Declaration of The colonies their allegi We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice, and of consanguinity. We, must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our 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, apindependence. pealing 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 absolved from they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connexion 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 honour. ance, &c. Mutual pledge of fidelity. The foregoing declaration was, by order of congress, engrossed, and signed by the following members: NEW-HAMPSHIRE. Josiah Bartlett, MASSACHUSETTS BAY. Samuel Adams, Robert Treat Paine, CONNECTICUT. Roger Sherman, JOHN HANCOCK. NEW-YORK. William Floyd, Philip Livingston, NEW-JERSEY. Richard Stockton, PENNSYLVANIA. Robert Morris, 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 1. SECTION 1. 1. All legislative powers herein granted, shall be Legislative vested in a congress of the United States, which shall powers vested consist of a senate and house of representatives. in Congress. SECTION 2. House of repre whom chosen ; qualifications of 1. The house of representatives shall be composed sentatives; its of members chosen every second year, by the people members; by of the several states; and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the electors. most numerous branch of the state legislature. 2. No person shall be a representative, who shall not Qualifications have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been of representaseven years a citizen of the United States, and who tives. shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. Representa numbers. Actual enumeration every ten years. 3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportives and taxes tioned among the several states which may be included to be apportioned according to 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 by Limitation of law direct. The number of representatives shall not exthe ratio of rep-ceed 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; RhodeIsland and Providence Plantations one; Con'cut. five; New-York six; New-Jersey four; Pennsylvania eight; Delaware one; Maryland six; Virginia ten; NorthCarolina five; South-Carolina five; and Georgia three. resentation, &c. First apportionment of representatives. Writs of election for filling vacancies. The house of 4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. 5. The house of representatives shall choose their representatives speaker and other offices; and shall have the sole powto choose their er of impeachment. speaker, &c. 'Two senators chosen by the legislature of SECTION 3. 1. The senate of the United States shall be composeach state, for 6 ed of two senators from each state, chosen by the leyears; each a gislature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote. vote. The senate divided into three classes. 2. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided, ast equally as may be, into three classes. The seats of the One third of the senators of the first class, shall be vacated at the expirasenatorial seats tion of the second year, of the second class, at the expivacated, and ration of the fourth year, and of the third class, at the filled, every two expiration of the sixth year, so that one third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by Executives of resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the legisstates to fill va- lature of any state, the executive thereof may make recess of legis. temporary appointments until the next meeting of the latures, &c. legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. years. cancies in the of senators. 3. No person shall be a senator, who shall not have Qualifications 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. 4. The vice-president of the United States shall be Vice-President president of the senate, but shall have no vote, unless to be President they be equally divided. of the Senate. 5. The senate shall choose their other officers, and The senate to also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the vice- choose their president, or when he shall exercise the office of president of the United States. president pro tempore, &c. ments, in the 6. The senate shall have the sole power to try all im- The sole power peachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall to try impeachbe on oath or affirmation. When the president of the senate, &c. 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 ex- Extent of judg tend further than to removal from office, and disqualifi- ment in cases cation to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or of impeachprofit, under the United States; but the party convict-ment. ed shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to law. SECTION 4. Party liable also to judgment, &c. according to law. tions for sena 1. The times, places, and manner of holding elec- Times, &c. of tions for senators and representatives, shall be prescrib- holding elecin each state, by the legislature thereof; but the con- tors and repregress may, at any time, by law, make or alter such reg- sentatives, regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators. ulated. 2. The congress shall assemble at least once in every semble annualCongress to asyear; and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in ly on the first December, unless they shall by law appoint a differ- Monday in Deent day. SECTION 5. cember, &c. 1. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, re- Each house to judge of the turns, and qualifications, of its own members; and a election of its majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do busi- own members. ness; but 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. Quorum. Each house to 2. Each house may determine the rules of its proceed- determine its ings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and, own rules, &c. with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member. Journals to be 3. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceed-kept by each ings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting house, and pubsuch parts as may, in their judgment, require secrecy; lished, &c. 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. Adjournment of both houses. Senators and representatives to be paid, &c. Priviledged from arrest, &c. 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 6. 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 or returning from the same; and for any Concerning the speech or debate in either house, they shall not be quesholding of offi- tioned in any other place. ces by senators and representatives. Revenue bills to originate in the house of representatives, &c. 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 any office under the United States, shall be a member of either house, during his continuance in office. SECTION 7. 1. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the Powers of the shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at 1 |