] Each House shall keep a Journal o its Proceedings, and rom time to time publish the same, exceptingsuch Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays o the Members o either Houseon any question shall, at the Desire o one th o those Present, be entered on the Journal.[4] Neither House, during the Session o Congress, shall, without the Consent o the other, adjourn or morethan three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.Section 6. [1] The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation or their Services, to be ascer-tained by Law, and paid out o the Treasury o the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felonyand Breach o the Peace, be privileged rom Arrest during their Attendance at the Session o their respectiveHouses, and in going to and returning rom the same; and or any Speech or Debate in either House, theyshall not be questioned in any other Place.[2] No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time or which he was elected, be appointed to any civilOfce under the Authority o the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereo shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Ofce under the United States, shallbe a Member o either House during his Continuance in Ofce. Section 7. [1] All Bills or raising Revenue shalloriginate in the House o Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as onother Bills.