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.
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.
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 1
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.2
[1. Modified by Sixteenth Amendment.]
[2. Modified by Fourteenth Amendment.]
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.3
[3. Temporary provision.]
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.
The Senate
of the United States
shall be composed
of two Senators
from each State,
chosen
by the Legislature
thereof,4
for six Years;
and each Senator
shall have one Vote.
[4. Modified by Seventeenth Amendment.]
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.5
[5. Modified by Seventeenth Amendment.]
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.