U.S. Constitution - Bill of Rights
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. 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 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
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 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 choosing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and
such meeting shall be on the first
Monday in December, 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
behavior, 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 the 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 the 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 increased 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 become
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 defense 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
a 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, dockyards, 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. 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 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 anything 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 control 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.
|
