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- The Constitution of the United States of America
- Preamble
- We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
- union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, 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
- Section 1
- 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.
- Section 2
- The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every
- second year by the people of the several States, and the elector in
- each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the
- most numerous branch of the State Legislature.
- 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 that
- State in which he shall be chosen.
- 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 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.
- 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 their Speaker and other
- officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
- Section 3
- The Senate of the United States shall be composed 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 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 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.
- No person shall be a Senator who shall not 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 be President of the
- Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.
- 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.
- 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.
- Judgement in cases of impeachment shall not extend further 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, judgement and punishment, according to law.
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