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| 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. | summary- all lawmaking power is in Congress |
| 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 of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. | summary - how often and how representatives are chosen |
| 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. | summary - requirements to be a representative |
| Requirements to be a Representative | 25 years old, 7 years a citizen of the US, live in the state and district in which you are elected |
| Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 | summary - how many representatives you get and how it is determined |
| Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 also says | the government has the right to conduct a census |
| 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. | summary - part 1-each state shall have 2 senators, and length of service and part 2 - senators chosen by state legislatures |
| Article 1, Section 3, Clause 2 | summary - part 1 - Staggering the first senate to allow elections of 1/3 of the senate every 2 years and part 2 - filling senate 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. | summary - requirements to be a senator |
| Requirements to become a Senator | 30 years old, 9 years a US citizen, and live in the state where you are elected |
| According to Article 1, Section 3, Clause 4, who is the president of the senate | The Vice-President |
| 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. | summary - the senate chooses their own officers |
| 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 two thirds of the members present. | summary- impeachment trials are held in the Senate |
| When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. | summary - when a seat becomes vacant, the governor determines how to fill the empty seat through the election process |
| The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. | summary - 1. the house chooses it's own officers 2. The house has the power of bringing impeachment charges |
| 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. | summary - how elections for representatives and senators are conducted |
| 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. | summary - describes the meeting times of the Congress |
| 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. | summary - 1. requirements to do government business 2. punishments for absent members |
| 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. | summary - punishment for bad behavior |
| 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. | summary - both houses keep track of the proceedings |
| 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. | summary - cannot take a break for longer than 3 days without agreement |
| 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. | summary - congressmen get paid |
| 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; | summary - cannot be arrested for minor crimes while congress is in session |
| and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place. | summary - what they say in session cannot be used against them |
| 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. | summary - hold no other job or office while a member of congress |
| 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. | summary - tax bills have to start in the house |
| Article 1, Section 7, Clause 2 | summary - how a bill becomes 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 two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. | summary - all special measure pass or veto the same as a bill |
| 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; | summary - congress can tax for the nation's welfare |
| Article 1, Section 8, Clause 2 | The powers of congress |
| 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; | summary - Congress is in charge of state militia's when called into service |
| 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, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;--And | summary - the creation of Washington DC |
| 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. | summary - The "Necessary and Proper" clause |
| The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. | summary - slavery and immigration protections |
| the writ of habeas corpus | government cannot hold you for no reason, they must tell you why you are being held |
| Bill of Attainder | government cannot punish an individual or group without a trial |
| ex post facto Law | government cannot punish you for something that was legal when you did it |
| No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. | summary - Taxes for states are based on population |
| No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one state over those of another: nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one state, be obliged to enter, clear or pay duties in another. | summary - states cannot tax goods from another state |
| No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. | summary - government money has to be accounted for |
| No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, 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. | summary - no titles of nobility in the US |
| No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. | summary - states cannot do what the federal government cannot do |
| No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection laws: and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress. | summary - the federal government controls imports and exports |
| 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 a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. | summary - states are not allowed to have their own separate militaries |
