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The Constitution
of the United States |
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Charters
of Freedom - The Constitution of the United States
We
the People
"
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 Electors 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
to 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 to 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.]1 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
chuse 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 chuse 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,]2 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 thc 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.]
3
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 chuse their other Officers, 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.
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.
Judgment
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, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Section.
4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators
and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the
Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law
make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing
Senators.
The
Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such
Meeting shall be [on the first Monday in December,]4 unless they
shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section.
5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and
Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall
constitute a Quorum to do Business, but a smaller Number may
adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the
Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such
Penalties as each House may provide.
Each
House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its
Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of
two thirds, expel a Member.
Each
House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time
to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their
Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members
of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth
of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither
House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent
of thc other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other
Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section.
6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation
for their Services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of
the Treasury of thc United States. They shall in all Cases, except
Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest
during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses,
and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech
or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any
other Place.
No
Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he
was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority
of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments
whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person
holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member
of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section.
7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House
of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with
Amendments as on other Bills.
Every
Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and
the Senate, shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented to the
President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it,
but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House
in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections
at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after
such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to
pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections,
to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered,
and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become
a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be
determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting
for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each
House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have
been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner
as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment
prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every
Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate
and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question
of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United
States, and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved
by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two
thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according
to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section.
8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties,
Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common
Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties,
Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States
To
borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To
regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several
States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To
establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws
on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To
coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin,
and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To
provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and
current Coin of the United States;
To
establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To
promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing
for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right
to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To
constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To
define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high
Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To
declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules
concerning Captures on land and Water;
To
raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that
Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To
provide and maintain a Navy;
To
make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and
naval Forces;
To
provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of
the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To
provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia,
and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the
Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively,
the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training
the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To
exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over
such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession
of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become
the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise
like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the
Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the
Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards and other
needful Buildings;--And
To
make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying
into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested
by this Constitution in the Government of the United States,
or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section.
9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the
States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be
prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight
hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation,
not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The
Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended,
unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety
may require it.
No
Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No
Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion
to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.5
No
Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No
Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue
to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels
bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or
pay Duties in another.
No
Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of
Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account
of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be
published from time to time.
No
Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And
no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall,
without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument,
Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince,
or foreign State.
Section.
10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation;
grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills
of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in
Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law,
or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title
of Nobility;
No
State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts
or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely
necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce
of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports,
shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and
all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of
the Congress.
No
State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of
Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter
into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign
Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such
imminent Danger as will not admit of delay."
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