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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 defense, promote the
general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish the Constitution of the United States of America.

Article I.

Sect. 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the
United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a 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.
Representative 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 be law direct.  The number of representative 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 the 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 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, 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 o 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.

Sect. 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 be law
appoint a different day.