CONSTITUTION. We, the people of the United States, in order Preamble. ARTICLE I. SECTION I. All legislative powers herein granted shall be Congress. vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. SECTION II. how chosen. The House of Representatives shall be com- Representatives, posed 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. representatives. No person shall be a Representative who shall Qualification of not have attained the age of twenty-five years, Apportionment of representatives 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. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apand direct taxes. portioned 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, threefifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United Census every ten States, and within every subsequent term of ten years. Vacancies, filled. 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. how 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 and bring im their Speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. Representatives choose officers peachments. Senate, how chosen. SECTION III. The Senate of the United States shall be com, posed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. Immediately after they shall be assembled in Senators classed 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, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies Vacancies, how happen 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. filled. Senators. * No person shall be a Senator, who shall not Qualification of have attained to 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 shall be chosen. The Vice President of the United States shall Vice President to preside. be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall choose their other officers, Officers of Senate. and also a President pro tempore in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States. ments. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all Trial of impeachimpeachments. 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 |