CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

AS

PROPOSED BY THE CONVENTION

HELD AT PHILAdelphia, september 17, 1787, and since ratifIED BY THE SEVERAL STATES;

WITH THE AMENDMENTS THERETO:

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

STANDING RULES AND ORDERS

FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES.

PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

U.S.

House

WASHINGTON:

PRINTED BY BLAIR & RIVES.

1844.

Chucksa May 1943

CONSTITUTION.

WE the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, 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 I.

All legislative powers herein granted shall Congress. be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

SECTION II.

The House of Representatives shall be com- Representaposed of members chosen every second year chosen. tives, how 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 Qualification shall not have attained to the age of twenty-atives. of Representfive 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.

resentatives

Representatives and direct taxes shall be Apportionapportioned among the several States which ment of Repmay be included within this Union, according and direct to their respective numbers, which shall be taxes.

ten years.

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 subseCensus every quent 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.

Vacancies, how filled.

Representa

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 tives choose of their Speaker and other officers; and shall have ficers and bring the sole power of impeachment.

impeachments.

Senate, how chosen.

Senators

classed.

SECTION III.

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