fore, acquiesce in the necessity which denounces the separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind—enemies in war, in peace, friends. We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in general congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. The foregoing declaration was, by order of congress, engrossed and signed by the following members. SAMUEL CHASE, ABRAHAM CLARK, THOMAS JEFFERSON, GEORGE CLYMER, WILLIAM ELLERY, ROBERT MORRIS, THOMAS NELSON, JR., ROBERT TREAT PAINE, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, BUTTON GWINNETT, LYMAN HALL, JOHN HANCOCK, BENJAMIN HARRISON, JOHN HART, THOMAS HEYWARD, JR., FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE, FRANCIS LEWIS, PHILLIP LIVINGSTON, CÆSAR RODNEY, GEORGE ROSS, BENJAMIN RUSH, EDWARD RUTLEDGE, ROGER SHERMAN, JAMES SMITH, RICHARD STOCKTON, THOMAS STONE, GEORGE TAYLOR, MATTHEW THORNTON, GEORGE WALTON, WILLIAM WHIPPLE, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, JOHN WITHERSPOON, 1 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 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 blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. CHAPTER I. SECTION 1. Legislative powers. 2. House of Representatives; its members; by whom chosen. Qualifications of representatives. Representatives and taxes, how apportioned. Actual enumeration every ten years; first apportionment of representation. Powers of the House; sole power to impeach. 3. Senators, how chosen. The senate divided into three classes; terms, how ascertained; and filling of vacancies. Qualifications of senators. President of the senate. President pro tem., and other officers of senate. Sole power to try impeachments. Extent of judgment in cases of impeachment. 4. Mode of electing senators and representatives. Meetings of congress. 5. Each house shall be the judge of its own members. May determine its own rules, etc. To keep and publish journals, etc. Adjournment. 6. Pay of senators and privileges of representatives. 7. Revenue bills to originate in house of representatives. The forms of proceeding on bills. Ib. on joint resolutions except for adjournment. 8. Powers of congress. SEC. 9. Importation of certain persons not to be prohibited until after 1808. No export duty; nor preference of one state to another. Money to be expended by legal appropriation only. Titles of nobility, &c. 10. Powers forbidden to the states individually. Powers which the states can only exercise, under sanction of congress. OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER. 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. OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SEC. 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 in 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, threefifths 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. OF THE SENATE. SEC. 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 any 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, and 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 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. MANNER OF ELECTING MEMBERS. SEC. 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 place of choosing senators. CONGRESS TO ASSEMBLE ANNUALLY. 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. POWERS. SEC. 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 behaviour, 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, 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, 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, ETC., OF MEMBERS. SEC. 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. SEC. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of representatives; 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 becomes a law, be presented to the |