WE, the people of the UNITED STATES, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, Preamble. 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 I. SEC. 1. All legislative powers herein granted, shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall Two legislative consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. branches. House to be elect SEC. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year, by the peo- Members of the ple of the several States; and the electors in each State, ed biennially. shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the qualifications of most numerous branch of the State Legislature. Electors. Members. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years, and been seven Qualification of 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 several States which may be included within Representatives and taxes appor this union, according to their respective numbers, which tioned. 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 |