Congress

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 I explains how the legislative branch (Congress) is organized.  The purpose of the legislative branch is to make laws. 

Elections

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. 

Elections for the House of Representatives are held every two years, voted directly by the people of the state, and candidates must meet certain requirements.

Qualifications

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.

To serve in the House of Representatives, you must be at least 25-years-old, been a U.S. citizen for 7 years, and live in the state that you are elected to represent.

Number of Representatives

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 hose bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other all other Persons. The actual Enumeration numeration 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 choose three, Massachoosetts 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.

The number of members each state has in the House is based on the population of the individual state. In 1929, Congress permanently fixed the size of the House at 435.

Vacancies

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

If a House Representative leaves office (impeached, resigns, accepts position elsewhere in government, etc.), he/she must be replaced by a Special Election. 

Officers and Impeachment

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of impeachment.

The House chooses the Speaker of the House and the Power of Impeachment is a power of the House of Representatives. 

Number of Senators

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.

Each state should have two senators. Senators were originally chosen by the state legislatures. Now, like the House, the Senate is chosen by the people of each state. Each senator serves for six years. 

Classifying Terms

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.

Senators are divided into three "classes" (I, II, III) based on when they were first elected.  Each class represents two-year increments and is typically divided by thirds. Class I: 1st and 2nd Year Senators / Class II:  3rd and 4th Year Senators / Class III: 5th and 6th Year Senators. Those in Class III are up for re-election. 

Qualifications

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.

To serve in the Senate, you must be at least 30-years-old, have been a U.S. citizen for 9 years, and live in the state you are elected to represent.

Role of the Vice-President

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

The only duty that the Constitution assigns to the vice president is to preside over meetings of the Senate. If a vote in the Senate is tied, the Vice-President serves as the "tie-breaker." 

Officers

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 Vice-President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate. There is also a President Pro Tempore, elected in case the Vice-President is unable to serve or assumes the presidency. Other elected officers include: chaplain, party secretaries, Secretary of the Senate, and the Sergeant at Arms.

Impeachment Trials

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.

If the House of Representatives impeaches an elected official, he/she is tried in the Senate. If the President is impeached, the trial is overseen by the Chief Justice of the United States, all senators must take an oath, and at least two-thirds of Senators must be present. 

Punishment for Impeachment

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.

If impeached, he/she will be removed from office and can no longer hold office in the United States. He/she is then subject to any criminal punishment for their actions.

Regulations

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.

Allows states to determine the "time, places, and manner" of congressional elections but gives Congress the authority to "make or alter state" regulations.

Sessions

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.

The 20th Amendment has since changed the starting date for a session of Congress: noon on  January 3rd.

Quorum 

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.

A quorum is the minimum number of people needed to conduct business.

Rules and Conduct

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.

If a member of either the House or Senate is disorderly, they may be punished. If approved by 2/3rd of its members, he/she may be expelled.

Records

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.

The House and Senate must keep a record of its meetings. If the entering of specific information is questioned, 1/5th of members present must vote yes in order for it to be entered into the record.

Adjournment

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.

The House or Senate may not adjourn for more than three days without each other's approval.

Salary

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.

Senators and Representatives are paid by the U.S. Treasury, not by their state. This reinforces that they are officers of the federal government (not states). Their speech is not subject to question by police or authorities to preserve and encourage open debate.

Restrictions

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.

The "Ineligibility Clause" —Senators or Representatives may not vote for a salary increase for a federal position, and then fill that position. Ex: vote to increase the salary of the Attorney General and then ask the President to appoint him/her Attorney General.

Tax Bills

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.

A bill is a proposed law. All bills that increase revenue (taxes) start in the House. The Senate can add amendments to the bill once it passes the House and reaches the Senate.

Lawmaking

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.

In order for a bill to become a law, it must pass both houses of Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill is then presented to the President of the United States. The president can veto (reject) the bill and return it to the House or Senate (wherever the bill started from) and ask that it be reconsidered. 

Once returned, the House or Senate can override the president's veto if 2/3rds of its members vote to do so.  If a president does not sign or veto a bill in 10 days, it becomes law. 

However, if Congress adjourns and refuses to reconsider the bill once it is vetoed by the president, the 10-day rule does not apply. 

Role of the President

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.

Proposed laws must be presented to the President of the United States, who can then sign the bill into law and veto the legislation.

It was important for the framers of the Constitution to enumerate (specifically list) the powers of the federal government. This established clear limits on federal powers.

Taxation

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; 

The federal government may institute taxes. Duties are taxes on imported/exported goods, imposts is another name for taxes, and excises are internal taxes on the manufacture/sale/consumption of goods. 

Credit

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

The federal government may borrow money. 

Commerce 

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

While states have the power to regulate commerce and sales in their own state, the federal government has the power to regulate commerce with other countries, between states, or with Indian Tribes (who were considered independent of the United States). 

Naturalization and Bankruptcy

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

The federal government has the power to establish how a foreign-born person becomes a citizen of the United States ("naturalization") and regulate bankruptcies. rw

Money

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

Counterfeiting

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

Post Office

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

Patents and Copyrights

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;

Courts

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

International Law

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

War

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal etters of Marque and Reprisal, 17 and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Army

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

Navy

To provide and maintain a Navy;

Regulation of the Military

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

Militia

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Regulation of the Militia

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 Offi cers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

District of Columbia

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;

Necessary and Proper Clause ("Elastic Clause")

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