CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

A3

PROPOSED BY THE CONVENTION

HELD AT PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER 17, 1787, AND SINCE RATIFIED BY THE
SEVERAL STATES:

WITH THE AMENDMENTS THERETO.
From a copy printed by order of the House of Representatives.

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 poste-
rity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America.

ARTICLE I.
SEC. 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested	Congress.
in a congress of the United States, which shall consist of a
senate and house of representatives.
SEC. 2. The house of representatives shall be composed of	Represen-
members chosen every second year by the people of the several	tatives, how
states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications	chosen.
requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state
legislature.
No person shall be a representative who shall not have	Qualifica-
attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years	tion of representa-
a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected,	tives.
be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among	Apportion-
the several states which may be included within this Union,	ment of representa-
according to their respective numbers, which shall be deter-	tives, and direct taxes.
mined by adding to the whole number of free persons, includ-
ing those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding
Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual
B