United States Constitution

THE CONSTITUTION of the United States, We the People of the United States

The Constitution of the United States

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 defence, 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.

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 Qualifi -

cations 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 fi ve 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 fi fths of

all other Persons.]* The actual Enumeration shall be made

within three Years after the fi rst 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 fi ve, New-York six, New

Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland

six, Virginia ten, North Carolina fi ve, South Carolina fi ve,

and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any

State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of

Election to fi ll such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their

Speaker and other Offi cers; 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 fi rst Election, they shall be divided as equally as may

be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the fi rst

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 fi ll such Vacancies.]*