U.S. Constitution

Preamble - We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union...

Short Version -- This is a summary of the important issues covered in this section of the U.S. Constitution. 

Preamble 

Long Version -- This is the text of the Actual U.S. Constitution. 

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.

ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1 - ALL LEGISLATIVE POWERS HEREIN GRANTED SHALL BE VESTED IN A CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES...

Short Version -- This is a summary of the important issues covered in this section of the US Constitution. 

  • Congress alone has the power to make laws.
  • Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Long Version -- This is the text of the Actual US Constitution 

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.

ARTICLE 1, SECTION 2 - THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE COMPOSED OF MEMBERS CHOSEN EVERY SECOND YEAR...

Short Version -- This is a summary of the important issues covered in this section of the U.S. Constitution. 

  • Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms.
  • House members must be at least 25 years old.
  • They must have been citizens for at least seven years.
  • They must live in the state they represent.
  • The number of representatives for each state is based on population.
  • Each state has at least one representative.
  • Every 10 years a census must be taken to determine the U.S. population.
  • The state governor calls a special election to fill a vacant seat. The House chooses a speaker to preside.
  • The House alone brings charges of impeachment.

Long Version -- This is the text of the Actual U.S. Constitution. 

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 choose 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...

Short Version -- This is a summary of the important issues covered in this section of the U.S. Constitution. 

  • Each state has two senators.
  • Each senator serves a six-year term.
  • One-third of the Senate stands for election every two years.
  • A senator must be at least 30 years old.
  • A senator must have been a citizen at least nine years.
  • A senator must live in the state he/she represents.
  • The Vice President is president of the Senate and votes only to break a tie.
  • The Senate elects a president pro tempore to preside in the Vice President's absence.
  • The Senate tries all impeachment cases.
  • Impeachment conviction requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate's members.
  • When the President is on trial for impeachment, the Chief Justice presides.
  • A person who is impeached and convicted is removed from office.
  • A person who is impeached and convicted is forbidden to hold federal office.
  • After A person who is impeached and convicted is removed from office, he or she can be prosecuted.

Long Version -- This is the text of the Actual U.S. Constitution. 

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 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 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...

Short Version -- This is a summary of the important issues covered in this section of the U.S. Constitution. 

  • State legislatures decide where, when, and how to hold Congressional elections.
  • The Congress shall meet at least once a year.

Long Version -- This is the text of the Actual U.S. Constitution. 

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.