CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [Went into operation on the first Wednesday of March, 1789. Owings v. Speed, 5 Wh., 420.] WE, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Preamble. union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America: ' ARTICLE I. 1. All legislative powers, herein granted, shall be vested in a congress Legislative of the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of repre- power. sentatives. SECTION 2. 1. The house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen House of every second year by the people of the several states; and the electors in representa tives; its each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most members; by whom numerous branch of the state legislature. chosen. members. 2. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to Qualificathe age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United tion of States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen. representa direct 3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the Apportionseveral states which may be included within this Union, according to represen their respective numbers; which shall be determined by adding to the tives and whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a taxes. term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after Census. 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. Number of The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty representa thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be First ap entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Provi- ment. dence 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." 12 Dal., 471; 1 Wh., 324; 3 Wh., 181; 4 Wh., 404; 6 Wh., 414; 12 Wh., 455; 5 Pet., 128; 6 Pet., 562; 12 How., 107;1 Brock., 177; 2 Brock., 109; 6 Call., 277; 7 J. Ch., 297; 16 J. R., 233; 17 J. R., 195; 19 J. R., 153; 4 N. Y., 276; 20 W., 365; 3 Cow., 713. 3 Dal., 171; 5 Wh., 317. portion |