CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA.

PREAMBLE.

Objects of the Constitution.

ARTICLE I.

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SECTION 1. Legislative powers, in whom vested. Page 5. SECT. 2. House of representatives, how and by whom chosenQualifications of a representative — Representatives and direct taxes, how apportioned - Census - Vacancies to be filled - Power of choosing officers, and of impeachment. 5, 6.

SECT. 3. Senators, how and by whom chosen-How classifiedState executive to make temporary appointments, in case, &c.— Qualifications of a Senator - President of the Senate, his right to vote-President pro tem. and other officers of Senate, how chosenPower to try impeachments - When President is tried, Chief Justice to preside-Sentence. 6, 7.

SECT. 4. Times, &c., of holding elections, how prescribed - One session in each year. 7.

SECT. 5. Membership - Quorum — Adjournments Rules Power to punish or expel-Journal-Time of adjournment limited, unless, &c. 7, 8.

SECT. 6. Compensation - Privileges - Disqualification in certain cases. 8.

SECT. 7. House to originate all revenue bills-Veto - Bill may be passed by two-thirds of each house, notwithstanding, &c. - Bill not returned in ten days- Provision as to all orders, &c., except, &c. 8, 9.

SECT. 8. Powers of Congress. 9, 10.

SECT. 9. Provision as to migration or importation of certain persons- Habeas corpus - Bills of attainder, &c. -Taxes, how apportioned-No export duty-No commercial preferences-No money drawn from treasury, unless, &c.—No titular nobility - Officers not to receive presents, unless, &c. 10, 11.

SECT. 10. States prohibited from the exercise of certain powers. 11.

ARTICLE II.

SECTION 1. President and Vice-President, their term of officeElectors of President and Vice-President, number, and how ap. pointed-Electors to vote on same day — Qualifications of President On whom his duties devolve in case of his removal, death, &c.— President's compensation-His oath. 11-13.

SECT. 2. President to be commander-in-chief-He may require opinion of, &c., and may pardon-Treaty.making power-Nomina tion of certain officers-When President may fill vacancies. 13. SECT. 3. President shall communicate to Congress-He may convene and adjourn Congress, in case, &c.; shall receive ambassadors, execute laws, and commission officers. 14.

SECT. 4. All civil offices forfeited for certain crimes. 14.

ARTICLE III.

SECTION 1. Judicial power-Tenure-Compensation. 14. SECT. 2. Judicial power, to what cases it extends - Original juris. diction of supreme court-Appellate-Trial by jury, except, &c.— Trial, where. 14, 15.

15.

SECT. 3. Treason defined - Proof of - Punishment of. 15.

ARTICLE IV.

SECTION 1. Credit to be given to public acts, &c., of every State.

SECT. 2. Privileges of citizens of each State-Fugitives from justice to be delivered up-Persons held to service, having escaped, to be delivered up. 15.

SECT. 3. Admission of new States- Power of Congress over ter. ritory and other property. 15, 16.

SECT. 4. Republican form of government guaranteed State to be protected. 16.

ARTICLE V.

Constitution, how amended-Proviso. 16.

ARTICLE VI.

Each

Certain debts, &c., adopted-Supremacy of Constitution, treaties, and laws of the United States-Oath to support Constitution, by whom taken-No religious test. 16, 17.

ARTICLE VII.

What ratification shall establish Constitution. 17.

AMENDMENTS.

I. Religious establishment prohibited - Freedom of speech, of the press, and right to petition. 17.

II.-Right to keep and bear arms. 17.

III. -No soldier to be quartered in any house, unless, &c. 17. Right of search and seizure regulated. 17, 18.

IV.
V.

VI.

Provisions concerning prosecutions, trials, and punishments - Private property not to be taken for public use, without, &c. 18.

Further provisions respecting criminal prosecutions. 18. VII. Right of trial by jury secured. 18.

XII. - Manner of choosing President and Vice-President. 19, 20. XIII.-Slavery abolished. 20.

XIV.-Citizenship defined

Apportionment of representatives -Persons engaged in rebellion excluded from officeDebts of United States, and of States contracted during the rebellion. 20, 21.

XV.- Right of citizenship not to be abridged. 21.

XVI.-Congress may tax incomes without apportionment or regard to census. 21.

XVII.

Senators to be elected by the people. 21,22.

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.

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.

SECT. 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 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.

SECT. 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 appoint