CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES - Original Document Text - Article I - Sections 1-6

Oct 19, 2026

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CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES text excerpts laying out the federal legislative branch in Article I. It establishes Congress as the Senate and House of Representatives, describes membership composition and qualifications, and specifies election timing and procedures. It details term lengths, officer roles, impeachment powers, trial rules, and conviction thresholds. It also defines quorum requirements, legislative rulemaking, journaling obligations, and limits on adjournment and relocation during sessions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Article I

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 1787 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, 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. Section. 1. 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. Section. 2. 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 ofthe most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. 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 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 ofall other Persons.] The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of thc 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 everythirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall beentitled 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. When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. The House ofRepresentatives shall chuse their Speaker 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 Senator shall have one Vote. Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as maybe into three Classes. The Seats ofthe Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of thc 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 ofthe Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof maymake temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.] 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 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. 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

FAQs

What is the composition of Congress under Article I?

Congress consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

What qualifications are required to serve as a Representative?

A Representative must be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state chosen when elected.

How does the Constitution describe impeachment and conviction in the Senate?

The Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments, and when trying the President the Chief Justice presides; conviction requires the concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Oct 19, 2026

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