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U.S. Constitution (Article I)

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 hall 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 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.
                Judgement 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.

   Sect. 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 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.

  Sect. 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.

  Sect. 7.      All bill for raising revenue shall originate in the house of
             representative; 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 is 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 Representative 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.

   Sect. 8.   The Congress shall have power:
                To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay
             the debts and provide for the common defence 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 an 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 offences 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 states in which the same shall be, for
             the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other
             needful buildings; -And

[Elastic Clause]

                [To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for
             carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other
             powers vested by the Constitution in the government of the
             United States, or in any department or officer thereof.]

   Sect. 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 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 the 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.

    Sect. 10.     No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or
             confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money;
             emit bills of credit; make any thing 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 its 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; 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.