Click here or scroll down for a summary of Article 1 of the Constitution.
Article 1 has 10 sections and 2,268 words. It is the longest article by far of the constitution. Article 1, Section 8 contains 429 words and 2,589 characters.
Article 1 of US Constitution
Article 1, Section 1
Article 1, 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 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 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 of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Article 1, 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 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 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 shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds 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.
Article 1, Section 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 chusing 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.
Article 1, Section 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 Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, 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.
Article 1, Section 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 encreased 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.
Article 1, Section 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 two thirds 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 reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes 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 two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Article 1, Section 8
- The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
- To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
- To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
- To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
- To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
- To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
- To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
- To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
- To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
- To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
- To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
- To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
- To provide and maintain a Navy;
- To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
- To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
- 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;
- 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, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;—And
- 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.
Article 1, Section 9
- 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.
- The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
- No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
- No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
- No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
- 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.
- No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
- 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.
Article 1, Section 10
- No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing 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.
- 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 Controul of the Congress.
- 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.
Article 1 is the first article of the United States Constitution and also the longest article of the constitution.
But, what is Article 1 of the Constitution?
Article 1 deals with the legislative branch. This refers to Congress, which comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Article 1 of the Constitution Summary – The Legislative Branch
The Founding Fathers divided the United States Constitution into seven individual articles. These 7 articles each laid the foundation for a specific aspect of the American government.
For example, Article One of the Constitution laid the foundation for the United States Congress – the federal government’s legislative branch.
This branch is tasked with the creation of new laws or legislation.
In the next few paragraphs, we’ll examine everything you need about Article One of the Constitution.
What is the United States Congress?
Article 1 is about the Legislative Branch. According to the foundation outlined in Article One of the Constitution, the United States Congress is a bicameral legislature.
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Legislature is another word for an assembly or group of people tasked with deliberation.
Bicameral means that this legislature has two distinct bodies, with these bodies being known as the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives is known as the “lower house” of the United States Congress, and the Senate is known as the “upper house.”
The Senate has more power and fewer members.
What Is the House of Representatives?
As the Lower House of the bicameral Congress, the House of Representatives is tasked with initially passing federal legislation in the form of proposed bills.
Once the House approves these Representatives’ bills, they will need to be approved by the Senate. The House of Representatives, as the name would suggest, features representatives from every state in the country.
The number of representatives is determined by each state’s population number. Therefore, a state with a larger population has a greater number of representatives.
What is the Senate?
The Senate is the second part of congress that bills will have to pass through before they make it to the desk of the President of the United States.
The Senate is a smaller body than the House of Representatives, and it is much harder to become a member.
The Senate is composed of representatives from each state, similar to the House of Representatives.
The United States vice president is in charge of the Senate.
Division of Power Allows for Checks and Balances
Article 1 of the Constitution explicitly lays the foundation for the United States Congress. It creates a bicameral legislative branch so that there are checks and balances regarding what laws are passed. This is clear to see by having both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
If the Constitution gave all the power to one house, they could theoretically pass any laws or amendments they wanted. If that body were to become compromised or corrupt, there would be no other body to keep them in check.
This Concept of Checks and Balances Is Not Unique to Article One
The point of Article One is to ensure that only fair laws are allowed to become federal legislation.
This system of checks and balances within the legislative branch of government mirrors the checks and balances between the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches that make up the United States government as a whole.
The Founding Fathers, when writing the constitution, aimed to include as many checks and balances in the Constitution as possible to prevent the government from being corrupt. They also wanted to avoid creating amendments not in line with the Constitution.
Article One Dictates How the United States Congress Should Be Staffed
Article 1, Section 1 lays the foundation for this bicameral legislature and defines what these two bodies are tasked with doing.
Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution also explicitly details how these two separate bodies are staffed.
The terms for becoming a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate are thoroughly explained in Article One.
Both positions require unique qualifications that aim to make it so only those who are indeed up to making critical legislative decisions are allowed to join.
Staffing the House of Representatives
According to Article One of the Constitution, the House of Representatives members is elected once every two years. Each state’s citizens’ current population determines the number of seats available.
Staffing the US Senate
In Article 1, Section 2, the terms set forth for staffing the Senate are slightly more strict, as the Senate has a slight increase in power over the House of Representatives.
Instead of the number of representatives determined based on population, every state is given two senators, no matter the size of the state.
This mechanism makes it so that states with lower or more thoroughly dispersed populations are not silenced by states with higher or more condensed populations.
Each senator serves a six-year term.
According to Article One, senators were supposed to be elected by the state legislatures. This changed with the introduction of the 17th Amendment where senators are now elected directly by each state’s citizens.
The Many Other Powers of the Legislative Branch
The remaining sections of Article One of the Constitution establish the specific goals and powers of the United States Congress and its two distinct branches.
For example, Article 1, Section 4 says that the United States Congress is given the autonomy to police its elections and police its members by punishment or expulsion.
Article 1, Section 6 of the Constitution also sets forth how members of the United States Congress are to be compensated.
How Bills Become Laws (And How the President Can Stop Them)
Article 1, Section 7 of the US Constitution dictates how bills are passed through the House of Representatives, then through the Senate, and finally, make it to the US President’s desk.
The president has veto power, which means that the president can choose not to pass the said bill into law.
However, if the president agrees with the bill, they will sign it, and the bill will be passed into law.
The Terms of Article One Are Important for Understanding Congress’ Powers
Article 1, Sections 8 and Article 1, Section 9, and Article 1, Section 10 of Article 1 give the United States Congress a few more essential powers, such as the power to print and regulate money, the ability to establish post offices, the power to appoint federal courts beneath their jurisdiction, and, perhaps most importantly, the power to declare war.
While the Constitution of the United States was cautious in giving no single branch of the United States government total control, it does give a large amount of power to its legislative branch.
Effects of 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865 and affects article 1 of the constitution. The 13th Amendment effectively abolished slavery and gave them constitutional rights.
Therefore in Article 1, when it refers to free men or citizens, that definition is changed by the 13th Amendment.
Here’s a table that summarizes Article 1 of the US Constitution:
| Article 1 of the US Constitution |
|---|
| Section 1: Legislative Powers Vested in Congress |
| Section 2: House of Representatives |
| Section 3: Senate |
| Section 4: Elections and Meetings |
| Section 5: Membership and Rules |
| Section 6: Compensation and Privileges |
| Section 7: Revenue Bills, Legislative Process, Presidential Veto |
| Section 8: Powers of Congress |
| Section 9: Limits on Congress |
| Section 10: Limits on States |
This table provides a brief summary of the 10 sections of Article 1 of the US Constitution, which outlines the powers and structure of the legislative branch of the federal government.
The following is a graphical representation of Article 1 of the Constitution. Feel free to borrow it or print it out as long as you keep the reference to this website. You can click on it for a larger copy.
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