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. 1. (1.) Legislative powers.-1. All legislative powers herein 2. (2.) House of Representatives.-2. The House of Representa- tives 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 of the 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 of all other persons. 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 number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand; but each State shall have 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, 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 of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. 3. (3.) Senate.-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 may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators 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 sixth year, 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 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 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 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 shall be convicted without the concurrence of twothirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to 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. 4. (4.) Elections.-4. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators 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 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. Congress may make rules for the election of members of Congress, and may prescribe duties for officers acting under State laws, and prescribe penalties for a violation of such acts of Congress. Ex parte Siebold, 100 U. S. 371; In re Coy, 127 U. S. 731; Ex parte Yarbrough, 110 U. S. 651. 5. (5.) Membership-Quorum.-5. Each house shall be the judge 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 twothirds, 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. Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. 6. (6.) Compensation-Privileges.-6. 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 office under the United States shall be a member of either house during his continuance in office. 7. (7.) Bills and veto.-7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills. 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 twothirds 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 considered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house it shall become a law. But in all such cases the vote 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. Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of the United States; and, before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him shall be repassed by twothirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. When an enrolled bill is signed by the proper officers of each house, and is approved by the President and filed in the Department of State, it is conclusive that it was properly passed. Field v. Clark, 143 U. S. 649; United States v. Ballin, 144 iḍ. 1. 8. (8.) Powers of Congress.-8. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises 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; The act of Oct. 1, 1890, authorizing the President to suspend the free introduction into the United States of certain articles under certain circumstances, is constitutional. Field v. Clark, 143 U. S. 649. To borrow money on the credit of the United States; The State can not, without the consent of Congress, tax the obligations of the United States issued as evidence of money loaned to the United States. Weston v. City of Charleston, 2 Pet. 449; Bank v. Supervisors, 7 Wall. 26. The issue of legal tender notes by the United States is a proper exercise of the power conferred on Congress to borrow money. Thayer v. Hedges, 23 Ind. 141. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes; Telegraph lines and their business fall under the head of interstate commerce, and are under the control of Congress. Pensacola Tel. Co. v. W. U. Tel. Co., 96 U. S. 1; Telegraph Co. v. Texas, 105 U. S. 460; W. U. Tel. Co. v. Pendleton, 122 U. S. 347; Ratterman v. W. U. Tel. Co., 127 U. S. 411; Leloup v. Port of Mobile, 127 U. S. 640. See Telegraph Co. v. Pendleton, 95 Ind. 12. The statute of this State requiring peddlers or traveling merchants vending foreign merchandise to pay a license fee is not in conflict with the Constitution of the United States. Sears v. Board, 36 Ind. 267; Beall v. State, 4 Blkf. 107. A municipal ordinance requiring venders of goods situate in other States to pay a license fee is invalid. McLaughlin v. South Bend, 126 Ind. 471. The act of this State regulating the sale of railroad tickets is not an interference with interstate commerce. Fry v. State, 63 Ind. 552. Vessels entering a port of a State can not be required by the State to pay a percentage on their tonnage. Inman Co. v. Tinker, 94 U. S. 238; Peete v. Morgan, 19 Wall. 581; State Tonnage Tax Cases, 12 Wall. 204. Cities can not require persons running tow boats from the Gulf of Mexico to a city in a State to pay a license fee. Morgan v. New Orleans, 112 U. S. 69. Vessels navigating the high seas between ports of the same State are subject to control by Congress. Lord v. Steamship Co., 102 U. S. 541. States can not authorize the inspection of sea-going vessels and their cargoes. Foster 7. Master, etc., New Orleans, 94 U. S. 246. States may adopt rules regulating pilots when such regulations do not conflict with acts of Congress. Cooley v. Board of Wardens, 12 How. 299; Steamship Co. v. Joliffe, 2 Wall. 450; Wilson v. McNamee, 102 U. S. 572. Congress alone has the right to authorize the erection of bridges over streams used for interstate commerce. State of Pennsylvania v. Wheeling Bridge Co., 18 How. 421; Gilman v. Philadelphia, 3 Wall. 713; Miller v. Mayor, 109 U. S. 385. Congress may authorize the construction of railroads through States and Territories. California v. Pacific R. R. Co., 127 U. S. 1. States can not require that all animals slaughtered for food shall be inspected in the State before being slaughtered. Minnesota v. Barber, 136 U. S. 313; Brimmer v. Rebman, 138 U. S. 78; State v. Klein, 126 Ind. 68. Carriers taking intoxicating liquors from one State into another can not be required to obtain a certificate stating that the consignee is authorized to sell such liquors. Bowman v. Chicago, etc., R. W. Co., 125 U. S. 465. The Constitution of the United States does not prohibit States from improving harbors, bays and rivers which are aids to commerce, nor from collecting toll for the use of improved natural water ways. County of Mobile v. Kimball, 102 U. S. 691; Sands r. Manistee Co., 123 U. S. 288. States may erect wharfs, collect fees for the use thereof, and collect fees at quarantine stations. Packet Co. v. Catlettsburg, 105 U. S. 559; Packet Co. v. Keokuk, 95 U. 8. 80; Packet Co. v. St. Louis, 100 U. S. 423; Morgan's Co. v. Louisiana Board, 118 U. S. 455; Ouachita Co. v. Aiken, 121 U. S. 444. Wharfage fees can not be charged to vessels of other States when such fees are not charged to local vessels of the State. Guy v. Baltimore, 100 U. S. 434. The State can not impose taxes on the earnings of carriers engaged in interstate transportation. State v. Woodruff, 114 İnd. 155. |