The Legislative Branch Station A

Article 1: The Legislative Branch Station A TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION Section 1 - Introduction to the Legislative Branch 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. Excerpts From Section 2 - The House of Representatives The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. 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. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the states which may be included with this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other persons. (This portion is in italics since it was modified years later.) 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 House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. OBecky's Social Studies Center 000 Article 1: The Legislative Branch Station B TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION Excerpts From Section 3 - The Senate The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote 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 of fice of President of the United States. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shallbe 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 shallnot extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office under the United States: but the party [person] convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment. trial,judgment and punishment, according to law. OBecky's Social Studies Center Θ0Ο Article 1: The Legislative Branch Station TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION Excerpts From Section 4 - Meetings of Congress 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. (This portion is in italics since it was modified years later. The 20th Amendment stated that the meeting should begin on the third day of January unless decided differently by law.) Excerpts from Section 5 - Rules of Congress Each House shall be thejudge 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 behavior 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. OBecky's Social Studies Center ה דיה Article l: The Legislative Branch Station D TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION Excerpts From Section 6 - Privileges and Limitations of Members of Congress 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 of fice under the United States, shall be a member of either House during his continuance in of fice. OBecky's Social Studies Center Article 1: The Legislative Branch Station E TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION Excerpts From Section 7 - How a Bill Becomes a Law Allbills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives 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 adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. Becky's Social Studies Center Article l: The Legislative Branch Station F TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION Excerpts From Section 8 - Powers of Congress Part 1 The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States, but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States To borrow money on the credit of the United States, To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures, To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States, To establish post offices and post roads; 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, Copyrights +patents OBecky's Social Studies Center Article 1: The Legislative Branch Station G TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION Excerpts From Section 8 - Powers of Congress Part 2 The Congress shall have power: To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations; To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years, To provide and maintain a navy; To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions, 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; 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. 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. OBecky's Social Studies Center Article1: The Legislative Branch Station H TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION Excerpts From Section 9 - Powers Forbidden to Congress 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. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but made by law, and a regular statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no person holding any of fice 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. Excerpts From Section 10 - Powers Forbidden to States No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal, coin money: pass any bill of attainder or ex post facto law, or grant any title of nobility. 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