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Section 2
1: 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.
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.
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.2 The actual Enumerationshall 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 oneRepresentative; and until
such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire
shall be entitled to chuse 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.
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 chuse their Speaker and
other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3
1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed
of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature
thereof,3 for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence
of the firstElection, 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.4
3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to
the Age of thirtyYears, 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 President of
the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally
divided.
5: The Senate shall chuse 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.
6: The Senate shall have the 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.
7: 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.
Section 4
1: 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 chusing Senators.
2: The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and
such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,5 unless
they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section 5
1: 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.
2: 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.
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 either 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 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.6 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.
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 encreased 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 House of
Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with
Amendments as on other Bills.
2: Every Bill which shall have passed the House of
Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become 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 Votes of both
Houses shall be determined by 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 Adjournmentprevent its Return, in which
Case it shall not be a Law.
3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the 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 two thirds of the Senate and House
of Representatives, according to the Rules and
Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8
1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect
Taxes, Duties, Impostsand 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;
4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform
Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United
States;
5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign
Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the
Securities and current Coin of the United States;
7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by
securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the
exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on
the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and
make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money
to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
13: To provide and maintain a Navy;
14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the
land and naval Forces;
15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws
of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, 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
Authority of training the Militia according to the
discipline prescribed by Congress;
17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever,
over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may,
by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of
Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United
States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased
by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the
Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals,
dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;—And
18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for
carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other
Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the
United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9
1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the
States now existing shall think proper 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.
2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be
suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the
public Safety may require it.
3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in
Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed
to be taken.7
5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any
State.
6: 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.
7: 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.
8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States:
And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them,
shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any
present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever,
from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Section 10
1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or
Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin
Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver
Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of
Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of
Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
2: No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay
any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may
be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and
the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on
Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the
United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the
Revision and Controul of the Congress.
3: No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay
any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of
Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another
State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless
actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit
of delay.
Section 2
1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and
Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several
States, when called into the actual Service of the United States;
he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer
in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject
relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall
have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons
for Offences against the United States, except in Cases
of Impeachment.
2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of
the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the
Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and
with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint
Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the
supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States,
whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and
which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by
Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they
think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in
the Heads of Departments.
3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that
may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting
Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next
Session.
Section 3
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of
the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration
such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he
may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or
either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them,
with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he
may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he
shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall
take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall
Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Section 4
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United
States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and
Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and
Misdemeanors.
Section 2
1: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and
Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United
States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their
Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public
Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and
maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United
States shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or more
States;—between a State and Citizens of another State;10 —
between Citizens of different States, —between Citizens of the
same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States,
and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign
States, Citizens or Subjects.
2: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers
and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the
supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other
Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall
have appellateJurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such
Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall
make.
3: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment,
shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where
the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not
committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or
Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
Section 3
1: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in
levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies,
giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted
of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the
same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment
of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of
Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the
Person attainted.
Section 2
1: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges
and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
2: A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other
Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another
State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State
from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State
having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
3: No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the
Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of
any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service
or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to
whom such Service or Labour may be due.11
Section 3
1: New States may be admitted by the Congress into this
Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within
the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by
the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without
the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well
as of the Congress.
2: The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all
needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other
Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this
Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of
the United States, or of any particular State.
Section 4
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union
a RepublicanForm of Government, and shall protect each of
them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or
of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened)
against domestic Violence.
Virginia
Delaware
Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom
Maryland
James McHenry
Dan of St Thos. Jenifer
Danl Carroll.
Virginia
John Blair—
James Madison Jr.
North Carolina
Wm Blount
Richd. Dobbs Spaight.
Hu Williamson
South Carolina
J. Rutledge
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler.
Georgia
William Few
Abr Baldwin
New Hampshire
John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King
Connecticut
Wm. Saml. Johnson
Roger Sherman
New York
Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey
Wil. Livingston
David Brearley.
Wm. Paterson.
Jona: Dayton
Pennsylvania
B Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
Robt Morris
Geo. Clymer
Thos. FitzSimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson.
Gouv Morris
Letter of Transmittal
skip to Letter of Transmittal to Congress up to the Constitution
In Convention. Monday September 17th 1787.
Present
The States of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton
from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
The friends of our country have long seen and desired that the
power of making war, peace, and treaties, that of levying
money, and regulating commerce, and the correspondent
executive and judicial authorities, should be fully and
effectually vested in the General Government of the Union; but
the impropriety of delegating such extensive trust to one body
of men is evident: hence results the necessity of a different
organization.
That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every State
is not, perhaps, to be expected; but each will, doubtless,
consider, that had her interest alone been consulted, the
consequences might have been particularly disagreeable or
injurious to others; that it is liable to as few exceptions as could
reasonably have been expected, we hope and believe; that it
may promote the lasting welfare of that Country so dear to us
all, and secure her freedom and happiness, is our most ardent
wish.
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Article the second. .... No law, varying the compensation for
the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take
effect, until an election of Representatives shall have
intervened. see Amendment XXVII