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.
Section 2: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications, requisites for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State legislature.
Section 4: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senator 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.
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 the President of the United States.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to the 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.
The Congress shall be assembled 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.
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.
When vacancies happen in Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof; shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speakers and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 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 Senators 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 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 six Years, 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 Appointment until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall them fill such Vacancies.
Representative 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 Year, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons, The actual numeration 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 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, Georgia three.
Section 1: All legislative Power herein granted shall be vested in Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.