of the elections, returns, and qualifications of their mem

bers.

In each house a majority shall constitute a quorum to do business. Freedom of speech and debate in the legislature shall not be impeached, or questioned, in any place out of it; and the members of both houses shall in all cases, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be free from arrest during their attendance on Congress, and in going to and returning from it. Both houses shall keep journals of their proceedings, and publish them, except on secret occasions; and the yeas and nays may be entered thereon at the desire of one of the members present. Neither consent of the other, shall adjourn days, nor to any place but where

house, without the for more than

they are sitting.

The members of each house shall not be eligible to, or capable of holding any office under the union, during the time for which they have been respectively elected, nor the members of the senate for one year after. The members of each house shall be paid for their services by the states which they represent. Every bill, which shall have passed the legislature, shall be presented to the President of the United States for his revision; if he approves it he shall sign it; but if he does not approve it, he shall return it, with his objections, to the house it originated in; which house, if two thirds of the members present, notwithstanding the President's objections, agree to pass it, shall send it to the other house, with the President's objections; where, if two thirds of the members présent also agree to pass it, the same shall become a law; and all bills sent to the President, and not returned by

him within

days, shall be laws, unless the legis

lature, by their adjournment, prevent their return; in which case they shall not be laws.

ARTICLE VI.

The legislature of the United States shall have the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises;

To regulate commerce with all nations, and among the several states;

To borrow money and emit bills of credit;

To establish post offices;

To raise armies;

To build and equip fleets;

To pass laws for arming, organizing, and disciplining the militia of the United States;

To subdue a rebellion in any state, on application of its legislature;

To coin money, and regulate the value of all coins, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

To provide such dock yards and arsenals, and erect such fortifications as may be necessary for the United States, and to exercise exclusive jurisdiction therein ; To appoint a Treasurer, by ballot;

To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court;

To establish post and military roads;

To establish and provide for a national university at the seat of the government of the United States; To establish uniform rules of naturalization; To provide for the establishment of a seat of government for the United States, not exceeding

miles square, in which they shall have exclusive juris▴ diction;

To make rules concerning captures from an enemy; To declare the law and punishment of piracies and felonies at sea, and of counterfeiting coin, and of all offences against the laws of nations

;

To call forth the aid of the militia to execute the laws of the union, enforce treaties, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions;

And to make all laws for carrying the foregoing powers into execution.

2

The legislature of the United States shall have the power to declare the punishment of treason, which shall consist only in levying war against the United States, or any of them, or in adhering to their enemies. No person shall be convicted of treason but by the tes timony of two witnesses.

The proportion of direct taxation shall be regulated by the whole number of inhabitants of every description; which number shall, within years after the first meeting of the legislature, and within the term of year after, be taken in the manner to be prescribed by the legislature.

every

No tax shall be laid on articles exported from the states; nor capitation tax, but in proportion to the census before directed.

All laws regulating commerce shall require the assent of two thirds of the members present in each house. The United States shall not grant any title of nobility. The legislature of the United States shall pass no law on the subject of religion; nor touching or abridging the liberty of the press; nor shall the privilege of the

writ of habeas corpus ever be suspended, except in case of rebellion or invasion.

All acts made by the legislature of the United States, pursuant to this constitution, and all treaties made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and all judges shall be bound to consider them as such in their decisions.

ARTICLE VII.

The senate shall have the sole and exclusive power to declare war; and to make treaties; and to appoint ambassadors and other ministers, to foreign nations, and judges of the supreme court..

They shall have the exclusive power to regulate the manner of deciding all disputes and controversies now subsisting, or which may arise, between the states, respecting jurisdiction or territory.

ARTICLE VIII.

The executive power of the United States shall be vested in a President of the United States of America, which shall be his style; and his title shall be His Excellency. He shall be elected for

shall be re-eligible.

years; and

He shall from time to time give information to the legislature, of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration the measures he may think necessary. He shall take care that the laws of the United States be duly executed. He shall commission all the officers of the United States; and, except as to ambassadors, other ministers, and judges of the supreme court, he shall nominate, and, with the consent of the senate," appoint, all other officers of the United States. He

shall receive publick ministers from foreign nations; and may correspond with the executives of the different states. He shall have power to grant pardons and reprieves, except in impeachments. He shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states; and shall receive a compensation which shall not be increased or diminished during his continuance in office. At entering on the duties of his office, he shall take an oath faithfully to execute the duties of a President of the United States. He shall be removed from his office on impeachment by the house of delegates, and conviction in the supreme court, of treason, bribery, or corruption. In case of his removal, death, resignation, or disability, the president of the senate shall exercise the duties of his office until another president be chosen. And in case of the death of the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of delegates shall do so.

ARTICLE IX.

The legislature of the United States shall have the power, and it shall be their duty, to establish such courts of law, equity, and admiralty, as shall be necessary.

The judges of the courts shall hold their offices during good behaviour; and receive a compensation, which shall not be increased or diminished during their continuance in office. One of these courts shall be termed the supreme court, whose jurisdiction shall extend to all cases arising under the laws of the United States, or affecting ambassadors,other publick ministers and consuls; to the trial of impeachment of officers of