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Congress as semble annual

ly.

Elections, how judged.

Quorum.

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 F.

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 Absent mom attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each house may provide.

bers.

Bules.

Expulsion.

Journals to be

lished.

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 proceedkept and pub iugs, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment reYeas & nays. quire 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, Adjournments 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,

Compensation.

SECTION VI.

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 Privileges. 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.

office.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Members not time for which he was elected, be appointed to any appointed to 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 underofficers of gov the United States, shall be a member of either not be mem house during his continuance in office.

SECTION VII.

ernment can

bers.

All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the Revenue bills. House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills.

sented to the

His powers

Every bill which shall have passed the House Bills to be preof Representatives and Senate, shall, before it be-President. come a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, butover them. if not he shall return it, with his objections to that house in which it shall have originated, who shal! 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 twothirds 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

Proceedings on his veto

if not returned

persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. Bills to be law If any bill shall not be returned by the President in ten days. 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 be a law.

Joint orders cr

be approved by President.

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the resolutions to 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 twothirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.

Powers of
Congress-

Lay taxes
General wel

Pay debts.

SECTION VIII.

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 welfare of the United States; but all duties, imDuties uniform posts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

fare

Borrow money.

Commerce.

Naturalization.

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, Bankruptcy. and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies. throughout the United States;

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and Weights and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights

Coin money.

measures.

and measures;

To provide for the punishment of counter-Counterfeiting. feiting the securities and current coin of the Uni

ted States;

To establish post offices and post roads;

Pest roads.

and science.

To promote the progress of science and usefulPromote erts 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 Inferior courts. Court;

To define and punish piracies and felonies com-Piracies, &c. mitted on the high seas, and offences against the

law of nations;

and make cap.

tures.

To declare war, grant letters of marque and re- Declare war, prisal, and make rules concerning captures on landi and water; To raise and support armies, but no appropria-Raise armies. tion of money to that use shall be for a longer term

than two years;

Navy.

To provide and maintain a navy; To make rules for the government and regula-Rules and artion 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;

ticles of war.

Call out militia

govern militia.

To provide for organizing, arming, and disci-Organize and plining, 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 author-Officers militia ity of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

gislation over

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases Exclusive lewhatsoever, over such district (not exceeding tenseat of governmiles square) as may, by cession of particular meat. States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places pur

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chased by the consent of the legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection And over forts, of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings; and

arsenals, docks

&c.

eral laws to

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

into effect.

Importation of slaves allowed till 1808.

SECTION IX.

The migration or importation of such persons as of the States now existing shall think proper any 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 Habeas corpus not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.

Attainder and

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall ex post facto be passed.

laws.

No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, Direct taxes. unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

No exportation

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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.

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