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is conceded in all the Territories under the Federal statutes, to aliens who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States (See page 140); but they are required, under oath, to support the Constitution of the United States. The Federal Constitution prohibits any religious test as a qualification for holding any office under the Federal Government †, but it requires an oath of fealty to the Government. Allegiance by birth or naturalization constitute Federal citizenship; but the Constitution fails to define the qualifications for office-holding under the Federal Government. Persons of foreign birth, owing allegiance only to a foreign power, have, however, held Federal office, and their right to do so has not been challenged.

+ Federal Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. 3.

THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.*

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 of the United States of America.

ARTICLE I.

SECTION I-LEGISLATIVE POWERS.

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. SECTION I-HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I.

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.

QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.

2. 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.

APPORTIONMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES.

3. 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, three-fifths of all other persons.] (1) 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 *This Constitution went into operation March 4, 1789.

(1) Amended by XIVth Amendment, 2d Sec.

New York, six; New Jersey, four; Pennsylvania, eight; Delaware, one; Maryland, six; Virginia, ten; North Carolina, five; South Carolina, five, and Georgia, three.

FILLING VACANCIES.

4. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. EXCLUSIVE POWER OF IMPEACHMENT.

5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

SECTION III-COMPOSITION OF THE SENATE.

I. 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.

ROTATION OF SENATORS.

2. 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.

3.

QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS.

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained 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 the State for which he shall be chosen.

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

4. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided.

OFFICERS OF THE SENATE.

5. 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.

IMPEACHMENT TRIALS.

6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. 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.

7. Judgment in cases of impeachment, shall not be extended 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.

SECTION IV-ELECTION OF Members of Congress.

I. 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.

CONGRESSIONAL SESSIONS.

2. 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.

I.

SECTION V-POWERS, RULES AND DUTIES OF EACH HOUSE.

Each House shall be 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.

2. Each House may determine the rule of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

3. 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 eac. House, on any question, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

4. 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.

SECTION VI-COMPENSATION AND PRIVILEGES.

1. 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.

APPOINTMENT TO OFFICE.

2. 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 office under the United States, shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office.

SECTION VII-REVENUE BILLS.

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

PASSING BILLS, ETC.

2. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes 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 it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the 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.

ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS.

3. Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on the 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.

SECTION VIII.-POWERS OF CONGRESS.

The Congress shall have power:

I. 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;

2. To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

3.

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes;

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