U.S. Constitution This Very First

¶ … U.S. Constitution

This very first section of the United States Constitution says that all legislative powers will be given to Congress -- and states that Congress is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Section 2 is about the rules regarding the selection of members of the House of Representatives. Members of the House will be selected every 2 years. Representatives have to be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States for at least a minimum of 7 years, as well as a resident of the state that they are elected in. Each state will have a certain number of Representatives and they will pay direct taxes depending on the population size of that state. The number used is determined by adding up the whole number of free persons (this includes servants, women, children, and non-voters) excluding Indians not taxes plus 3/5 of all other persons (e.g., slaves). (The Fourteenth Amendment later amended this.) The governor of each state will hold elections in order to fill the any vacancies in the House. All members of the House will choose their speaker and other officers; the members of the House also have the solitary authority when it comes to impeachments.

Section 3: The Senate will be made up of 2 Senators from each state and they will be chosen by the legislature of the state. They will have a term of 6 years. In the case that a Senator resigns or leaves office when the state legislature is out of session, the governor may assign a temporary replacement for that Senator. Members of the Senate have to be at least 30-years old and have been a citizen of the United States for at least 9 years. Members of the Senate must also be a resident of the state from which they are chosen. The Vice President of the United States is President of the Senate, but he or she will only vote in the Senate if there should be a tie and they need the tie to be broken. The members of the Senate will choose their officers. The Senate has the chief authority to try impeachments. An impeachment conviction verdict must have a 2/3 majority. If the Senate convicts someone in an impeachment trial, that person may be removed from office and/or disqualified from holding any office forever. That person may also be subject to trial in a criminal court if decided.

Section 4: State legislatures will decide how and when Senators will be elected; however Congress is has the authority to make alterations to their intentions. Congress will assemble at least one a year, beginning on the first Monday in December.

Section 5: Congress must have a minimum number of members in attendance in order to meet, and that it has the authority to fine those who don't show up. Members may be expelled if there is disorderly behavior or if the rules of proceedings are violated. The concurrence of 2/3 majority can expel a member from Congress. A journal of proceedings must be kept to record what goes on and votes that are made. Neither house can adjourn without the direct permission of the other.

Section 6: Members of the Congress will be paid for their services. They will have immunity from arrest and freedom of speech while in office unless they commit treason, which is a felony, or a breach of the peace. While in office, no member of Congress may accept another office or the benefits of another office.

Section 7: All bills having to do with raising revenue must begin in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may add amendments to such bills. Every bill that is passed by both the House and the Senate will be submitted to the President for approval. The President may veto the bill, but if 2/3 of the members of each House pass it again, it then becomes law. Every order, resolution or vote must be presented to the President of the United States.

Section 8: These are the powers of Congress, which includes the power to have an army and a navy, establish post offices, create courts, and regulate commerce between the states. The power to declare war is stated as is raising money for that war. The "elastic clause" is mentioned, which basically allows Congress the right to pass any law to make sure that any and all of the above may happen.